davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

the Interior. which ia represented in large
cities by a chief Of police known as the
Qusstor. The duty Of the public Sc
curity police is the prevention and detec-
ton Of crime.
In this they are helped by the cara
bineers, or gendarmes. who are practically
a special body of men belonging to the
regular army and therefore soldiers, not
policemen. They are well trained amp
rag The anomaly about them
is that inasmuch as they are soldiers
they are under the orders Of the military
commander in chief. but at the same time
they too depend on the Ministry of the
Interior and therefore on It's representa-
tive. the Qusestor.
They are supposed TO act with the civil
police. but being highly efficient they often
act Independently and are often successful
where the police fail.
Besides the civil police ard the cara
hinieri each city has it's own special police
men, or municipal guards under the orders
Of the Mayor. The direct consequence of
so complicated a police system is jealousy
among the three different bodies. The
civil policemen are always striving to get
ahead Of the carabinieri. while the municipal
guards manage 10 get in the way of both
policemen and caraoinieri and instead of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

Spanish historian Of the gamurri. writing
about the Italian or rather Neapolitan rami-
~ioation. remarks hat the institution de-
generated in o revolving manner
The Camorra in Naples retained only the
complicated organization, the disciplined
and formal rule and the secrecy Of it's Span
ish prototype, but in all other respects it
changed altogether n became nothing
else than a gang Of thieves, hardened in all
sorts Of crime. brutal and corrupt The
Camorra or Honorable Society-such is its
official name-was tolerated by the Bour-
BON and helped the police in times Of
revolution. Hence il attained such an
a~scendency and developed to such an ex-
tent that to-day it is considered one Of the
national institutions Of Naples and southern
Italy.
The Camorra has been defined as the
parasite of the social organization of Naples.
which owing to the great excess Of popula-
ton as compared with the available means
OF Subsistence Is in a permanent state of
generalization The Camorra is divided
into two classes, known as the alta, or high.
and bdssd, or low. Camorra. To the former
belong the high chief of the Honorable
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

Society, known as cdpintesta, or head chief,
the twelve chiefs who preside over the
twelve districts Of Naples, known az ca
pintriti, and the cdmorristi, or full members
of the association.
To the latter belong the giorinoti onorofi.
or honored lads. the recruits. and the
picciuotti, as the %giovinotti are called after
being initiated. The giovinotti are gen.
orally boys, beggars and pickpockets, who
aspire to belong to the society.
The first step in this direction is a sort
of examination held by one OF the district
chiefs. If the candidate is found to promise
well he is admitted on trial and an almost
imp~erceptible line is tattooed on a visible
part Of his body To denote his rank.
The giovinotto is then expected to give
a proof Of his courage by performing what
is known among the society as a b~ravuro.' or
act Of honor. This generally consists In
stabbing a policeman or carabiniere or
executing some slight act Of revenge or
vendettalike slashing the face OF an enemy
with a razor. After this he becomes a
picciuotto and over the line a dot lie tattooed.
The giovinotti and p~icoiuotti are the a
and file of the Camorra, and naturally are
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

shirt loose and very thin. usually Of some
native fabric. A pink undershirt. gray.
red or blue trousers and a shirt Of pale
pink or blue or lavender. or a gay striped
or figured fabric. with neither shoes nor
stockings, is the usual costume. n any
thing is worn on The feet it is something
like a mule, with no heel, Of woven straw
fabric or velveteen Of any color. called
chendies.
The young and middle aged men are
rapidly adopting the Caucasion dress.
as worn in the East-a blouse with a stand
ing collar OF white pique or duck, or gray
linen. with trousers usually matching and
a straw sailor hat.
The women are a delicious riot of color
In their dressing. The skirts are usually
made long and gored. with a circular hounce
OF the gayest kind Of calico or Bingham.
and a white petticoat always having EN-
broidered %fiouncing. A white camisa is
worn underneath a gay camisa. which is
simply a low necked waist with very large
elbow sleeves. while over the neck is a
PAMELA or large neckerchief.
These last two garments are 30 stifened
with rice starch that they stand away from
the body A figured calico skirt of red or
yellow or pink or green with pamela and
camisa OF some thin fabric, either con-
trasting or harmonizing, on the little brown
women makes one think a gorgeous butterfly
or a gay tropical flower.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

