Pudd'nhead Wilson Foreignness Quotes

"Italians! How romantic! Just think, ma—there's never been one in this town, and everybody will be dying to see them and they're all ours!" (5.11)

"[. . .] Luigi—Angelo. They're lovely names; and so grand and foreign—not like Jones and Robinson and such." (5.15)

"[. . .] Our parents were well to do, there in Italy, and we were their only child. We were of the old Florentine nobility"—Rowena's heart gave a great bound, her nostrils expanded, and a fine light played in her eyes—"and when the war broke out my father was on the losing side and had to fly for his life." (6.3)

It was a proud occasion for the widow, and she promised herself high satisfaction in showing off her fine foreign birds before her neighbors and friends—simple folk who had hardly ever seen a foreigner of any kind, and never one of any distinction or style. (6.7)

Eager inquiries concerning the twins were pouring into [Aunt Patsy's and Rowena's] enchanted ears all the time; each was the constant center of a group of breathless listeners; each recognized that she knew now for the first time the real meaning of that great word Glory, and perceived the stupendous value of it, and understood why men in all ages had been willing to throw away meaner happiness, treasure, life itself, to get a taste of its sublime and supreme joy. (6.17)

The closing speech of the campaign was made by Judge Driscoll, and he made it against both of the foreigners. It was disastrously effective. He poured out rivers of ridicule upon them, and forced the big mass-meeting to laugh and applaud. (17.2)

[Judge Driscoll] scoffed at [the twins] as adventurers, mountebanks, side-show riffraff, dime-museum freaks; he assailed their showy titles with measureless derision; he said they were back-alley barbers disguised as nobilities, peanut-peddlers masquerading as gentlemen, organ-grinders bereft of their brother monkey. (17.2)

In St. Louis, next morning, [Tom] read this brief telegram in the papers—dated at Dawson's Landing: Judge Driscoll, an old and respected citizen, was assassinated here about midnight by a profligate Italian nobleman or barber on account of a quarrel growing out of the recent election. The assassin will probably be lynched. (19.16)

The town was bitter against the unfortunates, and for the first few days after the murder they were in constant danger of being lynched. (19.21)

The twins were heroes of romance, now, and with rehabilitated reputations. But they were weary of Western adventure, and straightway retired to Europe. (Conclusion.4)