Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/379

Rh temples, cascades, &c., and with crackers and gunpowder old men, without number. The people were as quiet as usual, even during a few disturbances caused by His Royal Highness, the Prince of Syracuse. He was seated, with the gentlemen of his court, before a café, on the principal street, and flung thence dozens of cigars amongst the people. One box after another was emptied in this manner. This soon assembled a crowd of young and old men, who fought for the cigars, and pressed ever nearer and nearer upon the Prince, who himself snatched the caps of several from their heads, and threw them away amongst the crowd, in order to free himself from them, till at length the gentlemen of his court were obliged to use their canes actively, for the same purpose. This scene was renewed several times. A stand, with all kinds of confectionary and cakes, stood at no great distance, on the opposite side of the street, and this the crowd obtained leave to plunder, by a sign from the Prince; but so madly did they rush upon their prey, that again the canes of the gentlemen were put in motion before order could be re-established. But it seemed to amuse the Prince. This Prince, a large, powerful man, with a very handsome countenance, is particularly popular in Sorrento, for bis kindness and liberality. Both he and his brothers, the Dukes of Aguila and Trapani—they are all brothers of the King of Naples—are said to be real Turks with regard to women, and the sympathies of the popular Prince for the people have in them nothing either elevating or ennobling to the same.

The folks-festivals are said to have lost here, as