Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-01-20

riders One bull after another was driven il
roaring, and as here they are generally fierce
and their horns not blunted as in Mexico, it is ;
much more dangerous affair. The bulls were
not killed, but were sufficiently tormented. One
stuck full Of arrows and fire. works, all adorned
with ribbons and colored paper, made sujder
spring over an immensely high wall, and dashed
into the woods. I thought afterwards of thi.
unfortunate animal, how il must have beer
wandering alone all night, believing with pain
the concealed arrows piercing its flesh, ant
looking like gay ornaments:
$50. when the wachful shepherd from the blind,
wounds with random shaft the careles hind
Distracted with her pain she fees the woods,
Bounds Ger the lawn, and seeks the silent foods
W.T.. Wth ftuI,less care, for still the fatal dart
Sticks in her side, and ranklcs in her heart"
II the arrows had struck too deer, and the
bull could not rub them off against the trees, he
must have bled to death. Had he remained, hi.
tate would have been better, for when the ami
NAL is entirely exhausted they throw him dowr
with a laso, and pulling out the arrows, pu
ointment on the wounds
The following passage details what the
author justly calls" a strange scene" Sh,
had just witnessed the discipline of the fe
male penitents, which seems to have beer
comparatively mild, and was then privacl,
introduced into the church of ST. Agus,n
to see tie
DISCIPLINE OF THE MALE PENITENTS
When it was dark, enveloped from head to
1901 IN large cloak, we went to the church o
st. Augustn When we arrived. a small side
n n pnI
ed passing through long vaultrd passages, and
up steep winding stairs, until we found our
selves in small rallied gallery looking down di.
rectly upon the church. The scene was curl
Gus. Ab,ut one hundred and fifty men, envel
oped in cloaks and sarapes, their faces entirely
concealed, were assembled in the body of the
church. a monk had just mounted the pulpit
and the church was dimly lighted, except where
he stood, in bold relief, with his gray robe anC
cow thrown back, giving full view of hi:
high, bold forehead and expressive face.
Ills discourse was made but very forcible
and eloquent description Of the ,orments pre
pared in hell for impcnitent sinners. The ef
feet OF the whole was very solemn. It appear
ed like preparation for the execution of ;
multitude of condemned criminals. When the
discourse was finished, they all joined in the
prayer with much tervour and enthusiasm
beating their breasts and falling upon their ia
ces. Then the monk stood up, and in a yer,
distinct voice, read several passages of scripture
descriptive of the suflsrings of Christ. The
organ then struck up the Miserere, and of
sudden, the church was plunged in profount
darkness all but sculptured representation
OF the crucixion, which seemed to hang IN the
air illuminated. felt rather frightened, ant
would have been glad to leave the church, bu
it would have been impossible in the darkness
Suddenly, terrible voice in the dark cried
"My brothers, when Christ was fastened to the
pillar by the Jews he was scourged" At these
words the bright figure disappeared and the
darkness became total. Suddenly we heart
the sound of scourges descending upon til,
bare flesh. l cannot conceive any thing mort
horrible. Before ten minutes had passed the
sound became splashng, from the blood whicl
was flowing.
| have heard of these pcnitences in Italian
churches, and also, that half of those who 20
there, do not really scourge themselves bn,
here, where there is such perfect concealment
there seems no motive for deception. Incredi
| BILE as 1t may seem, this awful penance contnu
cd without ln,crnIssion for half an hour.
they scourged each other, their energy might bt
| less astonishing.
We could not leave the church, but it wa
perfectly sckenng; and had | not been able t,
take hold OF the Senora's hand, and feel some
thing human beside me, could have fance,
myself transported into congregation of evi
spirits. Now and then, but very seldom, sup
pressed groan was heard. and occasionally tn,
voice OF the monk encouraging them By eiacu
atons, or by short passages from scripture
Sometimes the organ struck up, and the poo
wretches, in faint voice, tried to join in tn,
Mlserere. The sound of the scourginr is in
describabIe. At the end of half an hour, lit
tie bell was rung, and the voice OF the monk wa
heard calling upon them to desst, but such wa
their enthusiasm, that the horrible lashing con
tinucd louder and iercer than ever.
In vain he entreaied them not to kill them
selves; and assured them that Heaven woul
be satisfied, and that human nature could nc
endure beyond certain point. No answer, bu
the loud sound Of the scourges, which are man
Of them of iron, with sharp points that enter tn
flesh. At length, as if they were perfectly ex
hausted,the sound grew, fainter,and little by it'll
ceased altogether. We then got up in The darl
and, with great difficulty, CROPPED our way in til
pitch darkness through the galleries and dow
the stairs, till we reached the door, and had tn
pleasure Of feeling the fresh air again. The
say that the church floor is frequently covere
with blood after one of those penances, an
that man died the other day in consequence c
his wounds.