Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-02
AMONG THE HANiLETS.
Glimpses of the Life Of the Poorer
Glasses OF Interior Italy.

MIR. Lee MeriWether makes observations Of
small details of life among the lowly,
which are exceedingly interesting to us
5000 miles away, TO whom the straits Of
the European poor classes ure unknown
conditions. Some passages from recent
letter Of his are as follows:
There is nothing like a foOt-ramp
through foreign country to got az toe
s'true inwardness" OF the peoples lives.
To visit only the sbOW-p places the guide
books tell OF is but htJle batter than
reading books of descriptions. To an
American Of practical prociiVltle7 II app
pears strange To see the towns and villages
perched up on the summit OF nigh bills, or
the almost inaccessible sides OF noun
tains, as they always are IN this historic
land. That this j. So, IS doubtless owing
10 the fact that these villages and towns
began ia the savage aga, when war was
the general business Of life, Wncu people
had 20 prepare 20 defend themselves
against attacks. The narrow streets, only
feet wide. probably were war neces-
sity IL was cheaper 70 wall in small
towns than large, and cOmpactne was
an economic measure. Americans have
reason 10 be thankful shat their towns are
based on the idea OF peace, not war, hence
the weary pedestrian never has TO climb
thousand feet " hen ne enters an Ameri-
can Village 10 Htth a nlEul y ApuElliks
The town Of MontahuscOne stands on an
eminence 200 feet nigh Another thing
that strikes the American is the differ
ence in the religious ceremonies OF CathO-
lies here under the eve OF the supreme
pOntiff and the ceremonies OF Catholics in
democratic America 1900 miles distant
from the supreme ponuh. The curious
sight | witnessed as ! climbed up the
1000 feet to the village OF MOntehascone
M a rhfa Hffprnnpn First
procession Of about 1909 men and boys,
wearing sacks which covered them from
the top of their heads 70 their heels. In
the sacks were two holes cut for the eyes
aud one for the nose. Some OF these sacks
were OF a sombre color, Others bright red,
yellow and blue. Next came little
army OF men also fuutssticsliy dressed
Some carried candles, some swung lamps,
some bore large crosses with the hie-slze
dgureOt Christ. some had Bibles, or skulls,
or bells in their hands.
THIS PRIEsTLY ARMY
was followed by about 1000 peasants,
men. women and children ia their gayeSt
holiday attire. ] followed in the rear 10
see what was going to be done. They
marched into "a large church, " bich stood
en- the summit Of high hill, 0verlooking
and and beautiful landscape. As many
a., could crowded into the church. and the
others stood around. some fell on their
knees and told their beads as the priests
prayed or chaGted within. This perform
ance was in cOmmemOratiOn OF the Cessa-
ton of plague that, in the long years
ago, had afflicted the people.
The Italian peasants pass their lives in
perpetual work, without even the dream
of achieving independence. The children
begin almost in infancy 20 labor. Little
creatures q, and s years old AIRED kept
busy picking leaves along the road to feed
silk-wOrms. | Saw a little girl, seemingly
about years old, over small tub wash
ing clothes. Old men and women, lame
and weak, h0bble along VITA bro0ms and
baskets sweeping up the fertliilpg ma
teFial to be found along the roads. Little
children and old people gather up brush
aud twigs and sohnters tor fuel, and use
them with such close economy as appears
WOnaeriui to an American accustomed 10
the abundance OF our country. There is
no coal in the interior OF Italy. The IRE
places, however, arH immensely large, as
If expected TO accommodate the huge
back-logs OF Western America. The
hearths are raised two Ieet above the
floor. On each side is bench where
peasant sits and smokes when not at work.
/ saw a woman one cold day I'll a small
bucket with not ashes and set il under her
chaif to keep Der warm as she pursued
her knitting. ! thought Of Sellers and his
candle in the stove. The wages men and
women earn seem pitifully small. Mod
ern machinery is yeta novelty in this part
of Italy. Old-tashioned farming nipple
ments are yet in vogue, and the women
still spin and weave after the manner of
our ancestors. Weaving is carried on in
dark rooms or damp cellars. A rapid
weaver can make about niue yards day,
and, as she is paid 3 cents an hour, by
working late she can make 30 cents a
low Ia - a.
told her of our cOuEtry--Our big forests,
abundant fuel, good wages.
''fhirty cents day is not had,N she re-
piled; Il put by 10 cents every day"
"But think, signorB. in America your
husband can get 81 or 81 day-meat, veg
etables, room with "a plank floor, and a
window"
''Ah, signor, can that be true for poor
people! But 1t Is 80 fan, far away" and
she went on throwing her swift shuttle to
earn 30 cents a day.
In a country with 50 many Princes and
soldiers and mOnks-au nOnprOducers,
nOnWOTkers-0f course the poor must do
double duty IN the way Of work, and SUIT
fer more than their due share Of the hard
ships Of life. In the interior places. the
peasants are so little accustomed TO the
Visits OF foreigners they cannot under
stand why young man should stroll over
the land, poking his way into the cot
tages and spying out the customs of the
people. The only possible reason that
presents itself to the peasant mind is that
the traveller
is HUNTING A WIFE.
l suppose when the peasant wishes to
marry, he sets about it IN a practical
way, as man does when he wishes to
own horse. While talking 70 the weav-
ing or spinning women they almost InYa-
riRbly questioned me on the subject:
married, signOry"
"No, no wife"
sis she deadp
"NO; she never lived"
"Ah! Signor is looking around to find a
wifeg
was asked this question very often,
and on one occasion ! departed from tue
truth IN my reply-that ie, perpetrated
ridiculous joke which caused me more mn
nOyance than had expected. u happened
thus: one evening as sat on tue rutns
of the town wall watching the sunset, "a
bright lutte girl OF about T. 0r l3 stopped
and stared at me, and rs aid not exhibit
any dangerous pr0clivities, she shyly
drew nearer, and We soon fell into
friendly cnHt. After awhile came the in
eYitable query;
married, siguOr|
"Unhapplly, 20, signora,"l replied, in
Na.aa. UaHa U.H.Ha