This ebook was transcribed by Les Bowler.
CASTELLINARIA
and other sicilian diversions
by
HENRY FESTING JONES
LONDON: A. C.FIFIELD 1920
p. 6FirstPublished . . . 1911
Re-issued . . . 1920
p. 7al
caro • compare
ALBERTO • AUGUGLIARO
di • monte • erice
alla
cara • comare
GIUSEPPINA • AUGUGLIARO
e
a • tutti
gli • amici • siciliani
che
gareggiando
in
cortesia • ospitalità • affezione
hanno • fatto
della • loro • isola
una • seconda • patria
per
l’autore • riconoscente
p.9PREFACE
It is probable that every book contains, besides misprints,some statements which the author would be glad to modify if hecould. In Chapter V of Diversions in Sicily it isstated that the seating arrangements of the marionette theatre inCatania would be condemned by the County Council, which I believeto be correct, but, on visiting the theatre since, I find I waswrong in saying that there are no passages; I did not see them onmy first visit because the audience hid them.
Again, in Chapter XVI it is stated that Giovanni Grasso entersin the third act of La Morte Civile, whereas he enters inthe second act. I have since seen the play several times,and, though it is tedious, it is not so much so as to justify aspectator in thinking any of its acts long enough for two.
In Chapter IV I say that the Government makes an annual profitof £3,000,000 sterling out of the lottery, but I do not saywhether this profit is gross or net. There is a paragraphin the Morning Post, 12 September, 1911, which statesclearly that never since the union of Italy has the State lotterybeen so productive as in the present year of Jubilee; the grossyield has been £3,715,088, and the net p. 10gain, afterdeducting commissions and prizes, £1,489,180.
In Chapter XV it is stated that the words of the play inSignor Greco’s marionette theatre in Palermo are alwaysimprovised except in the case of Samson. This isincorrect. The words of the long play about the paladinsare improvised, but they have in the theatre the MSS. of severalreligious plays by the author of Samson, who was aPalermitan, Filippo Orioles. All who are interested in thel