The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-07
MIR. FLETCHER'S LETTER.
American Legion of Honor in Italy-Pict-
ureSque Weddings in Southern Europe.

NAPLES, Nov ~ i do ma some Iunny InluSS
in the italian papers about America, but they
are generally so mixed up with exaggeration and
downright lying that cannot always separate
truth from error until American journals reach
me. In one of the Roman journals l have just
read an article entitled Forced Temperance
and then begins the following: I'm the State OF
Indiana, although there has been no amendment
to the Constitution prohibiting the manufacture
and sale of alcoholic drinks, yet there are GER
tain counties where the local authorities have
established such an Introduction Nevertheless,
such local prohibition is not always strictly car
ried out as the authorities are lax" Then fol-
lows an account of how one "Signor Guglelmo
Bott, in the little village of Palmyra" was put
itbut" the Italian journal adds, these pretended
through by thirty cavalier astride their horses,
cavaliers were other than women disguised as
men, all belonging to the temperance society OF
the neighborhood" 1t continues that the ladies
(signorey in the bfurlSed garments went away
after they had Quilted "Sighor" Bolts establish
ment, and warned him chat if he reopened his
erog shop they would return and lyncherarono
iwould ynch) him. There is no word in any
language that expresses what we mean by
'"Iynchingn in the United States, and both the
sorry to see that the foreign editor is so ungal
LINT as to call these ladies' of Palmyra devils in
brseches" I think that if Rome were not so far
away, the "diavoli nellie culiote would pay that
editor a visit
Another italian journal, which bears the head
ing Of "Napoh, and is one of the best papers in
Naples said the other day, in an article on the
United States, that "a new legion Of honor was
created in the United States" That puzzled
mo, for knew that the old society of the Gin
.einnatP almost died soon after it was born. Fhe
article in question gave history of our laws
and rules forbidding the acceptance of foreign
orders by our officers military, naval, diplomat
&c. consular, etc, except by the special consent
of Congress, although private citizens can ac-
cept whenever such honors are conferred But
says the Napoli,, 'the passion for such orders
and decorations is so great that it pervades the
whole American society-not only the shallow
pated, but the most gifted as we cay prove by
the following fact" The Napol then states that
"a few years ago there came to Italy General
Sherman, the most illustrious officer Of the
United States We remember seeing him one
evening, in full uniform, alta ball given by the
iIiustrious Duke of Sermoneta, at Rome. On
his loft breast General Sherman wore kind Of
decoration consisting of a small eagle displayed
(heFaldic for spread-eagle. u G. FL which
sustained the shield of the United States-the
whole thing looking very much like the eagle on
Singers sewing machine advertisements Know
ing that there was no order of knighthood in the
United States, we asked an explanation of the
insignia and we're informed that the General be-
longed to a very fashionable and arstocratic
club in New York, to which persons were ad-
united with great difficulty, and only on the pay
ment of a large matricuation fee and aheavy
annuaptaz; but we were further told that the
members had the satsfaction to be able to ap-
pear with badge which made them seem as if
they were decorated as knights, commanders
ETC.
What Toes all this meant Old 'Tecumseh"
may have vanity, but do'not believe that he
would be quite vain as this would represent
him Possibly he may have worn the noffens-
i've badge of the New York Union Club. which
badge IS compared to Singers sewing machine
advertisement"
In.one of the last numbers of the Indianapo-
lis Journal which reached me, l read an extract
which you had quoted from the Philadelphia
Press, apropos of an American wedding in the
affected style of the so-caled ''esthetieis,nr
which has died out in England or is only held
on to. by very young, romantic people, or by
brainless fools. Here is the extract from the
Philadelphia Press:
"A Too-Too WEDDING.
Somebody writes to me describinea wedding
which certainly combined the aesthetic with the
picturesque and the too.too with tile utter.
The bridal pair stood under awning oc white
flowers, supported on twenty four silveIed; poles,
which were held by young men and young
women, alternately arranged The girls
amber silk, and the young men had amber vel
vet suits, with white waistcoats"
NOwI am going to copy from the 'Corriere de
Mattno" (Morning Journal), of Naples the notice
)Of wedding according to the customs in the
rural parts of southern Italy where there is no
.affectation. Let us say that the writer of the
NOTICE is poetical and in dead earnest:
let US Irvine the perfumed lotus-lotus the
lover of shady springs and fountains-with which
to crown the beautiful and well beloved bride
and that bride is the adored Signorna Teresina
Addimandi who has consecrated and fulfilled
with willing sweetness her ohaste of love.
The husband is Pasquale the second son Of
Baron of Grella The wedding took place at
Carif, on the 18th of November. Both Of these
new worshipers of Hymen are in the happy
springtime of life, and unite the most beautiful
gifts of mind to the amphtudes of fortune; she
II translate literally from the Italian, and ought
to emphasize the She and the he but in the
whole font Of the journal office the only
italics-ftting type for this translation-are to
found in the weather reports of the When. She
Is full of grace, wit. talent and modesty; he is
endowed with strong character and noble
ltiments.
married at Carifi, the newly welded pair and
invited guests'were in ten carriages and these
stately vehicles were lanked on either side by
twenty cavaliers, richly dressed young MOBILES
gentlemen of the northumberland there were
other fine cavaliers who heralded the procession
as it, over hill and through winding valley
jOurneyed on to Steveuo where the Baron Grella
resides. A large number of villages and ham
lets on the way, and at the entrance of each
one triuuphal arch had been erected by the
villagers and peasants, and, to pass under these
arches of triumph, wedding professions, &C
cording to an ancient custom, preserved in these
rural hamlets. must pay good round sum.
cat Sturno immense crowd of holiday
makers in their picturesque local costumes VOL
cOmad the radiant courla vyhila the Cavnliaro