The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25
EUIN or 4 SUNDAY HAT.
An italian Melodrama and Its Cnuses-A
Cignr Smoker'S Cnrelessnesa.

An elaborate Sunday hat reduced to ruins.
the wearer. a little. dark haired Italian girl.
white and dumb with dismay. and the girls
mother and attendant friends In eXtravagant
manifestations, first OF distress and anxiety.
then of thankfulness. and lastly lamentations
as to the financial loss. made up little high
pitch melodrama in the foreign quarter lately.
"Carnna's hat 1t cost SO worth aud 1t
now exclaimed a neighbOr as she looked
upon the charred ana crownless framework
that youngster had elevated on pole that all
might see.
And it set her of so pretty" was another
comment THE carnations looked like you
might pick them. they deep-hearted
and pink and there wasn't another hat with
the ribbon and tulle put on like that in Boxie's
whole shop. l was with Miss Malvdo when
she picked it out and paid the money cash
down"
Never had it on her head before. except to
try on. said Carnna's mother. stout eomey
woman. who had never ceased to wiring her
hands through all the stages Of the drama.
And the child was so proud of it, she would
open the box and peep in at it dozen times
day. and had her hair done up in papers ever
| noon. I've always felt no good could come
from Tomping with matches and cigar lighters.
| and the next time my CIR. STANDS next to a
A'S Ssha%, Miss MaSSid9! Nobody. did it a-pur,
pose.:a the child amt hurt! Nobody would
NO. sho amt hurt, but l thought she was.
was ia,nt when m n9 started c hh e sd wit
| thered been only ono TO blame" The Italian
youth whose hand had struck the iated match
| to rel ght his cigar stood quiet and made no at
| tempt 10 defend himself from the woman S re-
proaches; As for Gamma. standing bare
white dress, she had not yet recovered her
| voice or her color. and when people pressed
Gamma had been the 5onnIest figure in tho
little group Of homs-comers from afternoon ,
| than her companions. the tulle wreaths and up
standing bows IN the wonderful new nat were
the glossy dark curls bobbed Knowingly as
Csrnphn Along WITH Proud th Go1srops
where he ohr Who S walked
beside her had on 81 80 and s. hats and irocks
OF plain cambria or muslin. her hat was gen
mere dress was trimmed with yards and yards
Of fued satin ribbon and plated Lace Car
mother kept the little basement shop with
Italian and American Groceries written
IN blue letters on tho adobe wall over tho
door, and there were Inducements AZ TO coal
ana ice and P@rreIs Of EIndn'g T"2 Sd aIpTTy ~
to buy Carnina a hat and frocS at fancy
price. according to Thompson street standards
and when the girls and boys drew near her
place she came out to meet them and admire
once again her precious Gamma in sunday
array Then suddenly. in the midst Of the
| talk. Giovanni had struck a match. There was
an outcry. a starting asunder OF the group. and
little white-robed figure was seen to dart
| forward with its head all IA mass of flames. II
was Giovanni who dashed the girls hat of
her, dark cgrls. breaking the elastic that
hair 1t was he who had patted Car
nina's chest and Shoulders in, order :, tc
| ascertain II she was atlre anywhere. llci
| mother was too unstrung to do anything but
wiring her hands and cry out that her child was
in danger: and even after the frightened CIR
| had rcgaiHel her voice ana assured the by
| ISLANDERS that she was all right, the mother
continued to gaze at her in an agony 81 duub
and to shower scod - and revengeful CHANCES
ut the author Of the trouble.
Il wonder II Gamma II get as handsome {
! hat again? ?" was the comment of more thar
one neiChbor as the excitement cooled dow
and the Malvidos retired within doors.