Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-28
CHILDREN OF ITALY.
They Enjoy Gala Day Under the
Trees of Silver Lake Grove.
RAISING MONEY TO BUYA CHURCH.
Scenes Reminding Them off the Sunny Land
of Their BiJfth.
WHERE TIE IMMIGfkANTS COME FROM

The italian colonty of Pittsburg held q
very pleasant "festa' in Silver Lake Grove
yesterday. For the past two months every
Guiseppi and Giovssnnl in the Iron City has
been bestirring Himself toward the raising
of funds for th/e purchase or erection of a
Catholic church, to be exclusively devoted
to Italians and{ Italian speaking people.
They also desire an italian school;
the teachingI in which may serve to
elevate the minds of their children, and
bring them Unto line with the new genera
ton which is sprinzing up in America.
The picnic of yesterday was one of the
means SUD 9gested for raising funds, and, as
far as it went, it was eminently successful.
The Arrangements were under the control of
the Italian congregation, of which Joseph
C. Cufpeo is President and F. Bonistalli
Vice President The committee consisted
of Messrs. j. G. Cuneo, f. Bonistalli,
PietrB Montraverda, Antonio Montraverda,
G. D$scalzzi, Carlo Gambogi, E. Malatesta,
Pietryb Debe, Giovanni Debe, Pietro Bacci-
galu3bi and Joseph PenaIla, Secretary of the
con 8regati ton. The old Royal Band was in
ttJndance, and kept the dancers merrily
engaged all the afternoon. The playing Of
fte, but that to Pittsburg music lovers goes
without saying.
THE swARTHY CAVALIERS.
tGoodly piles of watermelons. oranges, ba-
ntanas and fruits of many kinds stood be-
meath the trees, and dusky matrons, with
great gypsy eyes and glittering teeth. served
bdt soft drinks enough to melt the heart of
j Captain Wishart. Everywhere gay
groups chatted pleasantly in the musical
e'lingua" of the sunlit South; and there was
THAT indescribable grace about the swafthy
cavaliers, assisting their souls choices to
flee cream or oranges. which one sees only in
Irishmen, Spaniards and Italians
| Rev. Giacomo Annovazzi, who is to be the
pastor of the future church, was present; and
here were also Rev. Drs. Wall and McDon-
aid and Father Molyneux, from St. Paul's
| Cathedral, chatting with President Cuneo
in the purest italian.
| Everyone must grant," said President
Cuneo, ''that the objects we are fighting for
namely, national church and school,
| are praiseworthy objects. Understand,
however, that we don't particularly want to
build church or school. five can buy or
lease two suitable buildings they will suffice
for the present. We have made good deal
of money IN the past two months, and this
picnic will help to bring in heap more.
|
| lunch, have been donated by Italians or
! friendly Irish. The people who are run
ming the booths do so voluntarily and with
| ont recompense."
| Asked whether the fete reminded him of
one of his native "festa campestre," Mr..
Cuneo said: "In a measure it does. The
| men and women are the same; it is the sur
roundings that differ. We cannot smell
the orange blossom here, nor do we drink
catarba, or vino d'Aste, as in the old coun.
try, but still we are just as merry and just
vineyards"
| ITALIAN FESTIVALS.
"What sort of affairs are your italian
| picnics, PRESIDENT"
"Well, there are two distinct sort of fiesta.
There are the city festivals and the country
festivals. OF the former 1 know very little;
| of the latter will describe the chief feat
| ures. Every little village in Italy has its
'padrone,' or patron saint. The hamlet 1
| come fron-near Genoa-honors st. Joseph,
after whom 1 am named. Once every year,
on its patrons feast day, each village
throws work aside and makes
merry. The bagpipes, our great
| country instrument, is brought out, and
the piper plays a 'giga, which is a dance
almost exactly similar to what the Irish call
jig. Sometimes the old folks join in, and
as the 'giga' is too lively for them a
| 1uschindrina,' or species of quadrille is
started. IT the village is a large one, a
clarionet player accompanies the bagpipes;
but the peasant thinks the pipes the most
/ musical OF all instruments. Its sound is re-
markably like the squeaking of lively
young pig, whose inclinations and tail are
drawn in opposite directions. The refresh
ments at the fiesta consist of the wines
have mentioned, and also 'gelate,' or all
| species of iced eatables. Peddlers attend
with bright ribbons for the girls; and not
unfrequently the young men engage in
wrestling and running contests. That is
something what the old country pic
mics, as yoa call them, are like"
EMIGRANTs FROM THE FARMS.
The shrewd President said that among
! all the Italians in Allegheny county
| scarcely ten were born in any city or large
ktown In Italy. With few exceptions, our
ywhole Italian population springs from the
Warming and peasant classes. What is true
II Allegheny county, says Mr.. Cuneo, is
al so true of the United States. The emf
dant Italians do not come from the cities,
Consequently we have no lazy ''lazarone"
ffom Naples and Rome; but the sturdy
y Hountaineer of the Appenines, and the hon.
1t farmers of Northern and Western Italy.
"But." it was objected, "how do you ac-
d,unt for the fact that your peasants take
readily to city lie over here, and sell
fananas and ice cream, as if they never
lowed or pruned?"
THAT is" replied Mr.. Cuneo. "because
Then these emigrants land in New York
they see many of their fellow-countrymen
Engaged in those particular trades and thus
TALL into the same line of business them
;elves. There are many italian farmers,
However, especially in New jersey"
The picnic was kept up till a late hour,
when the illuminated grove presented its
usual romantic appearance. The Fiesta"
Twas perfectly orderly throughout the day,
.nd its success demonstrates clearly that the
talian is a good manager and thorough
K.ntleman