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Frior to 1880, the word 'Mafia" was a seldom-heard expression in the WO DAA Ew he Si¢itian dialect, and when used concerning a man it connoted the popular Sicilian ! caso of true manliness. ue Toa toth- Century Sicilion, sith a racfal background of centuries of;danger and oppression, true manliness consisted of a kind of audacious arsygance in which a man kept silent in the event of a crime, refused to atta the euthorities In its detection or punishment, reserved the right of pS, onal venseance (vendetta) to the injured person or his family, and _ : toi ruthless personal vengeance fer offenses he or his family might suffer. Tigre attitudes and this behavior were simmed up in a tradition called omerta : wigtn by the 19th Century had become an unwritten code among the Stcillan prgple. 35 36 In 1863, a play appeared in Sicily with the title I Mafiusi della 37 - Vigaria. Jt glorified the aucacity of certain prisoners in the Vicaria . ) 390 pepetentiary in Palermo, In the 18th-Century English translation of the thd the word "Mafiusi’ was given the meaning of “heroes."' The play a Pee Ye Sy ne APULAPILY. LHe Wore 4 keved wide p 6 sptYled"Mafiosi," found its way into the common speech of Sicily and 48 ital. It came to be applied to those inlividuals who formed the 51 52 53 . 34 Va : { 355 } 56 : 57 58 | 22 . . 0 oo . _ oe . we :62 : . ea _ fa