New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-19
GOOD FKIDAY And EASTER ~ SICILY.
HOW THE PEOPLE THERE OBSERVE THE FAST
And TIE GREAT FEAST.


AND TIE GREAT FEAST.
II was the early dawn Of a spring morning on the
Mediterranean. after quiet nights sail from Naples.
No who has not realized 1t dream Of the
dclciously soft air and radiance Of such morning
on that summer sea- stromloll rises like god
or the water his attendants, the Ilpar Islands,
IKE shadowy clouds around him. his great torch Of
lurd RID smoking and wreathlng about him as the
winds viii. II il the seat OF Aeolus god OF the
winds The weather IS forctOld three DAYS In ad.
vance by the OF the smOke. II i also said to
be the entrance 10 Purcatory. stromtol Is always
active living between Vesuyius and Mount Elna, which
alternate IN action. The toward Mount
Etna sailing past Mcssina and through its straiis
the verabln scylla and CharybdiS. which so often
lguratively threaten people-the whirlpool oil Sn
drawing them in on one side, the hidden rocks
destroying them on the other 'aianla, at tAe zoos
OF Mount Etna. was reached on Good Friday morning.
81. Agatha Is its patron saint. Her silver comm
borne through the streets and her veil once extended
toward stream OF lava fourteen mics wide flowing
from the mountain, IS said to have turned It's course
into the sea and saved the city People there Who
can be reached in no other way flock 10 the churches
all day Good Friday. They Lncc on the cold s'one
floors some with market baskets In their hands some
women with only their apron TO wrap their red hands
or it il chilly in tn" early year.. and the inevitable
kcrchicf on their heads. some pray silently, some
groan shed tears, and hold their Children up toward
the great cross with the Crucinod on IT. Then be-
tween rhapsodes OF the imprisoned preacher In the
high pulpit the wall, lovely music steals over he
crowd. soft almost TO n whisper lou cannot tell
whence IT comes-there IS no choir no instrument
visible.
Il was interesting 10 watch these peope-rapt, In
tense and believing. though with clouded faith-ony
comprehendlng by symbolism rs Children In Their hrs'
age read by pictured objects. On one side Of the
- Tho ola
first youth ON the other sid" market woman-un
kenn, unbonnctcd without Il handkerchief snlvellns
and croan,nc but at last breaking into the very tones
and following truy and sweoty under her breath thas
heavenly music. In church was an almost per-
feet representation OF large, gorgeous rug III ie"
flowers spread before the high altar. 1t looked IKE
finest tapestry. Church cmblems In the centre VI
IT, wrought in minuest detail of the petals OF no"ers
In ell coors: border of rows OF chromateiia anu
yellow rose: leaves Alternating With purple "is"'"
and vioc,s and the fringe Of Grenada grass. IL per
fuucd the church. WED I'm rich cooring win 'ne
walls OF marbles and precious stones, ana WAS INV
handiworh OF the nuns in the Benedetlhe 'o"''"'
adjoining. who are only allowed 10 worship IN NV
galleries of the church behind grille .,,n, m.
The writer awobc on Easter sunday hornilS r IN
chorci IN the beautiful bay of Palermo. Inc Guy Hns
before her WITH It's great gateway rsins aoo n.,Ils
~" ants Side c>tcnJinc miles toward Mount Pcegrni
on the right The writer and her i1ehus 20, Tar f,r
II
passengers. II was primitive old hulk win 'he sau
managed by 1T. Potter. he Is seen pictured s.iunss
faced weather beaen-a typical fisherman. ,kn" a,
over the the party landed and passed 'nVc iis
the grand portal to the white streets. IL Is t,e and and
OF the sun-dazzlinG. warm, extremely 1rrl-u n,ss
dreamy delightfu-its southern houses OF ,u,an.
set In gardens OF tropical growth ths hi a sa
Businesses every side except toward w ~, ,Ish
The party upon the low some dpor OF .nc -ases
hung the walls and oranges ana o,ner "''~
on the trees and there they attended service, or.i
On Easter Monday they droVn 10 Mor o,h"r Nina
and queens In their grand sarcophaH VI Pot,pjrrII
temple shaped pillars. In the Palermo Na', ud N
ilr cathedral AT Monrcalc Is rich In mosaies a nu
Tho stories OF E,blc history frcscoed on the ceinns
There was an Easter service with GORGEOUS n nssss
priests and acolyes In brave array. Inc srea, .sshue
numbered through the church, It's music hhssesiS
with the thunder outside. for violent Storm s"L,lna
and hail had Just dashed down: II was thnsh:
ms the host was elevated. the music dying 10 "a,mn
the kneclng choir In scarlet ana lace, thr shmrch
rain pouring outside. AS they came out OF CIV Inc
there, was an Interesting group Of heggars uhas Sns
colonnadc adjoining one "raLy man wooden drk:
Another might have been the chiei o. ae inst baea
infesting the mountains about II he had ho' '"''
lTh" marty stopped at a Capuchn monastery sf
won't down into the cataconbs beneath H. M ,otine
iron doors shut upon then c w,' lkSls toms that trcne
Tho long corridors the flesh dried upon tneir W" attn
nil Of Them Enthusiastically dressed In gay co. =, the
artificial flowers IN org oo'hr nd there in that swtI
Mace nv paving "a great price one eau 80 Easter
Gpr Bay. '' ''"
In the same Boat-Editor ito new dramanG, , i'' IL
I ike your work. sir; an, denSSh nro,v an 40.
No matter how yG So@%n Su tnS . S'S over ner
Dramatic Crltlc-No. sir 49, -, .,,r articles.
EdItor-Ts Is what Ike ABOUT ~, sV" wafer half
viii ali nv former critics was ~ mol VII every
,hn fine They were all young fellows, fnsb cush
now and then they'd bring In LOT OF , m, tx.