New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09

In these days OF race suicide discussion IT is
an Interesting thing for the American abroad 20
study those women OF South Italy. who are
sending their children into every nook and corner
OF the United States II is from these women
that thousands Of American citizens to-day
took their first ideas OF home and mother" and
al through the Italian quarters Of New York
are traits ana customs comprehensive only TO
one who has seen them at home across the
water.
South Italy IS stfn IN the age OF hand labor.
The country women stil spin and weave the
bedding and towels and underwear Of their
families. The hams are all cured by the
FARMERS wives Laundry work is done by hand
in the country at streams, IN the city In the
quaint terra Gotta washtubs There is no water
sn the houses and housewives carry It their
heads from the street fountains. And 10 ell
South Italy America" means machinery"
The women's dress IN Naples approximates
more closely every year 10 the generally &C
oepted type. But wooden shoes are often seen,
end every now and then one catches sight Of
quaint costume erom the country. some type OF
cress that has come down from the Middle Ages
and that 70 the initiated eye betrays one prov
moe, and one alone. Especially is this true on
sesst days. the best OF ali times 10 study types
And II one takes the lovely. seven-rnile drive 10
Sorrento he can see the tarantella danced IN its
home. The pOpulace OF ali Italy danoes the
ta2ntella, but Sorrento Is its cradle, and IN the
'FnhTinas,' the little fishing villages hid away
on the coast beneath Sorrento one can find the
fishermen and their girls dancing IL most de-
Gciously I'm the open air.
u behOOVes Italian women 20 be cfrouraspect
IN their conduct There is no divorce in Italy,
But there Is stiletto. for those whose conduct
seems 10 merit IL. A slash across the face with
a razor is also an attention sometimes paid by
q discarded sutton. Many a velvet-eyed girl has
a horTid scar from cheekbone 10 chin. given her
ty some man she mas refused. Such customs dis
courage Irritation. Yet, curioUsly enough
woman 40 dishgured often seems 10 feel GER
tain pride IN such scar as an evidence OF the
violent emotions she has aroused.
Everything is on family basis in South italy.
livery body nlarT1es. Girls who work 90 80 under
the direction and IN the company OF their
parents, habit which they bring TO this country
with them. Italian girls in America do not go
out 20 service or engage IN any occupation
which keeps them away from home at night,
and they are the most easily ''sweated' OF al
people, the natural victims OF the sweating svs-
ten, because OF their preference for home work
Wages are almost incredibly low IN South
italy. Where common laborer works all day
Tor 70 cents, I u rot strange that an old woman
VIII pick olives for cents day.
AS 10 the NeapOlitan wOman's religion. IL IL q
quaint mixture OF devotion 20 the saints and old
pagan sUperstitions. She goes Gevoutly three
times year TO see the blood OF San Gennaro
patron saint OF Naples. boil IN its bottl, a. the
tatheof1; ana II II refuse TO boil. she some
times Joins the crowd In calling the good saint