The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-17
WAKEMANS WANDERINCS
ITALIAN FISHERMEN.

tuan stomachs and Amazing Capacity
for sIeep-Their wives the Real Toll
ers-Home Life and superstitionS
Copyright, isa2, by Edgar L. wakeman.l
CHIoGGIA, Italy, March. l0.-Tbe vast
difference between acquired and natural
knowledge. between cultivated and natural
comprehension, between passion and emo
ton, between impulse and feeling, IS never
more apparent than when one turns from
the contemplation OF inland Italian peas
ant character TO that Of the Italian fisher
man.
The FIRST has nature in his labor on the
hillside with his hocks, Ia the vineyard
where he carries his hamper Of ripe grapes
from the vines 10 the presses, or driving
his herbage or flower laden donkeys
through the sweet and sunny wales, but II
rs nature loving and protecting; nature
without menace or danger, ana nature
which gives the sense Of peace that duIls
apprehension and clothes responsibility
with delight This man IS creature OF
childish Joys and childish passions Oh
quick. hot temper and easily dried tears,
of ardent and feetiDg loves; Of varied ana
variegated tastes, and Of ambitions ehdlng
in gorgeous attire Oh fiesta days. In short
be is a very harlequin Of wish, thought
and feeling.
But down from the sunny hillsides and
away from the tender wales, over the sat
marshes and gray sands 20 the SEA, you can
IN a few hours feel the change Of natural
environment which haSbeen for centuries
crystallizing the Italian fisherman into a
creature Of almost another race. The Sky
isas bright above him, but his hut IS On
the shifting sands. The sea Is blue and
tender beneath him, but anon it brushes
what il cherishes. His joys mask eternal
menace and his outlook is toward the III
finite.
The type Of Italian fisherman common
to poetry. painting and song has all the be
ribbOned, earringed and bali Dugandlsh
look Of the inland peasant; and the type
exists. IN port, convenient 20 pose Tor lraV
sling dilettanti. But this sort Of an ltal
ian fisherman is a creature who has hau
his origin ia discomfort with inland en-
yironment or in the scOurging OF poverty
in overcrowded towns The real tailan
fisherman is a creature Of the shore ana
the sea- with century inherited ana
deathless love for the wildness, the dan
ger. the loneliness and the very meager-
ness OF his calling
He illustrates the influence OF all that j
grand and solitary in nature upon human
character aud physiognomy. The natural
ly large eyes of the Italian race are in him
robbed Of their metallic and cunning
sparkle and given depth, softness and
deliberate melancholy OF regard. They
slowly turn upon you as if reluctant TO
leave the objects Of their endless contem.
plation. Their walk is measured and I'M
consciously dgnihcd and their very smile
and speech are grave and melancholy.
Their home loves are deep expressiOnleSs
and deathless. Their grief under the ever
recurring tragedies of the sea is resigned
md almost expectant And their hearts are
ever unswervingly devout and fervent, rs
# they came closer through their heritage
of danger TO tho very personality of all that
which they Defy
The Italian fisherman has in his life none
of the trivial concerns that occupy the
hearts Of the inland peasant bis hut
usually one room with smoke darkened
ceiling and rough, shell plastered walls
and loor-is rs austere in It's appoint
pents Us monks cell. No ornament or
decoration more g0udy than "A cruciiix or
tiny shrine or cheap engraving ot the
thorn crowned head of Christ or the Nut0
DolOroSa adorns its walls There are rude
eoatslNn covered couches Of dried seaweed,
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 simply
an open space left in the inside wall, CROSSED
by stout iron rod, from which are sus
pended half dozen pots by hooks, the fire
of seaweed and driftwood being only
lighted when required for cooking. There
are often one OF two windows which have
DO glass, but are covered with a bit of
goatalin or sail cloth in inclement wealth
er 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, IL
he is so fortunate as TO own one. The mo
ment his boat is sighted by the women
folk they all run pellmell 10 the water :
edge To take the sails, gear, with the nets
and fish and the wet clothing, dragging
them with all speed to the hut, where the
fish are cleaned and sailed and packed III
layers with seaweed, for market or home
consumption. Their food consists OF this
fish, usually cut in small pieces and boiled
III "a sort of thick soup with such simple
condiments as their slender means can pro
cure-black bread and cheap sour VINE.
On rare holiday occasions they may have
onions roasted in the ashes, macaronl
dressed with olive oil or tiny dough cakes
fried in oil. something like adoughnut. II
unusually well 70 do, goat or two Will be
among the family possessions, and then
the little ones will have their mug OF mix
and the older ones their balls Of rich cheest
for the holiday feast or for offerings 10 the
village padre
In costume the Italian fisherman has no
resemblance 70 his inland brother. He
wears sort Of Greeklike tunic, sleeveless
end reaching barely to the knees. This is
brought closely to his body with broad
leather belt, in the inside of which he car
ries his rosary, his scapular or perhaps
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 TO the knee HIS
hair and beard are seldom cut or trimmed.
IL often has the wave of a sculptured god ;,
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 sometimes as blond as
Scandinavian's his whole aspect rresistl-
bly, suggests a primitive Greek on the
classic loneliness of his own loved shores