Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-23
water gate on the other side of the town
and the lion wears a similar smile
No Increase in Population.

No Increase In reputation.
Trau is said to be the oldest community
In Dalmatia. as 1 have already told you.
and the larger part of the population is
descended from the original settlers. They
number no more than they did g. thou
sand years ago. The latest census shows
between seventeen and eighteen hundred.
The natural increase of population is off
set by emigration. and l was told that
there are sons of I'rau in Chicago and in
various parts of Wisconsin and Michigan.
The families are thus all related, and,
tracing their lineage back almost to the
Christian era, they naturally have strong
claims to be recognised by our arts
tocracy. 1t is close community and
very sympathetic as We saw ilustrat-
ed at the funeral of a woman this after
noon.
She was not a person of any distinction,
we were told, but at the same time one
Of the best citizens of the world, good
wife and a good mother, who had not
only mended but had knitted the stock
ings that her husband and her children
wore. and had not only made their cloth
ing but had woven the stuff upon her
own loom of wool from sheep that she
herself had tended in the fields. And
the whole town turned out to pay tribute
to her memory. The houses were draped
with little curtains of black cloth as SYM
bols Of sorrow and every place Of bust
ness was closed during the funeral. The
bishop himself walked in the procession,
wearing his purple robes, and there was
a priest in embroidered vestment each
side of him. Three boys, one carrying
crucifx and the other candles, walked
before him and behind him marched
brass band, small, but we'll trained.
playing one of the sweetest dirges
have ever heard Thirty men in crimson
robes that fell to their ankles. each car
rying a big candle. preceded the casket
and behind it long procession of the
dead womans neighbors followed with
solemn faces.
Separation of Sexes.
Women only We're admitted to the
| church, for that is the custom of the
country. and perhaps because there is no
room for more. Only men witness the
service at the funeral of one of their
sex.
While the priests were saying low mass
| the bishop the musicians and the men
in the long red robes promenaded up and
| down the piazza, as the little square is
| called, some in pairs and some in trios.
| gossiping solemnly, and they looked for
| all the world like a chorus the stage
in grand opera, when the prima donna or
| the tenore robusto is occupying the foot
| lights.
| After the mass was said they again
formed procession. with the band play
i
| the dead woman to her tomb.
| The bishop Of his diocese lives in Trau
instead of at Ragusa Or Spalato which
are much larger and more attractive
places. There Is a cathedral at both. /
am told that he prefers Trau because of
it's age and traditions and the peaceful
community that surrounds him here. One
Of his predecessors. st. Giovanni Orsini,
the first bishop and patron staint of Trau,
| lies suplne above the great altar literally
| set in silver-entirely incased from his
| tonsure to his toes in a beautifully en-
bossed silver mask that is fitted closely
| like an armor to his form.
Noted for Architectural Beauty.
The cathedral of Trau is famous for its
architectural beauty, and especially for
the exquisite tracery in it's Gothic tower.
1t was begun early in the thirteenth CEN
fury, but it was not finished for two hum
dred years. owing to the poverty Of the
people, but they furnished an excellent
example for other communities who have
/ churches to build, in cultivating their
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