The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-08
the tL.oHr OF THE DOVE
A curtsas csrsmsay Observed fss Geo.
tuFiss In Fhsrsaes.

- N8HA3es SNaN~@S
turie. In Fisrsaes.
In the May 81. Nicholas there IL an
article entitled In Old Florences
written BY Mrs Rebeoca Harding Da-
Wis One OF the quaint customs MIS-
Davis describes IL the following: "A
crusader from Florence saw the light
In the Holy Sepulohre. and vowed that
he would carry the sacred fame home
to his own city. Three times be set
OF with toe torch. The Wild beasts
fought him. and the storms beat upon
him. and the winds blew against him.
Three times II was put out. and he
had to turn back. Al last he hid II
In his bosom. and rode backward on
his horse and 80 protected IL. The
people thought he was mad seeing the
ridiculous figure facing the horses
tail. and called out. "PazEo. paIIo''
fool. fool) but he did not care.
He carried the holy light home to the
high altar OF the Duomo. and there II
still burns today. His family have
been known ever since as the Pazzi"
That's a good story" said Tom after
a pause. "a sort Of allegory. ! sup
pose. hut there's no dove In it, oh.
the doye7 Well. every year on Holy
Saturday a dove. typical Of the Holy
Spirit. flies with a spark Of sacred hro
from the high altar OF the Duomo TO
| the Baptistery. The fame In then
given to the PaTzi family. who carry
Il to their own little church. There Is
an old superstition. which many OF
the contadini or peasants still believe
that II the light goes out In its pas
sage the crops will fail. 80 they crowd
into the city from all Tuscany TO pray
for the dove while IL IL on is way
Tom heard that evening on all sides
so much talk Of 10 Scoppio del Caro-
1.-THE fight Of the doyel that he felt
II was high time to begin bis Lessons.
lie would give these people some
good. sound common sense tomorrow!
hut ten o'clock the next morning
found him with Hugo struggling mad
ly through the masses % the people In
the plaza up the steps OF the great
cathedral. when the great cathedral
was full the vast crowd ebbsd and
flowed outside against the walls. be-
meath the Campanile. the great bell
tower. which shot up into the blue
heaven like an airy shaft Of carved
ivory and gems. around the gigantic
figures OF the builders Of the DuomO.
who for centuries have sat pondsrinE,
gazing NJ the work they left on the
earth Il never saw NO great crowd
10 silent and grave" said Tom. This
Is not a show" Hugo replied 1t Is
religious ceremony. Il has a solemn
and sacred meaning 20 these people ="
Those rude tourists should be put out
of the church" mu,tered Tom. frown-
ing at a group Of people who were
talking and laughing NO natter"
whispered Hugo Watch now" The
music and chanting suddenly stopped.
The people rose from their knees and
stood gAEing brea,hlessly up into the
dome OF the cathedral 10 which the
red sunset lights we're fading into
darkness. On the altar. high IN the
/. shadow. appeared niokering spark I,
, wayered. Frightened. almost died out
Then a white dove. scattering showers
: OF sparks. darted from the altar
. crossed the Duomo high over the up
q turned faces. and passed through ths
r open doors across the square 10 III,
A church Of San Giovanni Il, 10 thor,
4 safely" gasped Hugo III II onlJ
2 comes back without going out tn,
b. crops are sure for this year" Th'
8 Duomo with lie multitudes waited ia
i silence. The peasants stood with
y strained eyes fixed on the door. Ton
r held his breath. There was a fash o
n light at the door. again a shower o
|. sparks overhead. and the dove tut
h tered back TO the altar With a grea
o sigh Of relief the entire crowd OF PEG
n pie rushed 10 the doors when tn
q boys reached the square Hugo drAggeI
NJ Tom up on 10 the base Of Brunell
le eschls statue. You can look owe
IL the heads Of the people here. he said
IL DO you see that great car. hung wit
y. flowers. with a tower In the middle
y. That Is a caroceio. an ancient Etrus
Of can war chariot H. and the six whit
~ oxen you see without a spot or stair
Al belong TO the Pazzi Neither car no
a oxen are used throughout the year. "a
II cept TODAY. 10 carry the sacred ligh
r from the altar 10 the private chap,
n ~ the family All they have siarte,
OF They are coming" The snow whit
.c. stately animals marched slowly pas
ry each led by a man In the Pazzi ll'
.ir cries.