The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-04-09
WAkEMAN'S TRAVELS.
Italian Fishermen Contrasted with
the Italian Peasants.
THE WIVES THE REAL TOlLERS,
While tho Lords arc Majestic Slug.
CARDS with G%argantuan Stomnchs
and Amazing Capacity for Sleep.
Homo Life and SupcrstltiOns.
Icorymoltr. 1897, ny EDGAR /. wAxrNAy.l

uiueEcncc DctWecn acquired II natural
knowledge, between cultivated and ma.
tural comprehension, between passion
and emotion, between impulse and feel.
Ing, is never moro apparent than when
one turns from tho contemplation OF in
land Italian peasant character to that OF
the Italian fishermen.
Tho first has nature in his labor on
tho hillside with his tlocks, in the vine.
yard where he carries his hamper OF
ripe grapes from tho TO the
presses, or driving his heritage or flow,
er.laden donkcys through the sweet
and sunny Wales; but it Is nature loving
and protecting; nature without menace
or danger; and nature which gives the
sense Of peace that dulls apprehension
and clothes responsibility with delight,
This man is q creature OF childish joys
and childish passions; OF quick, hot
temper and easily dried ,ears; OF ardent
and fleeing loves; OF varied IN varie.
gated tastes; and OF ambitions ending in
gorgeous attire on feast days. In short
he is IL very harlequin OF wish, thought
and feeling. You love him but you fear
him and never trust him, only through
your knowledge OF the logical sequences
OF his character.
But down from tho sunny hi,lsid.i
and away IRON tho tender wales, over
the salt-marshos and gray sands to the
sea-, you can i'll Il few hours feel the
change OF natural environment which.
hDs lnnp tor rnttprinc rrVStpliytpr ttn
Italian fisherman into q creature of al
most another race. The sky is as bright
above him, but his hut is OH the shift
ing sands. The sea Is blue and tender
beneath him, but anon it brushes what
it clierlslies. Ills iovs mask eternal
menace and his outlook IL toward the
infinite.
The type OF Italian fishermen COM
mon to poetry. painting and song has
all the b%eribboned, carringed, and half
brisandish look OF the inland peasant;
and tho tyre exists, in part, Conven-
lent to pose Tor travelling dilcttanti.
But this sort oil Italian fisherman is 4
creature who has had his origin in dis
content with inland environment or in
the scourging OF poverty in over
crowded. towns. The real Italian fisher.
man is a creature oil the shore and the
sea with 4 centuries-inheritcd and
deathless love for the wilderness, the
danger, the loilines1 and the very
mcagerness OF his calling.
THEIR HOME LIFE.
lie illustrates the influence OF all that
is grand and solitary in nature upon.
human character and ~physiognomy.
The naturally large Eyes OF the italian
race are in him robbed OF their metallic
and cunning sparkle and given depth,
softness and 4 deliberate melancholy OF
regard. They slowly turn upon you Us
II reluctant to leave the objects OF their
endless contemplation. Their walk is
measured and unconsciously dignified.
and their very smile and speech are
grave and melancholy. Their home
loves are deep, eSprcssiorless but death
less. Their grief under the ever rccur-
ring tragedies OF tho sea is resigned and
almost expectant. And their hearts
are ever unswervingly devout and fer
vent, as il thcy came closer through.
their heritage OF danger to the very
personality OF all that which they deity.
Every fisherman and every fisher
mans male offspring are forever con
signed to themselves, each other and ali
that love them to the protection OF the
Mother OF Col" Prayer, invocation
and supplications are carcless,y OH the
lips OF every soul that bidcs besides
these Italian shores 10 get their living
and their death by the sea.
The Italian fisherman has in his life
none OF the trivial concerns that occupy
the hearts OF tho inland peasant. His
hut, usually one room, with smoke
darkened ceiling and rough, shell plas-
tered walls and floor. is rs austerc in its
appointments rs a monks cell. No or
Nament or decoration more gaudy than
q crucitiS or tiny shrine or cheap en-
craving OF the thorn-crowued head Of
Christ or the Mater 'Dolorosu adorns its
walls. There are rude goat-skiu cover
ed touches OF dried seawced; tho heavy
benches along the wall, behind the
heavier table with its sunken places in
which to ,sot tho bowls and mugs for
food; and stout chestnut pegs set in. the
mortar walls Tor nets and clothing.
There arc three-lcggel wooden stools
ut either side OF tho fireplace. This is
simply an open space left in tho inside
wall crossed by q stout iron rod, from
which arc suspended = half dozen pots
by hooks, the fire OF seaweed and drift
wood being only lighted when required
for cooking. There are often one or
two windows which have no glass, but
are covered with Il bit OF goat-sl;in or
sail-cloth in Indictment weather. The
floor is covered with q generous layer
OF sand which is ceasolessly being re.
newed for cleanliness.
The fisherman himself does no work
ashore beyond the mere care OF his boat,
II he is so fortunate us to own one. The
moment his boat is sighted by the
women folk, they all run pellmell the
waters edge 10 take the sails and gear
with tho net and fish and the wet cloth
ing, dragging them with all speed to tho
hut, where the fish arc cleaned and
sailed and packed in layers with sea-
weed for market or homo consumption,
Tho food consists OF this, fish usually
cut in small pieces and boiled in o sort
OF thick soup with such simple condi-
ments rs their slender means can pro.
cure, black bread and cheap sour wine.
On rare holiday occasions they may
have onions roasted in the ashes, maca-
roni dressed with olive oil or tiny dough
cakes fried in oil something like a
doughnut. II unusually well.to-do, a
goat or two will be among the family
possessions, and then the little ones
will have their mug OF milk and tho
older one their balls OF rich cheese for
tho holiday feast, or for offerings TO the
village padre.