The Red Cloud chief., 1888-05-18
CUSTOMS or CAPRI.
Pleturssque SceWas On the ISlAnd Made
TaMouS bv l~sAPsboldL

Pleturssqu~ SceWss On the leland Made
FanOus by l~;Ar,baldi
They have = strange way in this little
place. l found. Of betrothing the girls
to the young mcn before the latter
leave the town. A. very few Of them
are able to either read or write. long
| years pass by without y wori from the
lover or ''spoza" rea -.inS the patient
girl 1T home.
It is not a rare thing to meet here
young couples who were engaged for
ten. twelve or even fifteen wears before
fortune was sufficiently favorable to
allow them to marry.
One can not soOn get rich on thirty
!; rents i dav. and that Is the wages Of i
man in Capri. This is perhaps the
reason why SD many men leave the
islsrd. leaving the women at home t.
take care of the vineyards and olive
groves.
1t is \ very picturesque scene. those
women. with their gay costumes. rich
compilations. bright. flashing eyes. At
work in the fields. o leading their
flocks Of goats up the mountain side to
pasture. Thei: feet are always bare.
and become 80 hard that it Is simply
wonderful VIVA: they can endure. They
will walk over the roa,ls covered with
sharp. f:nty stones. climb the rugged
mountain sides. and be quite ~ COM
Portable ~ ii walking on the softe>t
carpet. In fact. for hardness their feet
resemble those Of the Western girl.
who. when toll by her mother that
there va, = red-hOt coal under her foot.
drawicd out. without moving an inch:
(which foot is i: under. mammy":"
Yet the fee; Of these wOmen are bv NO
means missharen. but. On the contrary.
are perfect models for an artist.
During INV stay on the island / en-
joyei the rare treat Of witnessing the
grand festival Of San Antonio. this be-
Ing the great feast day Of the year.
One OF the mos. attractive features
to me WAS the procession Of white-robed
mai.ien>. vending their way through
the narrow streets. lined with white
walled houses. From the top Of these
walls. friends and lovers showercd
down the understanding. golden San
Antonio" tiOri upon the procession be-
low. The girls were wrra:hed with
flowers. and carried in their hands
either candles Or little wooden images.
and chantcd as they walke,l. surround
Ell by clouds Of smoke from swingin.
cenSOrS.
Through the town and up the wind
ing Stone stairs cut in tie mountain
side. they passed to the chapel. where
the religions services were held. After
that came the feasting. and the dane
ing. and the music. over which they
became greatly excited.
The nuinberle>S movements of their
favoritc dance. the ''Tarantata." and
the Easy graceful forms If the dancers
rs they Swayed backward and forward
was indeed i pleasing an exhiliaratinS
sight. The ''Tarantata" is dancel bv
three couples Only. the men dancing
aroand tae women and then kneeiing
IS suppliants ~ their feet. The women
raise them. and with airy nts
dance around the men. Then they
separate into pairs. advancing and re-
treating and again dancing together.
The figures Of the dance are but Il small
part Of its beauties: there is An indie
scribable fascination in the free and
graceful movements o: the arms. head.
and. in fact. Of the whole body. -Bsa-
trice PresSWo0i Hing. IN Honaan.