Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-05-12
TnE FlieaT nF rHE DoVE.
A Curious Ceremony Observed for Centuries
~ Florence.

-
A Curious Ceremony observed for Centuries
IN Florence.
In the st. Nicholas there is an
article entitled lin Old Florence,
written by Mrs. Rebecca Harding
Davis. One OF the quaint customs
Mrs. Davis tlescrihes IL the following:
"a crusader from Florencs saw the
light in tho Holy Sspulchre, and vowel
that no would carry ths sacred flame
home 10 his own city. Three times no
set oil with this torch. The wild bensts
fought him, ami the storms beat 90
him, and tho winds blew against h. m.
Three times it waa put out, and he nah
to turn back. At last he hid II in his
bosom, and rode backward on his
horse and so protected it. The people
thought be was nad seeing the
ridiculous figure facing the liorse's
tail, and called out, Pazzo, pazzo"
fool, fonl u but he did not care. lie
narried the holy light home to the high
altar of the Dnomo, and there 1t still
burns to day His family have boon
known over since as the Pazzi. :"
That's good story" said Tom,
after pauae. "A sort of Hllegory, |
auppose. Hut there's no dove in it,"
'Oh, the dove? Well, every year 90
Holy Saturday dove, typical OF the
Holy Spirit, flies with spark of
sacred fire fium the high altar ut the
Duomp to the Baptistery. Tbs flame
ia then given to the Pazzi family, who
carry it to thuir own little church.
There is an old superstition, which
many OF the contadini or peasants still
believe. that IL the light goes out in
it's passage the crops will fail; go they
crowd into the city from all Tuscany,
to pray for tho dove while it ia on its
way.
Tom heard that evening on all sides
so much talk az La Scoppio del Caro-
tho hight of the dnve) that he felt 1t
was nigh time to begin his lessons lie
would give thesu peopo some good,
sound common sense to- morrow.
but III o'clock the next morning
found him with Hugo struggling mally
through the lnasses of people in tho
plaza up the steps of the great rathe-
'iral.
" men the great cathedral was full
the vast crowd ebbei and flowed out
side against the walls, benenth the
gampanIle, the great bell-tOwer which
shot up into the blue heaven like an
airy shaft Of uarveil ivory and geniA,
aruund tho gigantic figures of thu
builders of the Duomo, who for cen
turtles have sat pondefing, gazing at
| the work they loft on this earth.
~ never saw SO great a crowd &c
silent and grave" said Tom.
This Ia not show" Hugo replied.
at in a religious ceremony. 1t has @
solemn and sacred meaning to these
psorle."
",rhose rude tnurisiH should be put
out of the church," muttered Tom,
| frUwning at group Of people who
were TALKING and laughing.
mo matter ~ whispered Hugo,
watch new.
Tho music and chanting suddenly
stopped. The people rose from tleiI
knees and stnoh gazing breathlsssly "
into tbs dome OF the cathedral, IL
which the red sunset lights we're fading
into darkness. On the altar, high ir
the shadow, appeaied hickerinl
spark, Ii wavered, frightened, almost
died out. Then white dove, scatter
inR showers Ut sparks, darted from thu
altar, crosaed the Dunno high over tbs
upturned faces, and passed through th,
open doors across the square to thu
church of San Giovanni.
"It is there safely!'i CAPPED Hugo
"If. ii only comes back without goint
out the cropa are sure for this year y
The Duomo with its multitude
waited in silence. The peasants stool
with strained eyes fixed on the door
Tom held his breath.
There was a fash of light at thu
door, again shower Of sparkle over
head, and the dove fiuttered back Il
tine altar. With great Sigh OF relic
the entire crowd of people ruahed Il
the doors.
When the boys reached the squar'
Hugo dragged Tom up on to the bas
of Rrunelleschi's statue.
"You can look over the heads Of tb
people here" he said. do you SCI
that great Gar hung with flowers, will
u tower in the middle9 That lie
oaroccio, an auciant Etrusoan war
chariot. II. and the six white 0xel
you aee without a spot or stain, helouI
to the Pazzi, Neither car nor oxen ar
used throughout the year except TO
day. TO carry the sacred light from tn
altar to the private chapel OF tn
family. All! rhey have started! The.
are coming
Tho snow white, stately animal
alarched slowly past, each led by
man in the Pazzi liverias.