The Savannah morning news., 1904-11-27
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THE SICILIAN AT HOME.
Traits of the Glass of Italians Who
Largely Flock to America.
Alvan =. Sanborn. in Boston Tran

Traits of the Glass of Italians Who
Largely Flock to America.
Alvan +. Sanborn. in Boston Tran
script.
Brigandage in Sicily is a thing of the
past, whatever sensational reports may
occasionally be spread to the contrary.
but the resort of the knife, instead of
to the courts, to settle private quarrels
is still frequent and must be classed
despite its picturesqueness as high
ly anti-social practice. 1t should be
borne in mind, however, that this par
ticular brand of lawlessness is a relic
of the time, scarcely more than a gem
Grafton distant, when the social, po-
litfcal and judicial organization of the
province was such that justice was not
to be had through the courts 1t is
gradually diminishing under the inf1u-
ence of more liberal institutions and
one of these days it will virtually dis
appear; never entirely, however, in
cases where jealousy is involved. The
Sicilian is fiery lover. One cannot
readily imagine him, with ell his good
business sense, accepting legal damages
as sufficient satisfaction for the alien
alton of affections. Something of the
whom he is partly descended, enters
into his amours.
The lottery, which plays so impor-
tant a role in Sicilian fiction, is really
a devouring plague in the Siciiian
cities, where the excited crowds about
the ticket offices are one OF the sights:
but it seems not to have infected the
country districts to any great extent.
The Sicilians are unquestionably born
gamesters. Still, the lottery apart,
their gaming is OF the very modest sort
that does not interfere with regular
labor, dissipate savings or wreck
homes. The habit Of betting on cleo
tions is as prevalent in Sicily as in
America, and at this point, II at no
other, our Sicilian immigrants will ac-
climate themselves without strain.
Sicilian honesty is not an easy thing
to define. not because 1t does not ex-
list as an unsympathetic critic has face
tiously remarked. but because Il is a
Latin sort Of honesty that puzzles the
non-Latin mind, and IL likely to cause
Misunderstanding and trouble when
to other than Latin lands.
The Sicilian ie exceedingly honest in
his way; his way is not exactly the
American way. that is all. He is the
last person to live beyond his means.
lie mas al httI ENA41G VI Ills ODllkdllOH
of a debt. His word is reliable in at
fairs of real gravity. On the other
hand, he has fewer scruples than the
Yankee regarding the number and
kinds OF deceit permissible in driving
a trade-which is saying a great deal.
Like most OF the Latins and certain OF
the Celts, he prevaricates without stint
in matters OF no Importance. He is a
in other words. in the art
Of telling amiable. white lies. He can
match the subtle hattery OF the
Frenchman and the delicious blarney
of the Irishman. Like them, he will
promise you anything and everything
out OF sheer politeness. rather than APP
pear disagreeable: which does not pre-
vent him from being splendid IN his
loyalty, like them, once his allegiance
Is won.
He holds lightly che engagements he
makes with his saints. as he does ey-
erything that has 20 DO with HIS re-
ligion. He breaks the most solemn re-
ligioue vows. made IN time OF stress.
when prosperity returns. Thus a friend
tells me or a most amusing dispute
he overheard between several gicilinne
on shipbOard ae 10 whether they should
or should not pay an Offering they had
promised their patron saint. during a
severe storm, ~ be brought them safe
out u u.