Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-08-21
Matches, July 90.

STEAM BOAT ILTNA' Sun
On Wednesday evening, the 18Th inst. at
about 8 O'Clock, the Steam boat Atna, on
her passage from New Orleans to Louisville,
struck on snag, rear the Three Sister ISL
ands. in so feet water-She was ran on the
nearest shore, where she sunk Immediately.
He, cargo consisted principally OF Sugar and
coffee.
! Extract of letters from an American gentle
man in Brazils, to the Editor OF the Sa-
| lem Register. 49,,
Bahia, May. 1919.
ssThe Intervention Of holidays is great
interruption TO business. Nearly one third
of the year in Catholic countries is devoted
to religious customs. From the licen'ious-
ness of the Carnival, to the silence and de-
votion of Lent from the gloom and horror
Of Good Friday, to the joyful exutation OF
Christmas; from mass to their pleasures,
seems to be The whole life ofthe Portuguese,
! Spanish and Italian christians. During the
holidays all business is suspended. he
custom house is shut, and no man can be
| found to buy or sell. The great warehouses
are closed, and no article OF merchandise
can he even Inspected. Since me- arrival
here, there has been Ia holidays out of 40.
Sunday is esteemed but lightly by the Ca
tholics. 1t is merely fast day. and the e.
yeninps are usually spent at the theatre or
in the ball room. But the holidays are sa-
cred. They are he anniversaries OF some
! memorable fact in the gospel history, or IN
honor OF some saint, whose life was emf
nently devoted 70 the establishment of
christianity, when it was virtue to stand
forth as its defenders, against is enemies,
the idolatrous nations of Europe. These
! men. called saints, land they would not have
received that appeiIation from men, but for
GREAT services, were either the preachers,
or conouerors of the unchristisn nations, and
formed the pi'ots upon which thoss nations,
were turned from Paganism TO Christianity.
Honce they have acquired a permanent tame
in the annals of the church, and although
their particular services are lost and forgot
ten in the ruins of historical records, yet
their names have survived. aid their ehlgies
are adored. and the Catholic prayers are
addressed to them, as still interested in the
progress of that great cause for which they
so nobly suffered.
The holidays finished on Monday night
the Sd of May. At 4 O'Clock, the process
on moved from the Church near the Kings
dock. 1t is built of European marble, and
finished inside with great taste. A friar de-
lvered an Grafton, during which curtain
was drawn aside, and presented car, sur
mounted with figure of Jesus bearing his
cross. The ceremonies were finished with
music.
The banner of the cross preceded the
whole procession, accompanied with per
son gorgeousiy dressed in purple and gold,
and having wings, formed of the rich plu-
mage of Brazilian birds, on his shoulders.
He bore trumpet in his band. This figure
represented some archangel. Then sue
ceeded company of friars in white, bear
ing long lighted waxen tapers in their hands.
Behind them came the Host, under purple
canopy, supp, rted by silver rods. Three
priests spendidIy dressed in golden and bro
cade yastments, carried this sacred deposit
tory of God himself, according to their be-
lief! Troops OF angels attended it.
The whole was terminated by regiment
Of soldiers moving to martial music. The
rabbie followed.
As the procession moved through the prin-
cipal street, they stopped occasionally to
chaunt at temporary altars erected IN the
streets. These were richly decorated with
gold and silver cloth. and Illuminated With
tall wax candles, standing in candlesticks O.
silver =,
AS the procession passed the houses of the
distinguished inhabitants, showers OF roses
were thrown from the windows uron it
Night came on, while this goreeou pagean-
try moved through the streets, and the light
from the innumerable candles thew a splen'
dour over the street, churches and multitude
that produced novel and interesting effect.
The bald headed friars, the splendid robes
ofthe priests, and the images OF the Virgin
and her Son served to thicken the magma
ton, and impose upon the senses.