Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-06-30
FLORENCE Correspondence London Times
The Fiery Dove.
Curious Rsligiious Ceremony at Florence.

Yesterday the annual ceremony of the fiery
dove came off with much eclat, in the beauti-
full cathedral of Santa Maria del Flore. This
is very ancient and curious usage. dating
from the eleventh century. 1t is best known
as the scoPpjo del caro- or explosion of the
cart. According to tradition, certain NJ.
Pazzo del Pazzi-a name signifying, when
literally translated, ''madman of madnen''-
was the best lance among the Italian paladins
in the crusade Just $50 years ago, and was
the first to plant the Christian banner on
Jerusalem's bloodstaiaea rails. To reward
his proves. Godfrey de Bouillou presented
him with three small fragments of flint,
Clipped from the Holy Sepulchre. Brought
to Florence, these were carefully preserved
in gold box, and since then on every succeed
ing Saturday, in Passion Week. spark has
been struck from them to light the alter
candles in the cathedral. 4 lofty car. or
rather tower upon wheels, hung with fire.
works. and around the basement of which are
old paintings, dim and blackened by time, of
episodes in PaZZOs campaigns. is stationed
opposite the chief entrance to that maeniti-
cent church, and is connected with choir
by a tightly-strained rope passed up the
centre aisle at about seven feet from the
ground. At certain moment of the mass
match is applied to tin dove, which is sort
of tirework, and which flies along the rope,
splitting out showers of sparks as it passes
little above the heads of the congregation.
until, on reaching the carit ignites the wheels
and squibs and crackers fixed about it. and
there is forthwith a prodigious cracking and
tizzing, attended by much smoke but little
visible fire, for all this occurs about noon, and
nothing is tanner than fireworks in broad day
light. The explosion at an end, four great
white oxen ,wreathed and shaded with branch
es, as in Leopold Roberts pictures, are yoked
to the tower, which they drag off, slow and
tottering, to the Palaz2o Pazzi in a neighbor-
ing street, where more fireworks are let off
and the performance is over for the year. 1t
appears that its cost used to be borne by the
Pazzi family until very recent date, when
declining fortunes, or perhaps increasing tax
alton made them desire to discontinue it on
account of the expense, But the announce
ment Of this intention caused quite ferment
in the surrounding country With the flight
of the dove, the peasantry for miles around
connect the prospect Of good harvest. That
the prompt and perfect liquefacton of St
Januarus' blood is to the Ncapolitan, the
uninterrupted flight of the tin c0yonlJina is
to the Tuscan. If it sticks on the way, the
prospect is bad, and hail or draught or some
other disaster must be expected. The Flor
ence municipality though it expedient to keep
up the usage at its own cost. 1t is to be
hoped it found its reward in the qualification
of the multitude of peasants, uncouth but
gentle, who, with a sprinkling of FIorentine
idlers and foreigners, yesterday filled the
cathedral, and crowded about it. All went
well enough to satisfy the most superstitions.
At the appointed time the pigeon started from
the altar and shot the rope, scattering sparks
around, and, in spite of drizzIe of rain, the
fireworks cracked off mcrrily. The mob
Qtalian crowds are generally extremely well
behaved) gradually streamed out of the
church, and all was over until next year
The brown-visaged rustics who swarmed in
the cathedral have returned to their hamlets
with hearts at ease, confident Of Il frst-cass
vintage and copious corn crop. Italy has just
now great need that the anticipations should
be fulfilled.