Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-13
ANITATN'NLraEND. AN


Isehia, like all Italkap localities, has its
patron saint, they call hsr Santa RestitltG.
Wien persecution was rasing In Egypt, in
the third century, says the simple legend,
the body Of a young maiden, With mill
stone tied round her neck, foated across
the sea and rested in a creek on the south
side Of the island. The creek IS called sfter
the martyr 10 tbs day, and abora 1t are
rocks whose black raass literally oyerhangs
and roofs in pat Of the, bay. Just where
her kaaly rested, in a My barren place,
lilie$ grew up aud continued to bloom
they are there now and are very peculiar :.
well as very lovely, a SOFT of cross bet .zae,,
the lily and tire iris, with delicate ,o;,,toI
petals, five in number, and a. tai, ~ smoe y
stem with very little verdre. E,ote i, ~ ~
these flowers grow nowhe' "a A. ,ol oihS qC
island or out of it, but e.e on TIE
in land of their own ~ WIZ not gro"
planted with a quaint rsey toii trans
mill stone that was .Ey e.ss OiseWhere' ht
said to be imbedd SSpo NJ Ile sam neek i
hood Of her S 70 "Sl ~ 'iie neignDor'
tell Iate: dr the same or not no one car
~ -o,, ION, a church was erected over
cbosar AIMS of tie martyr, ard she was
-, pstrpness of the islam. A very GU.
~ s Byzantine figure, gilt ali over and
any life size, was made in wood and
placed over the altar. In one hand
Fne WAS pictured as holding a book
eof the gospels, and in the other a
ifulrigged vessel. When the south of Italy
was invested by Saracen hordes, Ischia did
- not escape plllage, and, of course, Judging
the most precious things to be in the church,
as they always were in Catholic times. the
mannders rushed to Santa Restituta' 5
ssirule and attempted to carry offthe golden
statue, as they believed it to be.
The statue, naturally, was movable one.
and used to be carried in procession on Ger
tain stated occasions, but now il remained
rooted 10 the spot, and no effort of the stall
vart intidels could move it a hairs breadth
from its pedestal In rage and disappoint-
ment, one of them struck at il sayagely
with his scimetar, and a mark upon its
Knee still attests this outrage. The sacrlege
was promptly punished, for the men them
selves now found they were unable
to move, and remained inyisibly chained at
the foot of the miraculous image If they
were released, the legend does not say; let
us hope that they were freed by faith and
that Conversion followed this strange sign.
Tine statue remained immovable ever since,
aDd another image was made TO be car
ried in procession, with the addition
cof tie miracUlously riveted Saracens
IN suiAl ptlIlIeu group on the
same stand as the figure ITSELF Whether
the legend be absolutely true, or only partly
50; whether fact and figure be mixed to-
gether, and things spiritual typifed under
tangible forms, it is not for us 10 decide. but
tire simple faith of the happy
islanders is certainly to be ad-
niltted, and even 10 be eHvied. They have
rejoicing fireworks, professions, songs.
and scr7ices, and a military parade of what
National Guards they can muster, to cele-
brate their Saints anniversary; they are
proud Of her, and point out her statue, and
. tel: her history to strangers with the same
enthusiasm with which soldiers speak OF a
; faY0-iie Gennral.