The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
(CONCLUDED.)
hess stones were also deposited In San

where they are kept to this day. Here
In the Holy Of Holes are treasured
those small irregular bits of flint. which
on the morning Of Holy Saturday arc
carried In state TO the cathedral In
memory OF this, over the windows OF
the Pazxi palace and on the capitals of
the pillars In this once beautiful court
yard are garlands Of stones and vases
Of fire. guarded by dolphins and busts
Of Pazzi. long since dead, in circular
inches framed In triple rows Of egg
shaped stones.
For hundreds Of years. the fires
throughout the whole city were extin-
guished on Holy Saturday and the
archbishop taking these sacred stones,
struck from them new fire, which was
carried to all the dwellings, each family
sending member to the church with a
torch, q "facellina" or little candle to
be kindled. Gradually there came TO
be great contentious as to who should
get the first spark from the altar, and
when in 1899 n Pazzi was the victor, the
family went mad with JOY. They made
q grand festival, and year after year
celebrated the anniversary. until they
had made 1t one OF the grand cere-
monies of the year. A great car was
built, and, laden with fireworks, II was
was lighted by Oh artificial dove sent
down from the High Altar. and after
most of the bombs were exploded the
car was taken to Paz2i's Corner where
the rest were sent off. Curiously enough
there arose a superstition among the
peasants that the flight Of this dove
was a prophecy Of the years harvest.
II 1t went straight, there were to be
good crops, but II. like many a naughty
American pin-wheel, 1t stuck fast, woe
to the unhappy contadino! He had lit
tie to hope from that summers work.
On the morning of Holy Saturday
this spring, as we crossed the cathedral
square. there in the brilliant sunshine
stood the famous Car" a vast con-
struction, about thirty feet high, Of
dark brown wood, its wheels hidden by
q brown curtain. adorned with the
Florentine lily. On top were the Pazzi
dolphins, standing on their heads for
Joy, and supporting by their tails
crown. above which was what looked
to be a circular chandelier, containing
the fireworks. There were other
brackets with bombs about the lower
part and over all the sides We're strung
the national colors, red white and green
tissue papers, cut in scalloped pieces
about as large as your hand. Just such
as you may see strung on many res
taurant chandelier to keep away the
flies. The car stood In the open space
midway between the Baptistcry md
the cathedral, the great western doors
Of which were wide open. Fastened to
the car was rope. stretched about a
dozen feet from the ground, which went
into the church and up the whole length
Of the nave to the High Altar. 1t was
~ ,vNy tod t.,GN In cIr ~
the altar steps, where it rested on pill
lar, on which, with a ladder the emblem
OF the Passion had been placed thete on
Good Friday. Now as Santa Maria del
Fiore Is $50 feet long, the "columbina,"
or little dove had no mean journey be-
fore him. They had made an aisle in the
church directly under the rope by p.ac-
ing three rows of chairs, facing three
other rows, with space of six feet be-
tween. Otherwise the great empty
nave was filed with a crowd Of peas
ants, standing silent and anxious. with
care written in every line of Their faces,
watching eagerly for the flight Of the
dove. 1t was about a quarter be-
fore twelve. The procession, which
had first gone across to the Baptist
cry to bestow the yearly blessing on
the font where all Florcntine babies are
great doorway and passed up the aisle
archbishop, priests and acolytes all
dressed in faded old purple vestments,
ancient enough to have been an offer
Ing from the very first Pazzi. 1t went
slowly up to the high altar and mass
began, when just as the "GlOria Ill
Excelsis" was reached. the clock struck
twelve. and with a sharp crack like the
explosion of a bomb. down the rope
| came the columbina. scattering a show
err of sparks. He sped straight through
the open door, touched the car, then
turned and flew back to the altar SO
rapid was his flight that all one could
see was q white form like bird out
lined against the glittering sparks. 1t
| was q picturesque sight, the vast, dark
| church, with it's beautiful rose-color
| and golden windows, the tall candles
light shining on the great doorway and
bringing out its wonderful marbles.
| everywhere within and without the pa
| tient, anxious throng of watchers. and
| at last this feeting vision Of fire. There
came q heavy booming sound and one
| by one all the bombs on the car ex-
ploded, the little wheel on top revolv-
| ing and the red, white and green papers
| flying in the breeze. Oh! what din 1t
made! Shut in between the buildings
| the sound was Intensified until 1t
seemed as IL Santa Maria, with all her
statues and mosaics, as we'll as the
| 'gates of Paradise" across the way,
| were all going skyward together. They
must be made Of stern stuff to stand
| this every year for centuries. The din
outside was great, but the din inside
was greater, for had not the dove flown
straight as an arrow and such smiles
Of delight. such faces Of ecstasy and
| such a babel of sound arose! Out Of
| the door they all went in mad rush to
| congratulate the crowd ouside and the
| mass was left to take care Of itself.
| After a short time large white oxen,
with gilded horns and gay placques Of
| flowers on their heads and brilliant
| trappings, were yoked to the car and
| 1t passed, creaking and groaning
around the corner, seeming every min
ute as If 1t would topple over, but deter
mined while there was life in 1t to honor
the Paszi. Down the street 1t travelled
on its way to the old palace, where 1t
blew up the rest Of its bombs to the
great delight Of the dolphins on the ia
cade. which are In perpetual grin Of
Joy. This is not the original car for
many have been worn out in the SER
vice, but as one by one they have
crumbled to dust, they have hand
ed on their glories to success
sor. The whole ceremony is paid
for out of a Pazzi legacy, so that
they will probably do this as long. as
time shall last. We went to pay our
parting respects to the car at its little
house, for It owns a mansion, where It
spends the 364 days of its retirement
from the world. Up near the quaint
old gateway. the Porta del Prato, you
will find wedged in between other
houses. queer looking building Of
stucco. 1t comes nearly to the top Of
the second story windows of the Cor
sini Palace, its near neighbor, and has
for front great wooden doors like a
barn opening. one above the other, so
that the car need never stoop its proud