The incident did me good, and I went on in a happier humour.
Which was not perturbed by something that fell under my eye soon afterwards.

At a shop door hung certain printed cards, bearing a notice that "wood hay-makers," "wood binders," and "wood mowers" were "sold here." Not in Italian this, but in plain, blunt English; and to each announcement was added the name of an English manufacturing firm, with an agency at Naples.

I have often heard the remark that Englishmen of business are at a disadvantage in their export trade because they pay no heed to the special requirements of foreign countries; but such a delightful illustration of their ineptitude had never come under my notice.

Doubtless these alluring advertisements are widely scattered through agricultural Calabria.

Who knows?
they my serve as an introduction to the study of the English tongue.
Not without cordiality was my leave-taking.