Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1907-07-13
THE MAN Of THE SUN.
Venerable Patriarch Who Spends MS
Years Staring at Old Sol

Years Staring at Old SOL
have today, writes correspondent
nj Messina, in Sicily been afforded an
opportunity of interviewing one OF
the strangcst characters in the world.
He is known to everybody here as
"rI1omo del Sole" 0hc man of the
Eun).
In appearance he is venerable
natriarch. with face tanned almost
black by the fierce rays of the soulh
ern sun and with long snow Whl'e
hoir falling 10 his shoulders from Doth
sides of the dividing line in the miduie
of the head This as we'll us his long
white beard is always well brushed.
This man spends his time from morn
ing till night in worshiping the sun
lie pozes with wide open, unblinking
ovos nj the bali of fire daily noOulhH
this city in brilliant sunshine. lie VIII
gaze fixedly for hours at Ola sol anu
in doing so carry on a conversation
with If and utter prayers invoking the
protection of his god. lie does not
suffer I'm the slightest by the terrlDie
caze and TO prove 1t he has, AFTER
holf an hours fixed stare at the sum-
timed bv the watch, seen plainly ana
described the smallest article l nave
pointed out to him.
Scientists, physicians, oculists ana
surgeons from every part OF Ilaiy
have come to examine his wonderful
ewes. which look rs if they were at
tackled bv some dread disease. Ihey
are. however, as good as those or the
average man, but not the same. Ills
orbits are remarkable by reason or the
abnormally large pupils. The whi'e
part of the eyes is crystalline anu
strangely bloodshot
Camarroto. the patriarch, Is eighty
six years of age, Of medium helgh'
and robust, eating and sleeping We'll
The peOple of MeSsina have the great
ost respect for him, and woe betide
the youth who takes It into his mead
70 ridicule rUOmo del Sole. The mel
ot work In the port, loading and dis
charging ships, join together III max
ing n weekly allowance out OF theii
very meager pay to the sun worshiper
who IS also called In the Sicilian ala
lect III flusuru" (the philosopher.
His coat Is always unbuttoned t'
give prominence to a remarkably
colored waistcoat. His socks are al
WAYS the same. One is white, the
other red. One Is short, the othe'
long. and they cover like CATERS the
ends of his trousers. The right 100
is shod with a patent black boot hl'
left with brown shoe.
At the head of his stick are tied three
bandkerchiefs of different colors. H'
calls this his tallsman. With i
he stops tempests, hurricanes an'
thunderstorms, which he says arr
signs Of the fury and anger or Ill
god. the sun. When 1t rains he comes
ont hatless. kneels in the streets o
Nessina. with arms extended, ana erie
"Basta. basta, oh, sole milo" (EnouSh
enough. oh. my sunD The traffic re
spectfully stops until he has finished
his nraver and the waving Of his magi
wand in the air. If it were not 10
me. oh. parde moi. what would hap
pen to poor Messina. to poor Sicily, 10
il would most certainly be destroyed
by torrents Of water"
If he sees a lady hold up parasoI
Camarroto will snatch 1t and close II
"InfamouS Onew he cries. "Why wal
in the shade when the sun IS out!
The lady may Indignantly seek re
dress. but the sympathies of crowd an
police are all with the man who ca
look at the sun with open eyes. In
rent of the house wherein he lives
paid for him; the food he eats at an
restaurant. the wine he drinks, are a
given him gratis by the proprietor
who is honored by the presence OF tn
sun worshiper.
With great difficulty l induced hi
to speak about himself.
II am the son of the sum- he erie
, once he was reused II was born VIII
his blessing. speak to the sun, u
god of the world. / am his chosel
sent by him TO preach his power, an
| shall continue to do so forever an
ever. for l shall not die. l shall trav'
over all the world, to France, to Eni
land. to America, to follow the SUI
to preach its power, to gaze at 1t,
be bathed in golden light.
81 am daily defending my fellow me
from the sun. They ungratefully ca
me mad. Let them do so. They cal
not look at it for hours ana hour
They would die They would be bin
because they are unworthy to profaI
the sun with their looks."-Baltimol