horses are all ~diminutive, smaller by far
than tho Indian pony, yet larger than a
Shetland. A cavalry ofioer said that they
must have come originally from fine stock,
having even now many good points.
They are i'll tempered little brutes, mostly
stations, and from our standpoint are not
well treated.
The harness Of many Of them is made en-
binders, and occasionally these are oolored.
! saw one that was dyed q brilliant green
that would have done credit to March IL.
One has an uncomfortable feeling n
driving behind such little beasties; il does
not seem quite fair. MY first drive was a
Il was in Manila just after landing. We
had three satchels, a bundle of wraps, an
other Of canes and umbrellas. and all of
these with We good sized people had TO be
which was the only vehicle left from a long
line OF assorted varieties.
/ got In first, and after slowing away the
impedimenta az well "a possible waited for
ally got in and sat In a most gingerly fashion
on the extreme edge OF the seat. The
cochero started up his sorrel rat and X. said
in an unhappy tone:
I'm afraid IN tip up the whole blanked
But he did not, And 4 often feel like
apologixing to the horse and driver. When
we do drive behind . pair OF big American
horses or mules the whole oJtft seems
Brobdignagian In a land Of Liliputians.
The ordinary quiles and ~tartenelia. are
lned like cabs and cruise around the streets,
taking you almost any distance for ten
cents gold, or sixty cents gold an hour, no
matter whether there be one or more.
They are a great convenience II one is not
too particular as to style.
1t is too hot the greater part Of the day
for people to walk. Between 10 and s
there are few people on the streets, and
the natives carry umbrellas as a rule, the
head and neck by a handkerchief or by a
cheap hat, occasionally by a big banana
leaf. During a heavy rain | have seen
people going along comfortable and dry
under . big banana leaf like the o d picture
OF Paul and Virginia.
The ordinary unadulterated native wears
an u~nderxhirt outside Of his trousers, which
come halfway between his knee and ankle,
Of any color under the sun, and an over
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

various favors. Another will come along
with pineapples. or mangoes. or eggplants.
or onions, ETC.. all carried as easily on the
head as would carry a box Of candy In my
hand. You should see q Filipino woman
go up and down h steep stairs of OAR
house with anywhere from twelve TO
eighteen dozen eggs in a tray on her headl
The chickens, II they are more than two
or three in number, are carried In two OPEN
work covered baskets at the ends of a long
pole carried on the shoulders. This 10 quite
comfortable for the chickens and they poke
their heads out n give cheerful little crows
to keep up their courage. They are. as a
rule. very thin and small, and are said to
have been bred from wild jungle fowl not 90
many generations ago as to have made them
lose their type.
The pigs are taken Il market in many
uncomfortable ways. Six or eight will be
tied on a carabao cart, They lie there
helpless but not noiseless. Others are
driven, others are led. usually having q
cord through the nose, sometimes around a
leg. Some have their feet tied together
and are slung over a pole, head down, while
little ones are carried on the shoulder like
as it is now, the mercury is ss.degrees In
the shade, while the pig and his wearer
are out in the sun.
The natives. both boys and girls, are
trained when very young to carry burdens
on their heads. have seen little folks OF
$3.50 hAAHR ~ " 'sA@at Vttbk my
1t gives a fine poise Of head and q straight
back. IL is amusing to see a native go along
with an empty quart bottle on her head.
You try il and see what happens.
Here IL a Filipino walking along with her
baby astride her left hip, her skirts killed
up, a big tray of anana on her head. q
black cigar about seven inches long In her
mouth and an umbrella held In her right
hand over all.
The streets, or GALES, around the plaza
have a motley collection Of vehicles. Here
is a trotting Australian OK harnessed 10 a
native two wheeled cart or neche with
neither seatnor cover. Then comes a process
sion of diguified looking carabaos hitched
TO nondescript vehicles, which are nothing
more than rud platforms Of bamboo on
solid wooden wheels with iron tires; they
carry good sized loads.
There are all kinds Of driving vehicles
from q miniature victoria drawn by two
tiny horses 10 the ordinary two wheeled
DULLES or t~artenella with one horSs. The
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14
NEApoLIzAN NPES

