Morning journal and courier., 1882-04-17
"The Sicilian Vespers."
The Dreadful Event Commemorated in
 Palermo, March 31.


 Palermo, March 31.
 IL. P. Comedians Rome Letter in Boston Pilotl
 At the end of the preseLs month (March) the inhabitants of Palermo, in Sicily, intend 10 hold high festival in commemoration of the massacre of the French, which occurred in that city 600 years ago. Among other at fractions will be the performance of histori- cal drama entitled ''The Sicil1an Vespers, !" at which Garibaldi, in spite of his failing health, will assist. Mention is made also of a very rich arrangement of scenery, a sea fight and an illumination of the Bay of Palermo The author of the drama, Count Riccisrdi, says that it is to be desired that no one in France will mistake the meaning of such manifestation the French should re gard 1t with the same eyes that they would regard like festival in honor of Joan d'Arc, who devoted her life to the glories of ex- polling the English from France. The com memoration of March 31 should only be con- sidered in France as a new expression of the national sentiment protesting against all domination and against all foreign influence. The Count Ricciardi concludes by saying that should he be called upon to speak he will end his discourse with these words: Peace and fraternity between nations, but on the sole condition that none of them shall trample upon the rights of others"
 The incident to be commemorated on this
 
 able and tragical in Italian annals, and is thus related by Michele Amsri: In front of the church of San Spirito, about half a mile to the south of Palermo, stood an open plain or espIanado which 600 years ago was ia vorite resort of the Palermitans. On Easter Tuesday in 1282, which in that year fell on the 31st of March, this plain, carpeted with spring flowers, was, at the hour of Yespers, crowded with citizens vending their way to the church. Divided into numerous groups, they walked, sat in clusters, spread the tables or danced upon the grass; and whether 1t was defect or merit of the Sicilian char acter threw of for the moment the recellec- ton of their suffering, the followers of the judiciary (the French Governor) sud denly appeared among them, and every bosom thrilled with a shudder of disgust. The French were at that time masters of Sicily. ] The strangers came, with their usual irsolent demeanor, as they said, to maintain tranquil lity and for this purpose they mingled in the groups joined in the dances and famil- iarly accosted the women, pressing the hand of one, taking unwarranted liberties with others, addressing indecent words and gestures to those more dis tant until some temperately admon- ished them to depart, in Gods name, without insulting the women, and others murmured angrily; but the hot-blooded youths raised their voices go fiercely that the soldiers said one to another, These insolent pdteTiai must be armed that they dare thus to answer and replied to them with ths most offensive in l suits, insisting on searching them for arms, and even striking them with sticks or thongs. Every heart throbbed fiercely on every side, when young woman of singular beauty and of modest and dignifed department appeared with her husband and relations, bending her steps toward the church. Dfouet, a French man, impelted either by insolence or license, approached her as if to examine her for con. cealed weapons, laid hold of her and searched her bosom. She fell fainting in her bus bands arms, who, in a voice almost choked with rage, exclaimed: Death, death to the Frenchr ? At the same moment youth burst from the crowd which had gathered round them, sprang upon Drouet, disarmed and slew him. Noble examples have g power far beyond that of argument or elo quence to rouse the people, and the abject slaves awoke at length from their long bond age. Death, death to the French ? they erred, and the cry, say the historians of the time, 're-echoed like the voice of God through the whole country, and found an answer in every heart Above the corpse of Drouet were heaped those of victims slain on either side the crowd expanded itself, closed Tn, and swayed hither and thither in wild confusion ; the Sicilians, with sticks, stones and knives, rushed with desperate ferocity upon their fully armed opponents they sought for them and hunted them down fearful tragedies were enacted amid the preparations for fes- tivity, and the overthrown tables were drenched in blood. The people displayed their strength, and conquered. The struggle was brief, and great the slaughter of the Sicilians but of the French there were POO and POO fell.
 'Breathless, covered with blood, brandish- ing the plundered weapons, and proclaiming the insult and it's vengeance the insurgents rushed toward the tranquil city. Death to the French ' they shouted, and as many as were found were put to the sword. The ex- ample, the words, the contagion of passion,