The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-04-18
THE BEAUTIkUL ISLAND OF
ISCHIA OFF NAPLES.

The island is lovely in all seasons. In |
spring it is one large bed of flowers; in |
summer its deep shade of wood and vine-
yard makes it fresh and cool and green;
in autumn the changing vegetation IL
splendid in color, and the mountains glow
under the sunset rays like masses of gilded |
bronze; and in winter the sun makes the
sheltered spots as warm as our English
summer. In the vintage time it is redolent |
with the sweet odor of the grapes, and
musical with the songs and dance music
that makes the nights as gay as the days
are busy. Add to which certain natural
phenomena, which make it a specially in
terestipg place for scientists to study.
Ischia is classical ground. The Titan
Pypheus was once buried under Monte
Epomeo, as his brother Eneeladus was
buried under Btna. BY their heavings and
struggles they caused earthquakes and
eruptions, the last of which took place in
Ischia A. D. 1302-the black seam of lava
still lying like scar across the country,
and Just now bearing the first beginnings
of vegetation. On the fiesta of Corpus
Domini the mountain is lighted up with
bon6res, as also are Punto Cornaccohio
and the mushroom rock of Lacco, and the
effect is wild and splendid in the extreme.
The two great festos of the island-except-
ing at vintage time, which is general
holiday of kind, or rather worktiine made
into so much fun and gayety-are this
of Corpus Donini and that. of the patron
saint of the place, Santa Restituta, who
with some others, was martyred in Africa,
then foated by the winds and wave to the
small bay over against Lacco. Here, where
her body lay, burst out certain healing
waters and sprang up certain fair and
lovely lilies-Santa Restituta lilies which,
however collectors have rooted out SO
greedily that not one is left to show the
faithful how miracles were wrought in the
days of testimony. At herfesta there used
to be fying babies scattering flowers and
singing hymns high up in the air; but
probably these have been forbidden now,
as they have been forbidden elsewhere.
The peril to the infant seraphs may per-
haps be considered as more than the profit
to the souls of the spectators warrants; and
the authorities may hold that the fiesta
is complete with the draped church and
the military music, the procession, the
stalls, the dancing and singing and fire.
works which accompany these holiday
times everywhere, without the addition of
little children slung up in the air with ropes
and pulleys, to their certain death, should
things 20 wrong, and their as certain nerve
disorder should everything be even perfect
Dancing is distinctive feature at lschia
where they dance the tarantella better than
even in Capri. They have just so much
costume among them as is included IN
colored handkerchief wound in a classical
kind of way round the heads of the women,
and q splendid scarlet Phrygian cap for the
men. The women are more beautiful than
the more famed and petted Caprera girls;
but, perhaps luckily for them they have
, not SO great reputation, and are conse'
quently left in q purer atmosphere and
less doubtful conditions. In general theil
morals are blameless enough, and theil
= habits are primitive ve.-London 0''een,