very numerous. They do all the dirty work
and most of the stabbing falls to their
share.
Very often they are arrested and sem
fenced to a term OF imprisonment or a fine.
The latter is paid by the Camorra, and in
the former case they are kept at the ex-
pense Of the society, and no sooner do they
come out Of prison than they are promoted
to camorristi.
The Camorra keeps watch on all the
crimes that are committed at Naples; OF
every theft that Is committed part OF the
spoil. a regular percentage fixed by . tariff,
goes to the Camorra. A tax Is levied or
every house Of bad repute, every wine shop,
every person who lends money at usury,
whether he belongs to the society or not.
All the cabs that come into Naples from
the neighboring villages pay a soldo Ia oent)
to the Camorra. Every farmer who briggs
his produce to market has to pay the Ca
mora. No farmer refuses to pay; II n
does, either one of his horses is killed or he
himself suffers some damage.
II complaint is made to the police by VIC
tins Of the Camorra for the first offence
they suffer a sfregio. a Disagreement, gen.
orally on the face, by means Of a slash with
a razor, and a second denunciation may lead
to their death.
When a picciuotto has served a certain
term as such and worked well he is admitted
to the high class of the Camorra. But first
he has to pass an examination which is
held by the district chief and several camor-
risti, one Of whom acts in the capacity Of
sponsor or compdre Of the picciuotto.
Several questions are put to the candi-
date. which have 70 be answered TO the full
satisfaction Of the examining board. When
this i~nterrogatory is over the chief asks:
What do you seek now9' to which the
candidate has to reply:
MY c~ompanions.'
who are your compartment"
The oamorristi."
what does camorrista mean?''
a man Of courage who commands the
low society and stands with one foot on the
ground and the other in the grave"
The p~icc!uotto then takes his oath of
secrecy and in fifteen days time. during
which he has to show his courage-brarurd
either in q dua or in performing more
stsbbing. he 10 definitely admitted in the
ranks OF the camorristi. He Is kissed and
embraced by all his comrades and a great
dinner In given in his honor. another dot is
added 10 the line tsttooed on his body and he
is allowed 20 marry IL he chooses Giovin-
otti and picciuotti have not this privilege.
The district chiefs are elected for life
from among he camorristi and the head
chief from among the twelve district chiefs.
All the camorristi are electors.
The Camorra has its own special tribunals
and its special laws. The first axiom OF
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

The Hongkong Chino is everywhere in
evidence, of distinctive physique and OF
general usefulness. He does excellent
tailoring. is a fair cool and shopkeeper, u
stands more English than most people
suppose. He is as stolid as our Indians
and as "a rule honest.
Here most people get along in converse
ton with the native in what one might call
Pidgin Spanish. visaysn is the native
language, but the Spanish imprint is deep
and a mixture Of English, Spanish and
Visayan is what one hears. to the utter
despair Of good Spanish scholars.
A story Is told Of a Spanish merchant
who on returning to Spain after an absence
of some wears in the islands found IL hard to
understand or be understood, so he went
vigorously hack to his Castilisn, refusing to
speak any other. Now he oan hardly be
understood outside OF the few ~Spaniards
here and is often compelled TO write out
his prices for those who are confined to the
ordinary dialect,
There are many quaint bits Of architec-
ture in Cebu, particularly in the old part
of the city near the waterfront and cathe-
dral, where the church holds large proper
ties. The oldest street is SAID to be the
east end Of the Gale de Colon, where not
only are the roofs of the quaint little houses
tiled but there ie a tiled arcade in front OF
them.
The streets are unpaved and very dusty,
for the bull casts with their heavy loads
drawn by the unwieldy carabao make
holes that are hardly seen and not taken
into account till o strike one, when the
effect is that Of the chuck hole Of the West
or the thank you marin of the East. The
sidewalks are documentary and at an angle
that makes walking in American shoes
rather difficult to practise. Some of the
new sidewalks in the burned district are
Of cement and consequently far more
comfortable,
The old Spanish houses ave usually a
ground story of coral blocks. which is used
for stables, servants quarters, DC, while
the upper story. built OF wood, is used as
the living part Of the house. and contains
always a large sala or reception room with
other smaller ones. There are no glazed
windows, but to take their place are sliding
shutters set with tiny two inch squares OF
shell which allow a pale yellow light to filter
through,
There are besides these either sliding
blinds or heavy shutters Of wood. These all
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14
AN AMERICAN WOMAN IN CEBU
LIFE IN THE SECOND CITY OF
THE PHILIPPINES.
Ways OF the Nadve FiIlpinos --Feats OF the
Women In Carrying Burdens on Their
Heads-rhe Little Horses and Variety Of
Vehicles -WOmen's Dress a Blot OF Color.

