Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

     Our Naples correspondent writes: “The other day, at the village of Piscinnola, a singular race took place, customary on the occasion of the annual feast of the patron saint-St. Antonio. At two p. m. the picture of the saint, with his inseparable pig, was affixed to the door of the parish church, and all the proprietors of horses, assas, mules, pigs, fowls, pigeons, etc., brought their respective animals, which were decorated with long varicolored ribbons, and deposited their oboli at the feet of the saint. Then followed a grotesque and characteristic scene. Horses, asses, oxen, and even some poor pigs were mounted, and a race commenced, during which riders fell off, beasts took fright and boys were trampled under foot, while timid sheep ran wildly hither and thither, mixing themselves up with the legs of their larger companions. Meanwhile crackers were exploded, regardless of possible danger to the immense crowd. Antiquity seemed revived, but the prosaic present was represented by a Brigadier of Police, who calmly enjoyed from a balcony the misfortunes of the devotees, who, covered with bruises in consequence of numerous fumbles, will long have cause to remember the solemn feast of St. Antonio and his pig.”-London News.