CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS.
In arranging for a journey in Italy with a vetturino, there are three
separate classes of expenditure to be provided for. First, the carriage
and horses; secondly, the board at the hotels by the way; and thirdly,
the _buono manos_.
As to the carriage and horses, the question, in the case of Mr. George's
party, was soon settled. Vittorio said that his regular price was three
napoleons a day for a full party. This is about twelve dollars, and
includes the keeping of the horses, and all the tolls, tariffs, and way
expenses of every kind. Mr. George had ascertained that this was about
the usual price, and he did not ask Vittorio to take any less.
For the board of the party by the way, Vittorio said that they could
themselves call for what they wanted at the hotels, and pay their own
bills, or _he_ would provide for them all the way, on their paying him a
certain sum per day for each person. This last is the usual plan adopted
when travelling in Italy, for the hotel keepers are very apt to charge
too much when the travellers call for and pay the bills themselves.
Whereas, when the vetturino pays, the hotel keepers are much more
reasonable. They are aware that the vetturino knows what the charges
ought to be, and they are afraid, if they overcharge him for his party,
that then he will take his next party to some other hotel.
"And what shall you give us," asked Mr. George, in talking with Vittorio
on this subject, "if you provide for us?"
"In the morning," replied Vittorio, "before we set out, there will be
coffee or tea, and bread and butter, with eggs. Then, when we stop at
noon, you will have a second breakfast of mutton chops, fried potatoes,
fried fish, omelets, and other such things. Then, at night, when the
day's journey is done, you will have dinner."
"Very well," said Mr. George. "I should think that that might do. And
how much must we pay you?"
"It used to be eight francs a day," said Vittorio; "but the price of
every thing is raised, and now we cannot do it well for less than nine
francs. I will do it for nine francs apiece all round."
"But there are two boys," said Mr. George. "Don't you charge any thing
extra for boys?"
"No, sir," said Vittorio, smiling. He thought at first that Mr. George
was going to ask for some abatement on account of a portion of the party
being young. "No, sir; we don't charge any thing extra for them."
"You _would_ charge extra for them, I think," said Mr. George, "if you
only knew how much they can eat."
Vittorio smiled and said that if the party would pay nine francs apiece
all round, he should be satisfied, without asking for any thing extra on
account of the boys.
The third item of expense in an Italian journey consists of the _buono
manos_. In Italy, and indeed generally in Europe, though especially in
Italy, nobody, in rendering you a service, is satisfied with receiving
merely what you agreed to pay for the service. Every one expects
something over at the end, as a token of your satisfaction with him. If
you employ a guide in a town to show you about to the places and things
that are curious there, under an agreement that he is to have a dollar a
day, he is not satisfied at night if you pay him merely a dollar. He
expects twenty cents or a quarter of a dollar over, as a _buono mano_,
as it is called. This is the understanding on which the bargain is made.
In the same manner, when you pay your bill at the hotel, the waiter
expects you to give him a _buono mano_. If any body renders the
vetturino a service along the road, it is the vetturino who pays them,
because it is in the agreement that he is to pay the way expenses; but
then, after getting their pay from him, and also his _buono mano_, they
generally come to the carriage and ask for another _buono mano_ from the
party of travellers. Some travellers get vexed and out of patience with
this system, and always give, if they give at all, with scowling looks
and moody mutterings. Others, seeing how poor all the people are, and
how hard it is for them to get their living, are very willing to pay,
especially as it is generally only a few cents in each case that is
required. Still, unless the traveller understands the system, and
prepares himself beforehand with a stock of small change, the _buono
mano_ business gives him a good deal of trouble. If he does so provide
himself, and if he falls into the custom good naturedly, as one of the
established usages of the country, which is moreover not without its
advantages, it becomes a source of pleasure to him to pay the poor
fellows their expected fees.
"Rollo," said Mr. George, "I am going to put the whole business of the
_buono manos_ into your hands."
"Good!" said Rollo. "I'll take the business if you will only give me the
money."
"How much will it require, Vittorio, for each day, to do the thing up
handsomely?" asked Mr. George.
