New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-18
FESTAS OF THE SAINTS.
Summer Celebrations Of Italians on
East Side.

Where the fun tide OF life rosrs along the Bow
cry. with al the twentieth century rush for the
elusive dollar, would never dream that just a
few steps west some feast vas n progress which
is old the Christian era All summer long.
from March 1s. when good 81. Anthony OF Padua
celebrates his birthday the Roosevelt-st.
church. 10 the last pleasant days Of fall they are
keeping the feasts IN the Italian colonies which
they have kept for centuries under the shadow OF
Vesuvius. In and out and around about. through
Baxter. Mott and Mulberry. wind the great process
sions calmly unconscious Of ra1e rea1nste-s placid
II Indifferent 10 the profanity Of the same Cooped
n their little dark tenement the saints dav fiesta
is often the only bit CT brightness that comes into
the life OF Italian eigrants. especially into that OF
the older women.
There are always Two PROFESSIONS on any saints
Cay. one IL the morning ana one in The evening
The former is the women's and the latter the
mems and ii Is in the wouen's procession that one
gets most local color The men are merged in th,
inostnguishable cuIness Of the American Iaboring
mans attire. Even the scarlet silk hand kerchies
which bound their necks at Ellis Island has been
discarded But the church feast always brings out
the octcne Italian peasant woman. who never has
been and never VIII De AInerlcanized. This quaint
old crone, with her Handkerchief Of lemon or green
orange or crimson splsshes the scene with is high
color notes, and her long earrings OF Roman gold
Dangling 10 her shoulders. are a delight 10 The
stray tour1st from America Up there above Four
ueenth-st From this old grandmother fresh from
some HIKE Oa4abrian village. the progressive nu-
ence Of Auertcanization is traced III the costume
OF the women. down 10 the girl graduate from the
public schools in her muslin gown cut srrart.y &C.
eoroing 10 the mode OF 1874 And there is d half
way stage between. wherein the women have ac-
CURED the prosperity and ambitions OF the new
environment, without its taste and come TO the
fssta clad IL silk Of gorgeous magenta or cer,,-
lean blue with much white lace: or perhaps be-
ING stout and middle aged. in a dainty lavender
With tasty white shoes and green velvet winter
bonnet The babies. TOO, shadow forth somewhat
patheucally the beginnings OF the new ideas For
often q patient mother OF many herself IN peasant
attire perhaps with her new shoes tied together
oy the laces and slung over her arm. will carry a
blessed banbino brave II irte silk hat and coat Of
delicate blue, pink cream
Up N LITTLE ITALY
The greatest feast Of the year to all Italians in
America is that OF our Lady Of Mount Carmel de-
scr1bed each year In Jhe press. Il occurs on June
70 IN Little Italy" on the upper East Side, and
Italians come from far aleld as Chicago 10 at
tend IL II is the great feast which Uuites al
South Italy But there are many others devoted TO
the favu-ite saints OF special localities There IS
that OF San Rocco. for instance. occurring on Az
gust &C. at the Italian church at No ll5 Baxter-st
GOOD San Rocco WIS the protector against the
Pest IN the Middle Ages and though sanitation
mas eliminated the pest as factor IN human al
ialrs he still retains kindly in diseases
OF the blood So IN the procession many women
presumably those afflicted or having afflicted
friends carry arms and legs feet and hands
together with other portions OF the human anatomy
not generally exposed 70 view. They carry these
WA members seriously round and round the streets
fAa when the procession enters the church pass
ZEN len sT@Veiy up 10 the altar. there 10 be
ne sicilisn saints are all home in Eliza beth
81 ailo there San Giro holds his annual reception
% august -. and San Giusto OF Mlselmerf on sep
esnloes 4 Elizabeth street IS the heart OF push
sa and and The Scilian is par excellence the
:
cG.,..gs IN ne street at the Elzabeth-st fiesta.
49, TO- FOIs ot green corn boil furiously All day
lAey are frying "carciod. artichokes OF which
favorite saints Sav dish ioI "aies are
turned and peeled. delectably hot and crisp from
gs ead ne S So3FS q R9keshpPs
1ATeto Is little fat cake Of fried dough. prob
=, = sells for a cent; Sometimes the cook makes
so ae cheese mixture yh 5e6 6%@ q R}us Is4I n TO-
sAate Then II costs IS cents. but there is enough
with moiassea and fu Of I peahas ca6 oe
.1inoncs baked n . long slab and cut in little
Is eopetta, thick. white candy. fun OF nuts
OF 'confett little bright coIored nSiiss Dd isS
sgts inside an manner OF .bicortni little cakes
g. seen IN The windows are those marvellous
OF every fruit and vegetable on earth, and OF
rilenness nauseatins 10 the American palate. Luz
eecretti. the little roasted peas and dr;ed 6l,ssb
sssecs are fayortte refreshments. Great ropes OF
Brazil nuts soaked In water and threaded on a
or roSsfs q. cnsstsgs strung in the
stacEs strung with rings OF bread. Men plsh
through the crowd carrying above their heads trays
iane1 with brightly tinted OF rrea1r
and yelling continuously. 'cSelau ItalaniI" italian
Ices: CT AZ the doors OF ice cafes tables and
counters stand upon the sidewalk laden WITH
saucers and spoons. and. for a centrepiece mar
81 Ssh wafer, IN which 10 cleanse each dish aver
us using People stop az the mulutudnous clam
bot.. do oss 9Fsr D,ex UP The Aetchpp
hivalve and swallow n with gusto.
BEFORE THE SHRINE
The shrine OF the saint stands against a house
-ai and al DAY the passing crowd pays IL cevo-
son. Every MAJ VINO passes touches hi- nat
from the subway laborer 10 the porrly Italian
banker bis vay . his place OF business The