Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-12-23
OhRISTMASTIDE IN ROME.
La BEFANA.

From the top of q broad flight of
steps, which mount side by side with |
those leading to the Roman
Capitol, the church of Santa |
Maria in Ara Coli looks down
into wide piazza and over the roofs
Of far-spreading Rome to the Cam
pagna and the Alban Hills. Hither,
from Christmas Day to the Epiphany,
the vesper hour brings crowds of people
to visit little chapel within the church
where the sacred image of the child
Christ is to be seen. or this image
there are many legends, but that which
is generally believed, and which 1 will
relate here, is, 1 think, the prettiest of
all. In the sixteenth century an Italian
monk of the order of Saint Francis, so
the story runs, WAS visiting Jerusalem,
and, being desirous of taking back
some gift from the Holy Land to his
country, he bethought himself to carve
An image Of the infant Saviour from
out of the olive wood which grows on
the Sacred Mount; but, alssl when he
had finished his carving, he found that
he had no colors wherewith to paint its
complexion, and l suppose that this
thought and his hard work combined
ochb pOoE W 1ON-
ever this may be, asleep he fell, and
while he slept Saint Luke took COM
passion on the pale Bambino, and, hav-
ing doubtless a celestial paint-box, he
colored the olive wood until it took
tints of live flesh, and the monk, on
Rwaking, found his work completed
for him. Shortly after this miracle
the monk was recalled to Rome, and
thn fnrfhnr ra1atao hnu Inv
the voyage the Bambino was wonder
fully saved from shipwreck, and that
after Its arrival in Rome it was deposit-
ed, amid much pomp, in the sacristy of
the Santa Maria Ara in Coeli, where it is
now kept. Numerous are the anec-
dotes of its adventures and escapes
from peril, and SO renowned is its power
to cure the sick, that a carriage is de-
voted to its private use when leaving
its ssnctum for this charitable purpose.
Originally these journeys were made in
an old brown coach, but in the early
days of 1919 the Republic presented
the Bambino with the Pope's carriage,
until, on the return of his Holiness to
Rome, the poor doll was fain to be con-
tent once more with Its former equi-
page. This is briefly the story as it is now
told, and the Bambino continues to be an
object of superstitious devotion to the
poorer folk, who can only see 1t when on
show at Christmastide. Then the peas
ants from the Campsgna mingle with
the workers of the city, and on the day
of the Epiphany, or La Befans, as 1t
is called In the Datoi5, the crowds
swarm up the great staircase to the
church, where, after the vespers are
over, the Bambino will be locked up
again in the saorIsty. The crafty Italian,
having always an eye to business, takes
advanta 20 OF this festal occasion, and
vendors OF small ware crowd the stops
where the people are lettering their
shrill cries rising above the hubbub
of gossip as they drive a good trade by
selling various knicknscks, from n
waxen image of the Holy Babe down to
matchboIss and mellihuous sugar
candy. The mothers are indulgent to
their children at this fiesta time, and
the cOntddine can spare a soldo or two
for the waxen models of the Santo
Bambino, for who can tell what evil
even such faint reflection of its glory
will not avert from the home9 Most
of the peasants are in gala COSTUME,
and, although this is in many cases
merely collection of picturesque rags,
they are more effective, from the artis-
tic point of view. than an elaborate
toilette would be. One well-dressed
man had been arrested for thieving,
and his lamentations were pitiable to
be heard, while so closely did he ad-
here to his seat on the steps, that the
two soldiers com mmissioned to move him
could only manage to do so by laying
him on his back and fairly dragging
him down. This was, however, the
only sad incident of the afternoon, and
the rest of the crowd was festive, for,
indeed, who could be sad to whom the
glad sunlight was free, which bathed
the terrace in front of the church, P-a
all could bask in it at their will? Many
evidently appreciated this power, for
the staircase was numbered with men
| lying half asleep in the sweet warmth,
and groups were seated idly chatting,
while others fingered outside the doors
of the church, as if unwilling to leave
the sunny air. just within the central
doors a platform was erected between
two huge pillars of Egyptian granite,
and children, mounting this by turn,
recited to an indulgently amused au-
dience the story cf the child Christ.
This is a quaint Christmas custom
which the Roman mothers covet for
their offspring; but the little orators
| powers OF invention are not taxed, for
the children are taught by monks what
| they should say. So, at least, a mother
told me: but her "bambino," standing
close beside her, looked up with angry
eyes, "No, mamai no monks, but gen
HeHen; they have hair on their heads.
The children do not remain very long
on the stage, and many turn timorous,
and stretch out eager little hands to be
lifted down again; but tlmidity of pub
lie criticism Is not national fhillng,
and the greater number of them re-
hearsed their part with characteristic
action, and with all the coquetry of
actresses trained to fascinate. Rivalry,
even, was not alien to the infant breast,
for the most effective way to Teassure
failing spirit was to call up one bra er
to dispute the stage. Then emulation
gave the faint heart courage to rescue
itself from defeat. Directly opposite
to the children's platform is another
stage. This is illuminated and Candy
with much decoration, and here is
shown the sacred Bambino, which
sometimes repOses in a cradle, and at
others on the lap of the Virgin Mary,
according to the day on which one may
see it, for the show lasts for twelve
days, from Christmas to Epiphany.
Then an arrangement of wooden images
is placed within a chapel, close to the
principal entry, the scenic effect OF the
back ground of this show reminding one
either of q transformation scene at
some second-rate theatre, or of Val
entine of that style which encircles it
self with fringed paper and naked
cupids. The Bambino was accredited
with an early taste for oranges, baskets
of the fruit being represente as
brought as gifts to him. Meanwhile
the puppet is so heavily laden with
cumbrous ornaments, that it must be
very strong to support the weight of
its heavy jewelled crown. The iron