Vittorio immediately began to make a calculation. He reckoned in
_pauls_, the money which is used most in the central parts of Italy. The
substance of his calculation was, that for the whole party about half a
dollar would be a proper sum to pay to the domestic at the hotel where
they stopped for the night, and a quarter of a dollar or less at noon.
Then there were chambermaids, ostlers, and drivers of extra horses or
oxen to help up the long hills, all of whom would like a small _buono
mano_. This would bring the amount up to about six francs, or a dollar
and a quarter a day, on the plan of doing the thing up handsomely, as
Mr. George had proposed.
"You mean to be generous with them, uncle George," said Rollo.
"Yes," said Mr. George. "In travelling in Italy, pay out liberally to
every body that renders you any service, but not a sou to beggars.
That's my rule."
"Besides," he continued, "it is good policy for us to be generous in
this case, for Mrs. Gray will pay two thirds of the money. So that you
and I, sitting in the coop, as you call it, will have all the pleasure
of the generosity, with only one third of the expense of it."
While Mr. George was saying this, he took his wallet out of his pocket,
and opened to the compartment of it which contained napoleons.
"Let us see," said he; "we shall be ten days on the way in going to
Naples, and Sunday makes eleven. Six francs a day for eleven days makes
sixty-six francs."
So saying, he took out three gold napoleons, for the sixty francs, and
six francs in silver, and handing the whole to Rollo, said, "There's the
money."
"But, uncle George," said Rollo, "I can't pay the _buono manos_ in
gold."
"No," said Mr. George; "you must get the money changed, of course."
"And what shall I get it changed into?" asked Rollo.
"I don't know, I'm sure," said Mr. George. "That's for you to find out.
We have three different kinds of currency between here and Naples. We
are now in Tuscany. After we get through Tuscany we come into the Roman
states, and after we get through the Roman states we shall come into the
kingdom of the two Sicilies, where Naples is. You will require
different money in all these countries, and you must look out and not
have any left over, or at least very little, when you cross the
frontiers."
"But how shall I manage that?" asked Rollo.
"_I_ don't know," said Mr. George, "any more than you do. If I had it to
do, I should try to find out. But that is your affair, not mine. You
said that if I would give you the money you would take the whole
business of the _buono manos_ off my hands. I must go now and see about
my arrangement with Mrs. Gray."
"Well," said Rollo, "I'll find out what to do."
Thus the _buono mano_ question was disposed of.
As to the board, Mr. George made a verbal agreement with Vittorio that
he would pay fifty-four francs a day for the whole party, and that, in
consideration of that sum, Vittorio was to provide board and lodging for
them all, at the best hotels, and in the best style. He paid for five
days in advance. At the end of that time, the party were to be at
liberty either to continue the system at the same rate, or to abandon
it, and pay the bills at the hotels themselves.
In respect to the carriage and horses, Vittorio brought him an
agreement, filled up from a printed form, which he and Vittorio signed
in duplicate. It was as follows. There was a picture of a carriage and
horses at the head of it. I give you the document in the original
French. If you are studying French yourself, you can read it. If not,
you must ask some one to translate it for you, if you wish to know what
it all means.
VITTORIO GONSALVI, VOITURIER.
[Illustration]
FLORENCE, le 22 Mars, 1857.
Par la présente écriture, faite à double original, pour valoir et
pour être strictement observée, comme de droit, par les parties
contractantes, a été fixe, et convenu ce qui suit.
Le propriétaire de voiture, Gonsalvi, domicilié à Rome, promet et
s'oblige de servir Monsieur George Holiday et sa suite dans le
voyage qu'il veut entreprendre de Florence à Napoli, par la voie de
Arezzo, Perugia, Rome, et Terracina, et être conduit par un bon
voiturier, pour le prix convenu de trois cents francs, pour la
voiture et les quatre chevaux.
Moyennant ce paiement, qui s'effectuera moitié avant de partir,
moitié à Napoli, le propriétaire de voiture, ou son conducteur
délégué, est tenu des obligations ci-après designées.
Tous les frais occasionnés pour le passage des fleuves, rivières,
ponts, et montagnes, ainsi que ceux des barrières, seront à la
charge du voiturier conducteur.
L'étrenne d'usage à donner au voiturier conducteur sera selon son
bon service.
Le dit voyage sera fait dans dix jours complets.
