New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-03-30

loving ears for music and viii stand for hours undef
a hot sun listening to the plaza bands. They ara
auick to detect inharmOnies. At operas they wll
hiss false note by anticipation almost before IL ~
issued, 50 critical are they and eXactln@. IN this
church when a dIscOrd was made shiYer ran
through the crowd as q gentle breeze Crinkles tne
surface of n pond when something true ana n0Dio
accomplished they sat silent theif iuI Hps
forming unspOken d" bravOs.'
When the service was over we got ont OF tho
church with no effort of orr own; the crOWd m
PEELED MS ~ II we were Dut TWO chip5 III ~, ~
of an Ohio freshet. The sun was low d9WM III mo
west .and preparations for the evening liiuinlha-
ton were beginning. To-day, SUNDAY. ihc:c was =
shortened repetition of yesterdays music1 service
in ~. Panls Church. At ITS conclusion the PrInci-
pal and most absorbing event connected WIN mo
festival, grand procession tbroueh w S'Icct'
of the city came OF. Balconies. windows roof
tops sidewalks. were all black and blue with spec
tatOrs had secured place IN an open balcony on
the second hO0T of the Grand Hotel winch over
hangs the Strada Reale, and at O'Clock the mead Oh
the column appeared IN this street. turning the
corner from the StTada CrstOfOrO INTO the falaco
Square. Tho procession Sas one ana nan Iiouis ia
passing but that was on account Of its snall-ilke
Progress and frequent hals, not because o. ~ great
numbers. 1t was remarkable procession, mate up
of all the different orders and classes Oh priests
monks, frIars and religions contraternitles on mo
island III there 500 men and boys IN tno
double lne-as | think there were az least-lOO
were priests and monks and acolytes. Livery pair
of hands carried wax taper twice the size OF a
brOom-stick, and every head was bare save tno
heads OF the JrdteLi religious laymen'. VINO wore
brown linen gowns and hoods with rohnd elc-hol's.
The Capuehn friars presented perhaps the most
picturesque and medieval appearance Of the long
train with their hayen crowns sandaiied feet coarse
long gowns and hoods, roped waists from when
dangled rude crosses, and bearded races. mo
Meudicant Capuchn frlars are usually unshaVeni
and their grlsly boards and Scared snn-Drowned
faces remind IN American OF the homes. old iarm-
ers" from sway back" The procession grew
richer in tone and effect as II neared ITS close wlere
at length the clergy OF St Paul, arrayed IN yellow
vestments stiff az if made of tin and as prlcetuI
as real gold braid and antique lace could make
nODt nm he rplr
honor bearing among them glltterng image Oh 81.
Paul of twice life size and weighing at least NAN
ton. 1t was placed on platform ana twenty
white robed Maltese frdteil bent under the SAINTS
unearthly weight they advanced IN snort; taIte,-
ing steps Of not more than SIX inches 10 ea'n Ieau;
AS this image was borne Dy tue crowd uncovered
and fell on IT'S knees the priests chanted Mseri-
cOrda," the censer-swinger sent sNeet-smeilng
clouds of incense to right and lett ana 81 F3uI'
clad IN flowing garments OF gold crimson ana Dlue,
"A halo of slender gold clrclng his head, holdlng q
butt book in the hollow of his left arm ana Two,
edged sword in the left hand, blessed the people and
the Strada keale and the houses anc the whole
island with his stifened Outsretched right arm, as
only an untring statue is able to DO. ,
For hundreds of years, each lOth OF February a
similar procession has emerged from -. Pauis
Church and turning 10 the lett CLIMBED the Strads
San PaolO turned into the Strada CristofOro' turned
again into the Strada Reale, passed part of that
streets length 10 the Strada Giovanni, mp the
Strada Giovanni along the front OF the st0rc 9iu
fortIess-church of ST. John where the knights no
buried, and crawling through the Suada Mercanti,
entered the other end of the Strada San Paoio Just
back of the grand old Au6erge I'll Casthe WhTIe ~
passed through a lofty arch surmonnted Dy
wooden figure OF the great SAINT OF Malta Inns
arch stands at the head of and looks down into and
along the whole scOoplng length of the strada San
PaOlo curious proceeding was INDUCED IN here;
AS soon as the tram with its craven image had
passed under the arch, the procession lost its
solemn ecclesiastical character and became the
nucleus of a shouting waving, boIsterOus mass OF
humanity. The bands struck up waltZcs, the bells
of the city pealed if crazy with Joy, the women
on honsetOps and in balconies waved flags ana
handk6rchiefs the people on the street swung their
hats and tossed their caps, and ten thousand voices
cried Viva San PaOlow