Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 March 1892 — A Curious Italian Custom. [ARTICLE]

A Curious Italian Custom.

Ye Western maidens who receive the slavish adoration of admirers who court you in tho parlor, apart from all prying eyes, listen to this from “Sunny Italy:” “At the far end of Naples lies tho Church of Santa Maria Auntlata, which once a year, on the day of Our Lady, wakes up into a brief life and excitement. In a silent row before the high altar kneel thirty girls, all In black garments, with folded hands, and eyes fixed on tho picture of tho Madonna bofore them. These are orphans from the neighboring foundling asylum, and once a year all those who have reached tho age of 18 are brought hero to the church, and may be choson in marriage by any honest man whose papers are in order and whose character Is good. At the door eading to the sacrbty leans a gray-hoaded priest, the head of the asylum By and by a man makes his way from the back of the church and hands him a little packer of papera These the priest reads carefully, and being evidently satl-fled, he gives back the papers and leads tho candidate toward the row of girls. All eyes are fixed more steadfastly than ever on the altar, all their hands are clasped tighter together, their faces turn a shade paler, their hearts beat quicker as the young man walks siowly along the row. At last he stops. His choice is made. Ho stretches out his hand with a little smile. Tho girl rises, puts her band into that of the stranger, and togother they disappear into the sacristy. The ice being ihu broken, other suitors come forward.