New-York tribune., 1904-08-11
THE ITALIAN BANBTNO
Uothers Wrap 1t in It's ''Fasca' Like
an Indian PaDpOOse


eTs heart There are never many children in
an Italian family that another is unwelcome.
Italians love Children only their own but chill
dFen ~ general For years the New-y0rk Found
ing Asylum mas given infants during the first
year ~ their lives into tho Of italian mothers
WHO have lost their babies The little founding
becomes the pet Of the household II is loved and
candied and petted as if il were the own baby Of
the family and the 'oSter-ulother. surrounded by
more OF her o0r shan she raise IN comfort
often veeps bitterly when she gives I'D the ba bv
tre end or the year.
AT down Mulberry-sJ. tho "fasca" makes a
bright DIT Of local color 10 one who knows the
swarmiuE home life Of the region The fasca IS
the band iu which ever italian baby is wound
up as soon as ho makes his debut II is a strip
or cloth three four yards long and three four
inches wide II is sometimes white. but more often
has a ground of blue. pink or lemon. with raised
white t5E-res The material is something on the
order os Turkish towellnG. ard into its
texture are such expressions "Bambino d!
Mamma or ''Bambno Dileuo.r which correspond
70 BABY Darling" Mammals JOY" and such
pretty terms OF endearment common to all sorts
OF mothers
The bIack-eyed little mite is laid on his back
square of cotton. which is longer than he IS. ana
which is folded together in front. The band Is
slipped uuder the shoulders and wound round and
round When the feet are reached. the cotton clotn
folded back. and the taseia wound round and
ucd with strings at the ends When it is all done
the GambnO Is Z neat htue roll, exactly Ike the
l2EpOCSe a
bOugh 10 be out Of the way. Indeed, the Identity
OF the two customs shows how primitive methods
have survived among the Italians Probably all
primitive mothers rolled up rneir babies the same
way.
Thus trussed with care. the Italian baby cannot
move hand foot. His arms are bound to his
sides, his legs are bound together. No American
baby would stand it for minute: but the BAN
blno accepts 1t with unearthly patience which
makes an American mother stare aghast- He is
stoical infant. like Indian and Chinese babies one
wonders II u is only IN the young and democratic
races that the babies have learned kick
II one asks Italian mother why she ties the
little shaver up Ike that. she will reply that
it makes the bambino stronger and his limbs
straiChter: a notion exactly contrary 10 that OF
the American mother, who believes in giving all
the freedom possible to the little and legs.
Tn italy this custom IL rgidly followed in all
classes OF society. the being bound for six
months and the legs for year or year and a
half
over here In some curious way. American Gus
toms have effect. even when the mother has
never spoken 20 American. The Is
gradually peeliug off. even i'm conservative Null
berry-s. a Mulberry 5ambino rarely bound
more than nine months now. sometimes only two or
three. Still tie bright fasria survives. Not in the
stores generally. for II is not manufactured IN
America But occasional pedler.
thrifty housewife. maybe wiu write to a friend IN
the old country 10 send her package OF the bands
They cost 20 cents in Italy and sell Tor - cents
here,
a does not suffer much as woman
SAYS the Italian mother patiently That IS the
reason she often burns q candle the Madonna.
and supplicates her 10 send boys girls II
the girl comes however. she loves II just well
the boy, only sighs the fact that II IS
little more trouble TO bring The Italian mother,
accustomed 10 rigid Chaperon system in which
boys and girls are never left alone together. and
girls never go on the street alone IS often puz-
Zled and disIuayed by the freedom of the young
people In America, and the way in which the chill
dren OF the crowded teuenen- quarters live upon
the street. They try TO watch their daughters
as they were watched over IN their childhood
IN some little Calabrian village II IS impossible
but the Italian girl is undoubtedly the most care
fully reared IN the tenements At home Ia ItalJ
boys are much more important than girls. But the
family has not been IN America six months befors
there Is readjustment IN It's IDEAS The difference
In the relative importance o. tho boys and girls
lessons until they stand about equality.
The reason Is very easy 10 hnd. Tho parents make
no secret OF It at all The girl Is e possible money
Garner Ike the boy. Therefore. she has become his
equal
IAN italian women IN America are emancipatsd."
a young Italian wrote homo after a month in
Nevy-YorE They al go 70 the factory, and have
their own money spend father does not
dare whip hts daughter after she goes to the
factory. She Will leave home and rent room and
take care OF herself"
The Italian immigrant has practical mind He
does not theortze about college education and tho
Suffrage. The woman earns her own money Ergo
she is emancipated-
Little Francesca Momina sometimes begins 10
oarn her money very early. All the factory in
spectors in the world cannot prevent child work
ing In the house OF its parents: and II there ara
many to feed and the child Is handy, it can begin
as young as seven. though this is not common
The Juvenile industries OF the tensmentS are chleny
the finishing OF boys clothes and the making or
artificial lowers. Children fell down the bindings
at the bottoms OF little trousers. with few long.
struggling stitches. They put the needle through
the buttons the knees twice. so that they are
ready 10 tumble of the first time the garment Is
worn. They make things called outtonhoIes-
For this finishing they get or cents dozen
pairs OF trousers Children's work Is confined TO
bo,4s clothes Mems clothes have TO be done
somewhat better
From March tI the end of May tho buttercups
blossom on Muberry-st.. only. instead OF picking
them the poor bambino is making them. Boxes
of flowers and stems are given out from the arti
hclaI flower factories which C>dse@r around
BIeecker-st and Washington saGare and along
the line of the lower SiXth-ate elevated. The
finishing consists merely in tAkinE up the STEM
dipping IN gum, and attachMg it to the flower
Burtercups and daisies/arN->he easiest. and bring
come next and roEes and forKet-nhe-nots are the
hardest commandiIg from p TO 80 cents a dozen
nIFieI ~ Inc go' % cbT3steni3s- ~ ts an eve1t in 5
Italian famiIy-an event social religious and fam
ily, ike the wedding Custom does not state itS
hours without baptism. But here American trrev-
erence slowly percola1es and tho christening IS
sometimes put on for several months Eventually,
however. the baby goes 70 church in its god
mother arms Whiie the Eodfathher th holds the
with relatives and friends, sometimes enough TO NIL
to receive the party on its return The godparents
Rfterward assume an importance in the childs life .
gldered relatives near and familiar uncles
T-to -br4s+aptu1 fs .luava IN G,,p6av and th.y aI