Le depart de Florence est fixé dans le journée du 23 courant, a
onze heures matin.
Pour tous les jours en sus, qu'il plairait à dit Monsieur Holiday
de s'arrêter dans une ville, ou qu'il y fut forcé par des
imprévues, il est convenu qu'il payera cinq francs par jour par
cheval pour la nourriture des chevaux.
Le voiturier devra constamment descendre dans de bonnes auberges,
et partira tous les matins de bonne heure, pour arriver tous les
soirs avant la nuit à l'auberge ou l'on devra coucher.
Et pour l'observance des conditions ci-dessus mentionnées, les
parties interessées l'ont volontairement signée.
GEORGE HOLIDAY,
VITTORIO GONSALVI.
The agreement which Mr. George made with Mrs. Gray was not so difficult
to understand. Mrs. Gray did not, as Rollo had predicted, appear
unwilling to make a definite arrangement in respect to the respective
privileges and rights of the various members of the party in the
carriage and at the hotels. She was a very sensible woman, and she saw
the propriety of Mr. George's suggestion at once. Mr. George attributed
the necessity of it, in part, to there being so many children in the
party.
"When there are children," said he, "we must have system and a routine."
"That is very true," said Mrs. Gray.
"And the more formal and precise the arrangement is, the better," said
Mr. George. "It amuses them, and occupies their minds, to watch the
operation of it."
"Yes," said Mrs. Gray; "I have no doubt of it."
"Then," said Mr. George, "I will draw up some articles of agreement,
and if you approve of them, Rosie shall make a copy of them. Rosie shall
keep the copy, too, after she has made it, and shall see that the rules
are all observed."
"But what shall I do," said Rosie, "if any body breaks any of the
rules?"
"Then they must be punished," said Mr. George. "You shall determine what
the punishment shall be, and I will see that it is inflicted."
So Mr. George drew up a set of rules; but before proposing them to Mrs.
Gray and her children, he read them to Rollo. He read as follows:--
I.
The interior of the carriage, all the way, shall belong to Mrs.
Gray and her family, and the _coupé_ to Mr. George and Rollo. Mr.
George or Rollo may, perhaps, sometimes ride inside; but if they do
so, it is to be understood that they ride there as the guests of
Mrs. Gray; and in the same manner, if at any time any of Mrs.
Gray's party ride outside, it will be as the guests of Mr. George
and Rollo.
"Good!" said Rollo. "I like that regulation very much. I shall not want
to get inside very often."
"You may sometimes wish to invite Rosie to take your place outside,
when it is very pleasant, and you take her place inside," suggested Mr.
George.
"No," said Rollo; "there will be room outside for her and me too. She
can sit right between you and me."
"And, perhaps, sometimes I may invite Rosie and her brother to come
outside and ride with you, while I go inside with Mrs. Gray," added Mr.
George.
"_That_ will be a good plan," said Rollo. "But now what is the second
rule?"
II.
On arriving at a hotel for the night, Mrs. Gray is to take her
choice first of all the rooms shown, for herself and Rosie. Then
from the other rooms Mr. George is to choose the bed that he will
sleep in. Then the two boys are to choose from the beds that are
left, each to have the first choice alternately, beginning with
Josie.
"Why should Josie begin?" asked Rollo. "I am the oldest."
"True," said Mr. George; "but it is of no consequence at all which
begins, and as _we_ are drawing up the rules, it is polite and proper to
give Josie the precedence in such a point."
"Very well," said Rollo; "go on. How about Susannah?"
"O, it is not necessary to make any rule about Susannah," replied Mr.
George. "I suppose that Mrs. Gray will take her into her room, if there
is a spare bed there. If not, they must make some other arrangement for
her."
III.
Every evening before the party separate for the night, Mrs. Gray
shall decide at what hour we shall set off the next morning, and
also at what hour we shall breakfast, after first hearing what
Vittorio's opinion is as to the best time for setting out.
"Why can't we have a fixed time for setting out every day?" asked Rollo,
"and agree about it once for all beforehand."
"Because we have different distances to go on different days," said Mr.
George, "so that sometimes we shall have to set out much earlier than
will be necessary at other times."
"Then why should not we consult together as to the time?" asked Rollo.