CEBU, p. l.. June THE city of Cebu.
capital Of the island and province Of Cebu. in
the Philippines. is looking up. Among
other Improvements it has a new up TO date
store at the corner Of The Plaza de Washing
zines, papers. cigars. soda water. &c, may
be bou ght.
It's an odd a~ntithesis. thou Oh, TO see this
modern store, having even a cement block
sidewalk in front, and then to look across
the way at the old convent and church Of
the Recolletos set in a big garden with fire
trees, panama trees and other tropical
vegetation.
Cehu is next in size and commercial
importance to Manila. and has a fine and
safe harbor. which is being further i'm
proved by a new sea wall Of cement.
Down by the docks is a curious old fort,
San Pedro, No. %. built of blocks Of coral
and partly covered with creeping vines.
II has an imposing ~ssllyport on the land
side. with the arms OF Spain %sculptured
above il. On entering you see the old arm
racks for long mu zzle leaders.
A broad ramp leads to the top Of the wall,
from which one gets a FINE view Of the
harbor and surrou ndings. The old cannon
have been removed from tho ramparts
and now stand on the ground on either side
Of the ~sahyport, muZzles up. about az useful
as toy cannon.
A second story Of wood has beer added
and The " hole place now serves as a COM
missary and quartermaster storehou So Tor
the troops serving at this station. The
troops themselves are uptown at Warwick
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

slide in grooves, 50 that practically two
thirds of the side of q room may be opened
to let in the breeze.
The roofs were originally Of red tiles hat
time and age have softened to artistic tints
blending with ferns and lichens growing
in the crevices. But the fighting of the in
surgents injured many OF these, so that
they lave been replaced by galvanized
roofing which is not nearly so cool or pleas
ant to the eye.
Some of the modern houses have under
pinnings of wood or bamboo. A few houses
are made entirely of bamboo, giving a
pretty and airy effect susceptible OF much
ornamentation.
The ordinary dwelling of the native is
a nipa shack on bamboo posts, having
underneath the pony or carabao with any
vehicle that the owner has. together with
pigs, chickens, ducks. children. all living in
more or less harmony. Over the window
spaces is usually a species Of rude awning
made Of nipa thatch or woven bamboo.
called a media aqua. which sheds rain adj
mirably.
Sanitation is mostly lacking and is a grave
problem that confronts the future health
and prosperity OF any growing place; but
the unlimited sun and air are great helps.
An electric lighting plant has been installed
and goes far to mitigate the discomfort
Of a warm evening with a hot lamp. but It
has not yet become general.
Sitting at the window opening on the
plaza 10 as good as a play. All day long
and far into the night passes the procession
OF life. The natives in their gay costumes
take the diagonal Of the plaza, going to
market with produce or returning with
what they have bought.
A few cents will buy a good meal for a
Filipino. His tastes are simple-a little
bit OF fish or meat, a good deal OF rice and
very small amount Of vegetables will make
a spread; he 10 also fond Of sugar cane and
native sugar, which In sold in little cakes
like maple sugar.
Il is a sight to see the women walking
along having on their heads round. flat
trays OF basket work loaded with terra
Gotta pots, very much like the bean pots
Of Yankeeland. and I nave used them for
the same purpose. They will carry some.
times three dozen pots OF the tray and
walk along with an ease and careless grace
that makes me envy them their carriage.
Another woman will have on a smaller
tray quantities OF bananas, some red, some
yellow. some green. assorted in size and Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14
CAMORRA OF NAPLES HIT HARD
WAR on THE MOST POWERFUL OF
CRIMINAL LEAGUES.

