Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-10-19

AN EXTRAORDINARY SCENES-l Witnessed this
same night most singular custom among be native
South Americans, which made deep impression
upon me. On returning home rather late, after
accompanying some captains of my acquaintance
to the landing where their boat was waiting for
them, i passed low-roofed house, in whose we'll
lighted room music and dancing WE'RE going Oh
tried to get look Though the curtained window,
but did not succeed, and was just passing on when
the door opened, and two men came out. A third
onew Just going to shut the door again when
he saw me, and, addressing me, asked me in the
most friendly way to come in and be Welcome
Always ready to see what Ecould wherever got
chance, followed his kind invitation, and found
myself the next minute in perfect flood of light,
but in very small room, crowded with people,
Taking in the whole at the first glance, the room
seemed rather poorly furnished, with white washed
walls, only here and there ornamental with small
colored pictures of saints and martyrs. a..
The tables and chairs were made of pine wood
the latter with cane bottoms; and one corner of
the ruOm, and a great part of the whole space, in
fact, was taken up by a large bed covered with
lowered curtains, instead of q muSquito net; but
the curtains thrown back at present to offer loom
for those guests who would not dance themselves.
AquG ardiente and dIloes were handed round |;
while all, men and women, the dancers excepted,
smoked their cigarittoS. But the most remarkable
thing in the room seemed to me large kind of
scafold, which occupied the other corner opposite
the bed, and consisting of gnt frame work, or
namented all over with artificial flowers, little
pictrreS of saints, and qua nifty of small, lighted
wax candles. Onthe top of it, most extraordi-
nary well7made wax figure of little child was
seated on low wooden chair; dressed in a snow
white lady frock-the eyes were closed-the pale
cheeks tinged by soft rosy hue, and the whole
figure perfectly strewn with flowers. 1t might have
been about seven feet high, and the figure was SO
deceptive, that, when drew near at first, thought
it real Child, while young woman below it,
pale, and with tears IN her eyes, might very well
have been the mother. But that was most certain
ly mistake; for at this moment one of the men
stepped uplo her, invited her to the dance, and a
few minutes afterwards she was one of the merri-
est IN the crowd. But it must really be child
no sculptor could have formed that little face so
exquisitely; and now one Light went out, close to
the little head, and the cheek lost its rosy hue.
My neighborS at laStremarked the attention with
which looked upon the figure or child, which
ever it was; and the nearest one now informed
me as far as could understand him, that the little
thing up there was the child of the woman with
the pale face, who was then dancing so merrily;
the whole festivity taking pace, in fact, onlyon
account of that little angel. shook my heao
doubtfully, and my neighbor to convince me, took
my arm and led me TO the frame, where had to
step upon the chair and nearest table, and touch
the cheek and hand Of the child. 1t was corpse;
and the mother seeing had doubted it, came up
to me, and smilingly told me that it had been her
child, ana was now allLLie angel IN heaVens~ line
guitars aud cacaes commenced wildly again, and
she had to return to the dance. left the house as
in dream, but afterward heard the explanation
of this ceremony. Ifta little child, i believe up
to four years of age, dies in Chilli is thought to
go straight to heaven and become little angel,
the mother being prouder of that-before the eyes
of the world at least-than if she had reared her
child to happy man or womanhood. The little
corpse is exhibited then, had SCENT; and they
often continued dancing and singing around it
till tdsplays signs of putrefaction. But themoth-
er, whatever the feelings of her heart may be,
must laugh, and sing, and dance, she dare not
give way to any selfish wishes, for is not the hap
pineSs of her child secured9 Poor rnotherl-Gers-
tGsckey's Voyage ROundths World.