"I don't see any reason for leaving it altogether to _one_ of the
party."
"Why, you see that Mrs. Gray is a lady," replied Mr. George, "and it
takes a lady longer to dress and get ready than men. Besides, she has
two children to look after."
"And Susannah to help her," said Rollo.
"True," said Mr. George; "still it seems proper that the time for
setting out should be fixed by the lady,--of course, after hearing what
the vetturino has to say."
"I think so too," said Rollo; "so go on."
IV.
Any person who is not ready to sit down to breakfast at the time
which shall have been appointed by Mrs. Gray the evening before, or
who shall not be ready to enter the carriage at the time appointed,
shall pay a fine, except in the case hereinafter provided for. If
the person so behindhand is one of the children, the fine shall be
two cents, or the value thereof in the currency of the country
where we may chance to be; and if it is one of the grown persons,
the fine shall be three times that amount, that is, six cents.
"Yes; but suppose we don't wake up?" suggested Rollo.
"That contingency is provided for in the next article," said Mr. George.
V.
It shall be Mr. George's duty to knock at all the bedroom doors
every morning, three quarters of an hour before the time fixed for
breakfast; and if he fails to do so, then he shall pay all the
fines for tardiness that may be incurred that morning by any of the
party.
"Very good!" said Rollo.
VI.
It shall be Rosie's duty to decide whether or not any persons are
tardy any morning; and her mother's watch shall be the standard of
time. Her decisions shall be without appeal; and no excuses
whatever shall be heard, nor shall there be any release from the
fine, except in the case of a failure of Mr. George to knock at the
doors, as hereinbefore provided.
"But we might some of us have a good excuse some time," said Rollo.
"True," said Mr. George; "we doubtless shall. But if we go upon the plan
of admitting excuses, then there will be a long debate every morning, on
the question whether the excuses are good or not, which will cause a
great deal of trouble. It is better for us to pay the fine at once. It
is not much, you know."
"Well," said Rollo, "go on."
VII.
Josie is hereby appointed treasurer, to collect and keep the fines.
"And what is to be done with the money?" asked Rollo.
"You will see," said Mr. George.
VIII.
Any one of the party who shall at any time make complaint of any
thing in respect to the carriage, or the riding during the day, or
in respect to the food provided at the hotels, or the rooms, or the
beds, when we stop for the night, except when such complaint
relates to an evil which may be remedied, and is made with a view
to having it remedied, shall be fined one cent, or the value
thereof in the currency of the country. Rosie is to be the sole
judge of the infractions of this rule, and is to impose the fine,
while Josie, as before, is to collect and keep the money.
"I wish you would make me the treasurer," said Rollo.
"No," said Mr. George; "you have the care of the _buono mano_ fund.
Josie shall be treasurer for the fines."
"Very well," said Rollo.
IX.
On the arrival of the party at Naples, the amount of the fine money
shall be expended in the famous Neapolitan confectionery, and shall
be divided equally among the three children.
"Good!" said Rollo. "But, uncle George, I don't think you ought to call
us _children_ exactly. We are almost all of us twelve or thirteen."
"True," said Mr. George, "you are not children; but what can I call you
to distinguish you from the grown persons of the party. The regular and
proper designation for persons under age, in a legal document, is
_infants_."
"Hoh!" said Rollo, "that is worse than _children_."
"I might call you the young persons, or the junior members of the
party."
"Yes," said Rollo, "that will be better; the junior members of the
party."
So it was agreed to strike out the word _children_ wherever it occurred
in the document, and insert in lieu of it the phrase _junior members of
the party_.
With this correction the document was read to Mrs. Gray in the hearing
of Rosie and Josie. They all approved it in every respect. The draught
was then given to Rosie in order that she might make a fair copy of it.
When the copy was made, the nine rules were read again in the hearing of
the whole party, and all agreed to abide by them.
Thus the arrangements for the journey were complete; and Mrs. Gray,
after learning from Vittorio that the first day's journey would not be
long, and that it would answer to set out at any time before noon, fixed
the hour for departure at eleven o'clock. Vittorio said he would be at
the door half an hour before, in order to have time to load the baggage.
[Illustration: READING THE ARTICLES.]