The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
THE PAzzl CAR.

Florence Is the city OF legends. Music
you may find In Naples and history In
Rome, but the last graceful touch that
gives such an indescribable charm to
the CITY of Flowers is the story that
clings to every spire and dome. campa-
nile and quaint gateway, while the
frowning palaces on each narrow street
are peopled with ghosts of the by-gone
days. We are all but children of
larger growth" and nothing is dearer
to our hearts than the fable which be-
gins, "once upon a time" 1t Is this.
which throws such a glamour of
romance over all the highways and by
ways of this medieval town and puts
gilded halo on the heads Of imps and
hobgoblns as well as of saints and
meek-eyed Madonnas. For these leg
ends are SO nearly history as to give
rise to quaint old customs and cere-
monies, SO that no one cares whether
they are true, SO long as they are pic
turesque
There Is one narrow street In Flor.
ence that always fills one with longing
"for the wings Of dove" not for flying
away, but for soaring upward. where
the facades of the tall old palaces show
such a bewildering array of Medici
balls, StroZzi crescents and PaZzi dol
phins, where there are such hosts of
sculptured bats and demons. vases of
fire and garlands Of stones, shrines and
escutcheons. that to pass on the pave
ment below and look up, Is like taking a
hasty glance thro' q book Of fairy
tales. Not far from
DANTE'S HOME,
or the court where on that lovely May
day he first saw Beatrice. begins this
famous via degli Albruzzi." No part
Of the city is richer in legends. Here is
the great palace called for three hun
dred years the Unfinished" with its
tale Of demon builder--here Is the
blouse Of the Ugly Face" and the vast
pile Of the Alessandri. with their double
headed sheep as watch dog-here Is the
tablet Of the famous miracle Of Saint
Zenobi. whose prayer restored a dead
child to life. in passing which the newly
made bishops. going In procession to
the cathedral, always walked barefoot,
but above all, here are the great palaces
Of the Pazzi, to which all the city makes
q pilgrimage once a year. The whole
street once belonged to this. the wealth.
lest of the Florentine families, but the
| name Is best known by "Pazzi Corner"
where the famous car comes on Easter
Eve to fire off its last bombs. Wealth
now, but its romantic charm will never
fade; what although Swiss baker has
set up his ovens in the smaller PazEi
palace and a tailor sells his cloth In the
larger; what although the unfinished"
now harborS telegraph operators in
stead of goblins; the bats over the win
dows and the dolphins above the doors
| are as "cinquecento" as ever and smile
serenely at mems efforts to tarnish
their fame. The Medici have left their
name stamped forever on Florence and
Florentine art. but their great rivals.
the Pazzi, have Joined theirs to a
strange medieval ceremony that will
keep 1t bright in peoples memories as
long as the city lasts. 1t is q tale Of the
First Crusade. and like other legends,
has had time to take on many phrases.
AS we Just heard 1t. 1t ran thus: I'm
1899 a Florentine Of the name Of Ra-
Micro led $500 Tuscans to support God
frey de Bouillon in his attempt to re-
cover the Holy Land. Raniero planted
the first Christian standard on the
walls of Jerusalem, and in requital
Godfrey permitted him to carry back to
Florence a light kindled at the sacred
fire on the Savlour's tomb.
Raniero started on horseback to re-
turn home. but finding that the wind.
as he rode, would soon extinguish the
| light, he changed his position and sit
| ting with his face to the horses tail,
conveyed the sacred relic safely to
| Florence AS he passed along all who
met him called out that he was pazzo,
| or mad" and thence arose the family
name of the Pazzi. The light was
placed In the church Of San Biagio and
ever since on Saturday in Passion
Week, a coal. which Is kindled there, IL
borne on the Carroccio to the Canto del
Pazzi before 1t Is taken to the cathe.
dral and in both places an artificial
dove. symbolical of the Holy Spirit by
| some mechanical contrivance, Is made
| to light lamp before the sacred image
/ at this corner and on the high altar of
| the cathedral"
| Other authorities will tell you that
besides the torch he brought from the
| Church Of the Holy Sepulcher In Jeru-
salem, aome pieces Of flint stone from
Chrtst's tomb, the gift Of Godfrey de
i Roailllo1 fnp hin vroat ppnsu,nas ana