Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-09-09
WHEN IN aone
You Must Do Some Fanny Things Il You
Would Do Is the Romans Do.

An old adage says: when in Rome
do as the Romans do" but it is ques-
ton whether the average American
tourist ever learns the customs Of the
Romans. Even people who have lived
in the eternal city fail to observe many
OF the traits and ways Of the Romans
in their daily life.
An Englishman who was an old resi-
dent Of Rome was put to shame by au
American school teacher of ~, who
asked him II ne knew why they
! chopped so little wood in Italy. He
had taken upon himself the office of
general dispenser Of information among
the guests, and not being willing 20
confess Ignorance. he blurted out:
'Ah, yes l fawncy it must be the
want of wood and the smallness Of the
AK"
But the young woman-and she came
from New York city-explained to him
that the real reason was that they
sawed most Of the wood. She showed
the guests how the Italians hold the
saw between their heels and knees and
draw the log across the teeth. These
are little things. but they go to make
up d peoples personality and ar.
curious facts for foreigners.
When one vehicle passes another in
Italy the driver keeps to the left. The
pedestrians act in the same way. Some
foreigners go through Italy from
Naples to Milan. and at the end won
der why it was that the Italians per-
sisted in getting into their way.
The cigars usually smoked are like
Pittsburg stogies. but are only half as
palatable. They cost two cents apiece.
AS for the owners of bicycles, they
have a hard time. Each rider must
take out license for himself, ne cal
ride no other wheel than his own, and
should he permit his brother to use his
wheel without license the authorities
would seize and retain the machine I'M
til heavy fine was paid.
Another peculiar custom is the way
in which an Italian will beckon with
his hand. In America people wave the
hand toward them when they desire 4
persons approach; in Italy it is just
the opposite. When an Italian waves
goodby to you with his hand you inn
agine he is calling you back, and if he
wants you to approach he motions with
his hand as Americans do in making I
gesture of repulsion.
In Italy the newspapers reach the
public about O'Clock at night.
When the family wash is ready. the
mother carries the basket full IF
clothes on her head to the public wash
house, the lavatojo. Here she pays n
tax for the use of the water and for
place at the scrub bench. The working
women have necks of steel, owing 70
the development the muscles receive in
carrying such weights.
In rowing the Neapolitans face the
bow.
When at a theater or on any public
promenade in Italy you may stare TO
Your hearts content at your neighbor.
but should it be woman at whom you
gaze you must never smile; if you do it
is considered an insult.
Among the common people soap and
butter are considered luxuries, ana
should you be able to have a stove in
your house you must pay the govern
ment a tax for its use.
Bananas or peanuts are never seen in
Italy. AS for hand organs and the
festive monkey. they are seldom seen
in the city streets.
A peasant from the mountains bring
ing in vegetables to sell to the city
folks must pay a tax at the gate before
he can enter the walls
At the first sign of snow the Roman
schoolboys have holiday
TO refuse pinch of snuff is grew
Gus insult. To walk in the sunlight is
to class yourself with dogs and bar
barians. To enter a shop and to walk
out without making a purchase is to
call down upon your head the wrath
OF an Italian tongue. whose superlative
curses would make New York truck
man green with envy.
Of all sights, burial procession in
Italy is the strangest. 1t startles g
man to turn corner and to come sud
denly into a gloomy street, where the
yellow glare of funeral torches throws
grotesque shadows along the house
walls. There is a quick glittering of
censers, low wall from the mourners,
a measured tread of white-robed,
chanting priests, smell of incense
hanging in the hot air, and behind 4
all rises great high object in black,
and along its top lieSa coffin. Flowers
are piled around the dead, and follow
ing the hearse is crowd of mourners,
jostling one another as they meet in
the narrow passageways.-New York
Sun.