Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-25
Work of the Brotherhood of Pity at
Florence.
TO CARE FOR THE SICK AND POOR
Devote Their Time to Real Labor
of Love.
READY FOR EVERY CALL
from the New Illustrated Magazine,

black ghosts carrying a black catafalq 1c,
through the city. All heads are uncovered
as they pass and the most ribald and un-
couth carter draws his mules on one side
to give more room
No wonder the Florentines are proud Of
their confraternity, the finest charitable
restitution that ever was founded. Any one
can give money. but the brethren give
personal fatigue and are often exposed TO
Infection. No winter snow or burning
summer sun stops the devoted band. Three
times day the bell OF the Misericordia
| Chapel. I'm Piazza del Duomo. rings TO call
those whose turn II is to carry sick poor
to the hospital. Ten brethren usually go
with each litter. under the orders of a
Capo di Guardia, who Is distinguished by
Bag Tied round his waist. This contains
brandy, cough lozer ges and the key If a
drawer under the litter In which is a drink
ing cup, a stole, a crucifX, the ritual and
some holy water. in case the sick person
should die on the way. The long dress and
the cowl with two holes for the eyes ara
of black cotton. and black CATERS Grs
worn, so that the brethren may not he
recognized by the color of their trousers.
The cowl may only be thrown back outside
the city gates and in certain specified
streets; II II rains hard or the sun Is pow
erful. black felt hat is worn over 1t.
Four brethren carry the litter. which
Weighs about $50 pounds. and the reserve
men keep one hand under the poles in
case bearer should stumble or fall. A
changing bearers. which is so skifuly
done that the sick or wounded are never
shaken. As they relieve the others. the
fresh men say: May God reward your"
The answer is: Go in peacer'
II they have to go a long way, sixteen
brethren are told OF for service and should
the case be very bad one. a brother walks
on either side OF the litter to watch the in
valid's face or feel his pulse.
Removing the Sick.
When the house door is too small TO ad-
NIT the litter, the Capo di Guardia and six
brethren go to the sick room. Tenderly and
carefully they carry the invalid on a thick
quilted coverlid to the litter, and the arched
top is opened against the street, so that
curious passers-by should not the sick
person. Before leaving the room, the Capo
di Guardia leaves a small sum on the table,
In obedience to legacy left for that pur-
pose to the confraternity by two pious cfti-
zens long ago. If the invalid is the bread
winner, or the poverty OF the family evil
dent, the Capo di Guardia begs the brethren
to DO yet another charity, and holding his
nat together like a bag, goes from one 10
another to collect aims. He asks the sick
person whom the money is to be given to
and, without counting. pours the contents
OF his hat into their hands. The members
OF the Misericordla take II by turn to go at
stated hours to the houses Of sick people
TO change their linen or beds or TO sit up at
night with those who are too poor to pay a
nurse. In maladies like rheumatic fever.
when the slightest touch is agony. they are
often called to rich folk to lift an invalid
so gentle and sure from long habit is their
touch. No member is allowed to accept
anything-money or food-save a glass of
water. in any house.
Some one is always on guard at the Mis-
ericordia Chapel, and if an accident occurs
a message is sent there to call a litter Then
bel n
site the chapel Is tolled In a peculiar way
twice Tor an accident, three times for a
death-to call the brethren who are on the
list for that day.
Twice it has happened TO me that a shop-
man has left his wife to serve the clients i'm
the shop. while he hastily threw on his
CLOAK and tore out Of the door. The first
time, being new to Florence L thought the
man had gone mad. My face / suppose.
showed surprise. for one of the customers
said, Eli signora, don't you hear the bell?
an accident"
Typical Case.
member OF one Of the Oldest and most
noble families of Florence told me some OF
his experiences with the Misericordia. A
typical case was one evening I'm the Old
Ghetto, now destroyed. A poor woman on
the eve of her confinement was lying In the
room where her husband, his brother and
two children were i'll with typhoid fever.
take her to the hospital. She lived on the
ninth story Of the tower of the Old Tosa
Palace. up precipitous and narrow stair
case with many turnngs. The question
arose how to carry her down I'm safety and
was solved by my friend, who crept under
the guilt, which was held by four bearers.
On hands and knees he went backward
down the long staircase. with the poor wo-
man resting on his back 1t took nearly
half an hour TO reach the litter In the street
and my friend was stiff for many days
afterward. He stood godfather to the baby
boy VINO came into the world three hours
after the woman reached the hosDital sau,
to the child's education and made a man or
him. ~ VI
Various Orders.
Besides the seventy-two Capt. di Guariia
thirty Of whom belong to the priesthood
and forty to the laity. there are some
hundreds or Giornanti (day workers.
Stracciafogli paper tearers) and Ruone-
voglie (well intentioned), who have no
voice in the management OF the CONTRA
ternity.
The Giornanti are bound to serve one day
in every week, or If they cannot do this.
to sleep one night in the week at the Mis-
ericordia, where there is a room with four
beds They go there at 10 pm, and cam
NOT leave until In the morning, when the
first mass is said
The queer name of Stracciafogli comes
from the old custom Of their tearing up
paper Slips when they had one hundred
slip was given to each man after he had
accomplished q journey but they are only
expected to 90 four during a month. No
apprentice is admitted into the confrater-
nifty without his masters consent nor any
youth under age save by his fathers wish.
No servant I'm livery can belong to It, nor
can any barber. hairdresser coachman.
cobbler, seller OF fish or Of salt meats and
sausages or any person following a trade
which Is considered mean or vile. No man
can be Of the Misericordia who has been
condemned in court of law or is notori-
ously an evil liver. Characteristic of the
Italian passion for regulating everything
are the innumerable laws and regulations
laid down for the conduct Of the brethren
and the pains and penalties for their nom
observance.
Omcers Of the Society.
There are six captains and six COUNSEL
lors. eight conservators mot including the
king and the archbishop Of Florence, who
hold that rank by virtue of their pos;tion),
provi1er, chancellor. a secretary an
overseer and two visitors of sick brethren
Of the confraternity. who distribute GER
tain aims on the certificate of the doctor of