St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-11-10

A correspondent writing from Rome says:
what curiosity she would be in America,
a female hOd carrier. She would soon re-
tire from that business TO attitudiniZe in a
museum, and people would look at her.
know, with greater wOnderment than at
the best Niagara crank. But here she is so
little of an attraction that she doesn't dra W
the attention of her fellow workmen. Her
femininity is certainly not universally
fascinating, for she's not very clean. In
deed. as general thing, she is very dirty.
She seems a shade or two blacker than her
brother IabOrerS. Sometimes she is young
and pretty. but ofteneSt she is old and hag
featured; but whether young or
old her general appearance would
not make good advertise
ment picture for Somebody's Soap"
Her garments usually consist of ragged
dress, polka dotted with mud or mortar; and
elSt white apron now beclayed into an ugly
saffron. and the rough-Stuff leg covering
twisted in twine, and even dirter than the
apron. Physically, they are very strong.
these female mOrtar-carrierS. In place of a
nod they use long, narrow iron pan, with
handles at either end. When they have
titled tile pan some one helps them to lift
it on their heaps, and then, with this eX-
cessive load, they go climbing mp the per-
pendicular ladders. They mingle with the
men on equal terms, and the petticoats and
voices alone indicate to the passer-bY that
they belong to the tender sex.
Well. you have stopped in front Of a
house in course of erection to look at the
wOrkmen. 1t is already o'clock, and they
have all finished for the day; so let us see
the laborerS coming out. | want to see how
the men 60 home from work. for it is some
thing you are bound to see. yes and to hear,
too. if you remain long in Rome. See, they
come out into the street with a rush and a
jump-very different from the dlgnifed
pace of our American laborer or mechanic
They are happy at finishing work, and are
like lot of boys out of school. Look; you
see those four fellows waiting there? DO
you know whas they are waiting for? 1t is
for their singer. Ali there he is. I'll
wager that's the fellow. Sure enough
for now they're off. Well, let's follow and
listen. Heavens! look at those Others
They are after the first party full tilt
There are thirty in the party now if
there is one. See what they are doing.
They are hitching arms, fifteen abreast
stretching clear across the street. There
two lines are formed. Hark! They are
SOIlS W UGSlu, OHd pdlOuiuid Suldllcd
m "a muzzeca. Is that Italian? No. not
exactly. That's NeapoIitan. It's "Trip
pole Trappola," one of those pretty little
Naples dtties. And do you notice? The
words are sung by only one man, while
the others accompany him. You didn't
notice any guitars, did you say? Well
that is precisely why want you to listen
When l hrst heard the Roman laborers 20
home from work singing, l would have
sworn they had some string instruments
But they haven't. That guitar-like sound
they make with their lips, and you must
admit the effect is very pretty. 1t is some
thing peculiar to Rome. l think, and any
body who has spent any time here is familiar
with it. The bands of singing laborers
are one of the great street treats of Rome.