" IL seven Centuries Old and Has Raminca-
lions All Over the World An Kinds OF
Crime. From Murder TO BiackmAll. Com.
m.tted by ITS Members-Men In High
Places ITS Protector The Work OF Ten
Honest Men May Overthrow N-Lawa
anu secret Tribunals Of the Society.
ROME. July LA double murder was
committed near Naples a little more than a
year ago. A man named Cuocolo was en-
ticed to Tore del Greco and there stabbed
to death. His body was found on the
beach the next morning covered with the
characteristic stabs or gashes of, the
Camorra executions.
On the same day Cuocolo's wife was
found dead. stabbed in, the same way as he.
husband, in her house at Naples. 1t was
asoertained that the two murders took
place simultaneously. and as both husband
and wife met their death in the same manner
and as their money and jewslry we're left
untouched as a sign that theft was not the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14
N1zEa WHO has TO EY z4xES TO TIE CAuoHR4

motive Of the crime, the conclusion was
drawn that the crime was an execution Of
the Camorra.
Neapolitans. young and old. hurried to
the lottery shops where they asked for the
numbers corresponding to the words hus-
band. wife. murder. vendetta and Camorra.
and they staked all the money they could
afford on these five numbers for the next
drawing Of the lotto. The Cuocolo murder
was. after all. nothing but an ordinary
fatto di anou an event Of blood, quite a
common occurrence.
Fdtto di sdng ue is a most comprehensive
expression. not only in the Neapolitan dia-
lect but also in the Italian language. 1t
means anything from a trifiing knife stab
TO a murder. provided the injury has been
caused by violence.
II a crowd gathers in the streets around
a fallen cab horse or a stabbed man, and a
curious person on it's outskirts asks another
what is the matter. the reply Is given with
equal indifference in both cases. You are
told that a horse has slipped or that it is
only a fdto di sdngue. but you cannot guess
as much from the lar geness or smallness
of the crowd
Fdtti iii sdngue are common in Italy,
and especially so at Naples. Whether they
are due to the Camorra or not does not make
the least difference. save as regards the
choice Of the numbers for the lotto. Con-
sequently the local papers described the
double murder and ended their accounts
with the usual formula that the police were
investigating the case. Nobody doubted
that the case would in a few days be entirely
forgotten.
In fact, after a while the police dropped
it altogether. Some arrests were made.
it Is true. A party Of young men and some
women Of bad repute happened to 60 toTorre
del Greco for a picnic on the day Of the
murder. By a mere coincidence, according
to the police theory, they happened TO be
all more or less intimately connected with
the Camorra.
They were therefore arrested, probably
owing 10 a mistake of an overzealous and
new police official, but they all proved an
abb and the investigating Judge released
them. as he was expected to do. The case
Of the Cuocolo double murder was hen
entirely dropped.
The organization Of the police system,
in Italy is very complicated. The entire
police force is divided into three separate
bodies, each independent Of the others,
and under different chiefs.
The civil police are knowns as the public
security police and are under the direct
orders Of the Home Office. or Ministry Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-14

barracks. the old Quartet de Espana IN
the Plaza dc Washington.
The ground floor of the Quartet is used
for the various Offices of administration,
post exchange, reading room. while the
upper story is used for barracks for the
enlisted men and quarters for the bachelor
officers. The place is inadequate and I'M
suitable, but a new post is soon to be built
at the north Of the town. off the Mabolo
road. The married officers have quarters
on the plaza in old Spanish houses hired
for hat purpose by the Government, 80
that they may be near the troops.
The business enterprise Of the place is
shown by the blocks of new buildings that
have been put up to replace those burned
by a big fire Of two years ago. It is odd
to our American eyes TO see structures with
never a nail or bolt where a strip Of bamboo
or rattan will do; and odd, too, to see
native workmen patiently using a rip saw
to cut out heavy flooring.
The saving is done with accuracy but
not despatch. Native labor is far cheaper
than a sawmill would be. and the laborer
is here and the sawmill is not.
Cebu 10 considered a very hot place and
IL lives up TO its reputation fairly well;
but the monsoons give a steady breeze.
except during the period Of shifting from
the northeast to the southwest. The
markets are good. the place is healthful
and we are sure Of at least one, oftentimes
two, weekly mails from Manila, and TO us
exiles these items mean a good deal.
The shopping lie good and steadily grow
ing better. as the merchants are trying TO
keep a supply for the new and varied de-
mands. and what Cebu lacks Manila can
generally supply.
The Chinese, or as they are called here.
Chpos. are much in evidence, and in their
little tiendas have almost os great "a variety
as the New England country stores. In
Manila 1 saw in a tienda a small heap Of
paving stones, second hand, f~orRalo! There
are good grocery stores, American, Spanish
and { hino;in the last the real chaliering a.
the Orient has to he done or else you pay
an absurd asking price.