The record-union., 1892-04-09
Especial Correspondence of the RECORD
UNION. Copyright, 1921


CHIoGGIA, Italy, March 10, 1892.
The vast difference between acquired
ana natural knowledge, between cult
waited and natural comprehension, be
tween passion and emotion, between inn
pulse and feeling, is never more apparent
than when one turns from the contempla-
ton of inland Italian peasant character
to that of the Italian fishermen.
The first has nature in his labor on the
hillside with his fiocks, in the vineyard
where he carries his hamper of ripe
grapes from the vines to the presses, or
driving his heritage or flower-laden don
keys through the sweet and sunny wales;
bat it is nature loving and protecting;
nature without menace or danger; and
nature which gives the sense of peace
that dulls apprehension and clothes re-
sponsibility with delight. This man is
creature Of childish joys and childish
passions; ofquick, hot temper and easily
dried tears; of ardent and tieeting loves;
OF varied and variegated tastes; and of
ambitions ending in gorgeous attire on
fiesta days. In short he is very harle-
gum OF wish, thought and feellng. on
love him but you fear him and never
trust him, only through your knowledge
OF the logical sequences OF his character.
But down from,the sunny hillsides and
away from the tender wales, over the salt
marshes and gray sands to the sea, yon
can in few hours feel the change of nat
ural environment which has been for cen
turieS crystalliZing the 1talion fisherman
into a creature of almost another race.
The sky is as bright above him, but his
hut is on the shifting sands. The sea is
blue aud tender beneath him, but anon it
brushes what ii cherlshes. His joys mask
eternal menace and his outlook is toward
the infinite.
The type Of Italian fishermen common
TO poetry, painting and song has all the
beribboned, earringed, and half brigand
ish look Of the inland peasant; and the
type exists. in port, convenient TO pose
for travelling dilettanti. But this sort Of
an Italian fisherman is a creature who has
had his origin in discomfort with inland
environment or In the Scourging OF pow
erty in overcrowded towns. The real
Italian fisherman is creature of the shore
and the sea with centurieS-inherited
and deathless love for the wilderness the
danger, the loneliness and the very mea-
gernesS of his calling.
He illustrates the influences 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, soft
ness and deliberate melancholy of re-
gard They slowly turn upon you as if
reluctant TO leave the objects of their end
less contemplation. Their walk is meas
ured and unconsciously dignified, and
their very smile and speech are grave and
melancholy. Their home loves are deep,
eXpresSionless but deathlesS. Their grief
under the ever recurring tragedies Of the
sea is resigned and almost eXpectant
And their hearts are ever unswervingly
devout and ferYent, as if they came closer
= a..
very personality of all that which they
deity.
Every fisherman and every fisherman's
male offspring are forever consigned by
themselves, each other and all that love
them, to the protection of the "Mother of
Cod Prayer, invocation and supplica-
ton are ceaselessly on the lips OF every
soul that bides beside these Italian
shores to 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 the inland peasant. His
hut, usually one room, with smoke
darkened ceiling and rough, shell plast-
cred walls and floor, is as auStere in its
appointments as monks cell. No orna-
ment or decoration more gaudy than q
crucitlx or tiny shrine or cheap engray-
ing Of the thorn-crowned head of Christ
or the Mater DOtOroS0 adornS its walls
There are rude goat-skin covered touches
OF dried se8weed; the heavy benches
along the wall, behind the heavier table
with its sunken places in which to set the
bowls and mugs for food: and stout
chestnut pegs set in the mortar walls for
nets and clothing.
There are three-legged wooden stools at
either side of the fireplace. This is sim
ply an open space left in the inside wall
crossed by stout iron rod, from which
are suspended half dozen pots by hooks,
the fire of seaweed and driftwood being
only lighted when required for cooking.
There are often one or two windows
which have no glass, but are covered
with bit Of goat-skin or sail-cloth in in
clement weather. The floor is covered
with a generous layer of sand, which is
ceaSelessly being renewed for cleanliness.
The fisherman himself does no work
ashore beyond the mere care of his boat.
if he is so fortunate as to have one. The
moment his boat is sighted by the women
folk, they all run pellmell to the waters
edge to take the sails and gear with the
nets and fish and the wet clothing drag
ging them with all speed to the hut where
the fish are cleaned and sailed and packed
in layers with seaweed, for market or
home consumption. Their food consists
of this fish, usually cut in small pieces
and boiled in a sort of thick soup with
such simple condiments as their slender
means can procure, black bread and
cheap sour wine.
on rare holiday occasions they may
have onions roasted in the ashes mac
aroni dressed with olive oil or tiny dough
cakes fried in oil, something like dough-
nut. If unusually well-to-do, a goat or
two may be among the family posses
sions, and then the little ones viii have
their mug of milk and the older ones
their balls OF rich cheese for the holiday
feast, or for offerings to the village padre.
In costume the Italian fisherman has
no resemblance to his inland brother. He
wears a sort of q Greek like tunic, sleeve
less, and reaching barely TO the knees.
This is brought closely TO his body with
broad leather belt, in the inside of which
he carries his rosary, his scapuiar or per-
haps some holy relic for protection at sea.
Rude sandals OF tough fish or goatskin
are bound TO his feet with thongs that are
crossed around the leg 10 the knee. His
hair and beard are seldom cut or
trimmed. 1t often has the wave of
sculptured gods, and as he rarely wears
any head covering, save perhaps cotton
kerchief bound around his head with the
ends floating in his hair, which is some
times as blonde as a Scandinavian's, his
whole aspect irresistibly suggests prim
tive Greek on the classic loneliness of his
own loved shores.
Tbe women are finer, freer, simpler.
They know nothing OF bending over sun
naked fields TO till the ground with the
ruae implements of thousand years ago.
9Tbeir labor, though incessant-for when
not caring for the haryests of the sci,
fbev are mending nets, gathering and
irving seaweed, or coaXing some meager
1-a,,etation from tiny rOckbound garden
7efches-is in the salt spray and never
StfIled breeZes OF the sea-
Teotl, women and men are often seen in
10 streets of the larger villages on mar
,days: but always huddled IN groups
x-isa <t,ra