New-York tribune., 1902-07-17
LITTLE ITALY'S GALA DAY.
PICTURESQUE THOUSANDS DO HONOR
TO OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL.

Those who travel in Europe 70 see the local
color" OF the country. note quaint customs and
peasant garb, mark the characteristic life OF
native races, might have seen it all yesterday by
forty minutes trip TO One-hundred-and-sixteent
st Sober American travellers on business bound,
leaving the Thrd-ave Il" station a that point.
became Immediately aware that holiday was in
progress somewhere. At the foot Of the Il stairs
black eyed little boys insistentiy offered candles
for sale Wondering why he should buy candles
the uncommercial traveller. turning eastward
found himself one Of z constantly increasing
crowd moving in that direction. clad in their best
AID carrying babies. luncheon baskets and candles
The American explorer asked a small girl If this
were holiday The girl lifted her nose little
and in accent Of some superiority replied:
For the Heytalians IL is"
At astufe policeman a little further vouch-
safed the information that il Gartbaldi day.
which ii Caribaldi day comes in the fall.
and this tie dav Of Our Lady OF Mount Car
mel, the greatest Of all Italian saint days.
On First-ave- the fun force OF the celebration
burst upon the view Little Italy a blaze
Of ceor. and alive with music, laughter and hurry
ing feet A blare Of music filed the air. Process
sions marching by headed by companies Of
men IN military uniform. riot Of flags covered
the buildings. From every window and doorway
the Stars and Stripes was flung Loyalty TO the
breeze. far more freely than on the Fourth OF
July IN the American quarters. Indeed, the rec,
white and blue far conspicuous than the
green. rec and white Of Italy.
The STERN centre was the Church Of Our Lady OF
Mount Carmel. in East One-hundred-and-four-
teenth-st From there the crowd and the parade
surged up and down through the length Of Little
Italy" from One-hundred-and-second-st- TO One
hundred-and-eighteenth-s Il was Little italy
indeed--not word Of English to be heard
sHRINEs IN GAY cOLORs.
Al intervals great shrines. gaudy with colored
paper with the Mother and Child within. were
fixed against house walls over saloon entrances.
The buildings seemed alive. for every window and
every fire escape was filed with forms All the
names over the shop doors were Italian. The
~Pharrnicia del Vesuvio' was reminiscent Of the
South OF Italy and many other names recalled re-
gions well known 10 inhabitants Of the quarters
As much business being done in the streets
however as il the shops. Great ropes OF chest
nuts, bags Of squash seeds dried peas and beans
and other humble but appetizing dainties which
The Italian likes better than peanuts were for sale
- svarv few stems "CIeIatT' Gee cream) a
freouent sign. and many a sorry little boy turned
he crank of q freezer upon the sidewalk. WhlIe
casting longing glances toward the merryrnakers,
whose refreshraent he was tolling TO provide
..Iiu,onata un solda'' C'lenonade, FIVE centsD
v-ss hlazoned on the front Of many a bucket and
vgashtub Here and there the sun ghttered and
flashed upon a bunch Of shining. new TN pals
,-bicb sor7e man was carrying to sell to those
thirsty souls who desired provide liquid refresh
rnent for whole party. A pail when bought and
filed was passed generously from lip 10 lip. Tiny
uaoer pictures Of the patron saint OF the Gay past
ed on bits Of brown cloth, were sold by tnousalos
md street STANDS given up u 4N7A4--7
--,,csAxes and photographs Of Our Lady OF Mount
Carmel " for "un soIda slEnOra-
Girls and boys edged through the crowd bearing
lonp sticks strung with little rings OF bread or
carving very large rings slipped over the arm for
sale On some stands were enormous loaVes' ana a
certain little cake frosted with bright magenta
icing cheerful 10 look upon but rather ghastly TO
co7+e-nnls-e as an article Of food seemed TO be a
favorite.
CANDLES THE CHEF FEATURE.
Err the salient the characteristic. the picturesque
fea-pre Of the DAYS vending was the candles. It
was = saturnaIia Of candles They ranged all the
way from the little 70 cent ones. about as big as
the ordinary tallow candle up TO the enormous six
foot beam OF wax taller than the man who carried
II and nearly as big his arm All were MADE or
wax and Eayly decorated with religious scenes
STAMPED On the surface in bright colors- Hundreds
OF men women and children were selling these
candles and thousands were carrying them thelr
purchase being "a devotion" Some Of the SILK
banners carried in the parade were inscribed "A
Devotion" from some citizen Of such and such an
address IN New-York and when the procession
stopped before the church door some people pinned
money on the banners as "a devotion" In the END
az these thousands Of candles were hghteo aooihs
indescribably TO the oddity OF the scene
The Italian could not help adsIng oecor a.
I'VE features to scene like this Tor heT tas'e IN