The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-13

jill DttDuRcu u INC "
OF the parishes, and these fees were very burden
some To the people. Now they are taken possession
OF by the civil magistrates or authorities, ana tne
Tees placed at the lowest figure possible me clergy
are not only deprived OF their perquisltes put are
forbidden TO wear any disting ashins costumes.
They formerly wore long black sack or wrapper,
with a brin about four feet wide rolled into scfoil
on each side up tight TO the crown. projecting about
two feet fore and aft from the head. Now they ap-
pear the streets dressed like other gentienleii:
Another source OF revenue TO the clergy that was
or tollng OF the bell after every death Every dooie
cost one or two dollars and the rich soul that ded
= a. % s9D a e G en
more and everybody knew how much the deiunct
was worth by the manner In which the bell was
tolled. II right rich IL went or with such
sprightiy air and LOFTY gee carried selfish Joy
and gadness all the living connections who were
thus publicly heralded thrice day for week or more
eratey rich went OF half cooked, about half as
lively the rich soul sped to heaven. And II right
poor It went like cripple going to the galows. lOu
would surely think the bellrlnger sick or had
great pain IN his side and could not pull the rope
well. Now all this bell-tolling Is done away with,
and the rich and poor die q silent equality. The
collins here are constructed with the side pieces
straight, not sawed and bent at the elbow; 1t gives
them a rude and unseemly appearance. Most OF the
poor buried without lid to the coffin the dirt
being thrown In upon the face. Many are buried
without box, only laid on board Nat on the back,
lowered thus into the grave and the dirt thrown
All from the country within the limits OF the juris
diction not nearer to another Campo Santo, are
brought TO the city FOR lntermen except during the
prevalence Of an epidemic when permission Is given
by the authorities to bury the dead the haciendas
You frequently meet corpse dashed to board being
brought on the pommel OF the saddle by man ON
horseback. Almost all children are thus brought for
interment. Occasionally It occurred to Dr. Kearny
my predecessor and has occurred To most ply 5lcans
dare say, TO be sent for to visit very sick patient
some twenty miles off, find him dead start before day
for the city with party, and daylight broke lind
he had been riding with the corpse in the saddle BY
his side dressed In his best costume and sustained
by friend riding behind. The Mexicans often ride
uvh ms IN
gether, the woman before, never behind, as III our
country, and the first time riding with corpse thus
was tight as Dr. Kearny told ME he did, for he would
reel and pitch and hang his head on his breast, and
generally personate man doing his best on horse
back nearly dead drunk But experience opens our
eyes to some strange things-s0me strange resorts
In this terra inc0gnitd. How else could the dead
man be brought twenty miles over road impossible
for carriages or cartsY You see ut once there was
no other 50 decent mode OF complying with the re-
qurements Of burying the man in consecrated
ground.
TO return again to old Campo Santo. The grounds
are now all burnt over the fire that is consuming the
square pit dug twenty feet deep and the 6ocedds
or vaults, are opened and the collins drawn
out and broken, the remains are scraped
the fire. And thus the work is continued day by
day for two weeks. or until all the vaults are
cleared. 1t is the middle Of July, the heat Oppres-
sive thousands visit the scene day by day. the police
keep order; an epidemic Is prophesled; the SYM
pa.hies Of the people are disturbed but liberal prn
expecfed-Dues, .Qate. sdoe2
And now more particularly to my text-the re-
mains Of the three Padres. / had often felt curl
osity to know from observation how the remains OF
persons buried looked, and whether or not any YES
tge OF the soft parts could be dScerned after few
years, and what the Odor might be upon opening the
collins and exposing the remains 10 the air. My
first impression was that comparison Of the state
or condition of those long inferred with those OF
more recent interment might be serviceable to
to science in medico.lega point OF view; but
had w nj flnf
had calculated wrongly in this regard, for the re-
mains OF the last one buried, or vauted, here pre-
scented only the skeleton. attended the funeral
five years and two months before. lie was citizen
OF distinction. And what struck me rs strange was
that no ladies attended the funeral. The women
never go to funerals in Mexico. Whether con-
trollcd by good sense or good taste ! will not
attempt to decide but 1t strikes me ii is BOTH |
have seen many things TO profit by In the man
ners customs aud usages Of this people that have
learned to be very tolerant where any usage differs
from the customs under which l was reared. Why
In the name OF common sense should women be
compelled by custom to go 10 such unpleasant
gatherings, through mud and rain, and sleet and
snow, as in our country In all the kind Offices that
carry comfort ana consolation To the sick the women
OF Mexico Will compare with our countrywOmen of
the United states, II not cast them quite INTO the
shades ana their heartpiou3 offerings when the
doctor has finished his mission-has done all In his
power to avert the fatal issue i'll vain, when there Is
no further remedy and the terror-stricken soul Is
entering the dark valley OF the shadow OF DEATH the
friends dlslnayed and the death-gloom peryadiug
althen listen to the appropriate prayers for the
dying recited by one Of the women, see the candle
lighted and held near the dying one, wnie another
woman puts her lips close TO the ear and personlhes
the agonized by calling in loud and distinct voice
on the saviour TO aid and accompany him, .Jes,ts,
Jesus, Jesus oyade, Jesus me occ0napdle!' re.
