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"For the Love of a Lady" National Advocate (Bathurst, NSW : 1889 - 1954) 21 February 1912: 3. Web. 30 Jul 2026 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157954742>

For the Love of a Lady

ITALIAN STABBED IN QUARREL.

MELBOURNE, Tuesday.

There is an atmosphere of romance, about the adventures of Joseph Piastri, who lies in the Melbourne Hospital. To the officials there Piastri is only a “case” suffering from an incised wound. But to people possessed of temperament he appears a replica of many a hero of grand opera and grand passions, a “son of Vesuvius,” whose undoing was due to the fiery Latin nature that leads to song and stilettos, poetry and paragraphs.

Piastri is 25 years of age, a laborer. He was admitted for treatment of a stab in the right aim, and two punctured wounds on the body. How the injuries were caused he cannot or will not state. All he says is that he had a fight, and that he discovered that he had been stabbed.

For five years he had been the favored suitor of a young woman. Two days ago she left him and transferred her affections to another. Late last night, according to Piastri, while he was in a hotel in Exhibition-street, his old flame entered with her new squire. She was haughty, and in a spirit of pride in her new possession, taunted the old but discarded lover. “Here's the man I love now,” she said. “Do you want to fight him?”

“If you want him, go with him,” remarked Piastri.

Hereupon her newly-found possession stepped forward. Slapping his manly chest, after the approved method of heroes who go to the assistance of beauty in distress, he said, “That girl is mine now.”

“All right,” rejoined Piastri. “If she wants you, you can have her.”

The hero felt that he wanted someone worth fighting for. Love won too easily is not appreciated as much as that gained after a struggle. “Square everything up,” he said to the discomfited Joseph. “I will now fight you for her.”

The gage was accepted, and four or five youths ranged themselves on the side of the challenger, and two agreed to see to the requirements of Joseph’s corner. Then the party adjourned to a lane off Little Lonsdale-street.

Judging by the question of one of the challenger’s supporters, there are different methods of fighting in the locality. He asked Piastri, “What kind of a fight is it to be?”

“A fair stand-up go,” replied the young Italian.

The combat began. The men got into “holts,” and Piastri dashed his enemy to the ground. The seconds broke in and tore Piastri away. He would fight no more, and went home to bed, weary and heartsore. Sleep came to him quickly, and he forgot the troubles of the night.