The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26
Wine shop that existed In Nero's time.
Campaign Against Drinking
Seems Doomed to Prove
Ineffective.
spsoia, corresposdencs to TUE sux.

ROME, July 15.--It has been estimated
that IN some cities in Italy like Rome.
for instance. there is a w!neshop for every
500 inhabitants. In order TO discourage
drinking Il is now proposed TO increase
the cost OF licences for such shops. How
ever, the remedy ls not likely TO prove
effective, since so long as Italy remains
VINE producing country II Is natural
that wine should be sold and tho inev-
table result OF reducing the number OF
wineshops will be the overcrowding of
those left open
The Roman wineshops which arc gen
orally known as "osterie" because they
are really taverns where meals are served.
had a classic origin. There was a choice
of inns IN old Rome and their descrip-
tons tally with those OF the present day.
1.-THE smoke from the kitchen fills the
place and Expresses It's Corners" writes
Apollnarls Sidonious. The cooking food
could be smelt and the steam and clatter
OF pots and pans was mixed with the
chanting OF the guests"
The innkeepers lied and cheated and
adulterated the wine. and the landadies
were often reputed witches. st. Augustn
says that they put drugs into their cheese,
turning their patrons into conscious
mules and restoring them only on con-
dition" The signs OF old Roman inns
were often animals. Here Mercury prom
ises gain, Apollo health, septumanus
(the owner) meals and wine. Any one
coming in will be the better for Il
stranger. look to where you stay" was
the inscription on an inn with Apollo
and Mercury as It's sign. Another Roman
inn had this sign "One word. wayfarer.
come in copper tablet (the tariff tells
you all"
Each Has It's Peculiar Name.
]
/ been replaced by the modern "osterie"
with signs almost as curious as
/ those OF classic times. While In other
parts OF Italy n wineshop has no special
sign except red flag or the branch Of
a tree nailed to the door in Rome every
'osteria" has peculiar name, generally
in dialect and having no correction with
either the innkeeper or tn inn. Thus
well known wineshop in Trastevere.
where the wine Is very good, is named
'Fosso del Panonto" "Panonto' Is a
place that is dirty, hence the name means
"a dirty ditch
AS rule the nickname OF she owner
OF the wineshop figures prominently in the
| sign. There is an "osteria" known as the
"Osteris del Mapelle." "Mapellc" is the
nickname OF the owner, who early In life
had a voice and the ambition to sing In
grand opera. His favorite air was one
from Hamlet when the barytone addresses
the ghost and exclalms Internal spirit.
talk :" BY dint OF repeating those words
which In Italian are "Spirlto internal, ma
parla 80 the would-be barytone earned the
nickname OF Ma parla," subsequently
corrupted into "Mapele"
Other Characteristic signs of Roman
wineshops are small tavern Of the Curly
Woman, run by Uncle Francis the dyer q
and Emily, the Wife OF the Hinge
Maker"
Naturally there are numerous historical
signs on Roman wine shops. and nearly
all the Roman empcrors from Nero "a
CallGua have "ostcrlas" named after
them. Then there are others named after
the Arch OF Titus, Menenius Agrppa, the