Page 18: VISITS TO ITALY BY THE BOYS
Brother Joseph visited Castelmezzano the latter part of 1920 and returned to New York about six months later in 1921.
Uncle Joseph, his wife Jule, his two sons Joseph Junior and Jack, and our brothers John and Charles, visited Castelmezzano in August of 1923. They toured several other cities, returning to America in September of 1923.
While in Naples, John and Charles engaged a horse and carriage from the hotel, to visit the Parrella family, Castelmezzano natives residing in Naples.
Being Americanized in language and appearance, the two brothers were subject to being duped by the native Neapolitans. This particular driver had his horse trained so that at his command it would suddenly lay down and play dead. The driver would pull his “con” act just before arriving at a destination.
Crying, he pleaded with the passengers to please help him to pay for the dead horse, his only source of income to support his large and poor family. John and Charles, all excited, called a carabiniere not too far away. At this the charade came to an end, the driver gave the horse a command to get up, and he took off without collecting his proper fare.
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Charles & Michael 1923
Envious Eyes