The sun., 1909-02-14

Of the earthquake survivors at Messina
to that OF a tree shattered by a storm,
It's leaves scattered far. its branches
broken, but its roots still clinging to the
soil. The tree Is not dead. and II left by
itself gradually under the action Of the
sun will put forth new leaves and slowly
but surely live again.
The evacuation Of Messina would have
amounted to q crime. 1t was like taking
the life out OF the shattered tree. Yet It
was decided on. The last stroke which
would have killed the soul Of the ruined
city had all but fallen when a handful
OF men-Signor Michel. Count Zilei Of
Parma and an old. intirm priest. the
/ Archbishop Of Messina. among them
decided TO avert 1t.
They made the survivors hope. Little
| by little the survivors were induced to
work at building huts with lumber picked
: from among the wreckage. and gradually
a new city rose in the midst OF the dead
city. In Piazza San Martino many huts
were built and the survivors inhab-
Those who fed to the country returned
and settled, q new life sprang up, ths
numbers increased day by day until the
evacuation Of Messina became an impos.
sibility and the proposal was abandoned
by the military authorities. Then Sgnor
Michel returned to Parma. But for him
Messina to-day would have been bonn
barded and its remaining inhabitants
scattered all over Italy instead oil being
engaged In rebuilding the city.
So much clothing has been sent to Italy
from all over the world for the earthquake
sufferers that IL it were properly distrb-
uted every person In Sicily and Calabrta
would be provided with new clothes
Still. strange TO relate, the Survivors
In the devastated area and the refugees
scattered over the country are complain
ing that they are not provided with sum-
cient clothing.
In the case OF the survivors in Calabria
and Sicily. many Of whom are still wear
ing military overcoats, the fact is ex-
planned as follows: A naval officer who
Is in charge Of the distribution OF clothes
reported to headquarters that the women
refused to accept any colored garments
and insisted on having black.
I'VE are all in mourning here they
say, -and cannot wear colored clothes
As the army overcoats arc dark blue
they can be substituted for black. but u
would be an insult to our dead II We wors
light clothing
A peasant woman in Calabris refused
some cotton sheets. as she said she was
accustomed 90 linen.
The refugees are not so exacting. Tney
generally take what Ia given them. but
they invariably complain that IL IL not
enough. The committees in the prlnci.
pal towns where clothes are distributed
are Obliged to watch the refugees very
carefully. as they have often found one
woman wearing enough clothes for
whole family. A woman in Rome had
no less than seven undergarments Of the
same kind on her, besides four skirts, and
when reproached she calmly answered
that they were all given to her. forced on
her rather. and she had not the heart TO
refuse them.
Il am wearing them ALL she added,
.as i is easier than carrying them IN a
bundle"
The fatalistic frame OF mind in which
the majority Of the earthquake SURVIVORS
are content TO remain is the subject ol
bitter lament on the part OF the Rome
correspondent of the Milan Seeoio
None of the refugees, he writes: wants
to work. A typical case is that OF doc,
tor Of Messina, who with his family n'o
As he professed great anxiety at hrst
to work for living his Roman colleagues
with much effort secured practice ioi
him. In the meantime the victim an1
his family had become the recipients OF
much sympathy and charity In hoIne'
and when the news came that an ehcel-
Isn't and lucrative practice was waiting
for him he refused the offer. ,,-
.Now he leads an idle and easy NE
on charity" the correspondent adds
waiting for the distribution OF the mill
ions subscribed by the public. -
Those millions are a vertaoie o.
session with all Of the refugees, lhey
greedily watch the figures rise and they
all know the latest figures as soon as t1e
are made public. They all dream OF
leisurely existence, without any neces-
atty Of a thought for the morrow,
dThey never think Of doing their enae
In the restoration Of the ruined citnn
which alone will involve millions AZ
they seem to care about Ia freedom from
financial troubles forever