peating the earnest suppcation till the soul has de-
partedf any one can witness without weeping these
plous duties Oi the ever ready and devoted Mexican
women, he must have less emotional feelings than
have: he certainly must coincide with me in This,
that however many faults Mexico may have as a
place TO 1--we IN 1t Is at least good place to die in
But keep running of the track often that very
much fear all my scientific readers will get weared
with disappointment and conclude am but quack
in science, whatever may be my pretenslons other
wise. Softly do not Judge hastily for many items
burst upon us by suggestion. This is great country,
AS remarked to French Official, Captain Ney, son
OF the old Marshal, when the cOfthu-gpe,TiteJos
were here. and who replied, with the accompaniment
OF a Frenchman's significant shrug, Every large.r
Yes, SO very large the French could not hold IT, and
although ! am tempted here to run OF the track
again. as could very easily, into stirring chapter
on politics. iorbcar, except In one particular which
concerns Amercans-the levying Of Drestdnas or
forced loans for military operations. Under the
Juarez government u law was enacted enabling any
having the love Of his country at heart to raise
forces--a company, "a battalion or a regnent-and
thus elevang himself 10 be captain, major colo
mel, become soldier OF the regular army Of
Mexico. Having collected his men, such cap
tain, major or colonel, with said forces, en-
tiers town or city and demands Of the
authorities, the Alcade, 8 loan or some 5000 or
$4,000 to clothe, arm ana mount his men. lie de-
mands IL within given time, say three days, or
they will help themselves to il by force OF what arms
they have. so the acades appoint a commission 10
raise the money OF some live or ten citizens able 10
pony 1t up forthwith, and this obtained the com
mander aud his forces leave. Then the commission
apporti0n this loan upon everybody according 10
their conception OF hia means ana every citizen Is
notified that he has such an amount 70 pay, and IL
not satisfied he must show cause way and wherein
II Is unjust on him. Foreigners never exempted.
Although there IL treaty between the United states
and Mexico that the citizens Of each shall be eX-
empted from from taxation for military purposes,
IL entirely disregarued in Mexico. | have been
forced thus 20 pay to sustain the Mexican armies
through the whole struggle OF the French INVASION,
and have been compllmented as being wealthy on
the levyng OF these Ip'tSt0f0S rated far above my
just quota This believe to he general, this break
ing OF the treaty stpulations with the United States
by compelling her citizens IN TINS republic 10
butte their means for sustaining military operations.
Consul Uirick. OF Monterey, rs moving the United
States TO consider this with other abuses
and IL to be hoped justice may yet be done American
citizens In Mexico.
but ] must stick to my text. must open tho
collins OF those three padres, and show you tue
dition and state OF Preservation OF their remains.
They were all three vauted on the north side OF the
enclosure adjoining the portico OF reception was
also the citizen OF whom have spoken this being
the place OF honor. They had thus been entombed,