Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-05-12

Tho Seville correspondent oi toe
London Telegraph writes II ~
nv fortune on Shrove Tuesday 70
hold the performance of an escueta ds
6aiie of q thoroughly exceptional ana
of . most surprising nature. never
in NV life saw such q sight before nor
I suppose, am likely ever to see IL
again. 1t was in the cathedral. Inc
sun was setting IN the national spanish
colors, bright orange and deep red, as
we passed through the noble Moorish
gateway-it dates from the Twelfth CEN
tury-cslled the Puerta del Perdon,
and crossing the Patio de las Narangas,
q forecourt full of orange trees hum
dreds of years old. entered the catne-
drsl by the portal closet to the Giraids.
When from day or even twilight you
lift the leathern veil of the doorway
and pass into this tremendous fame
you can at first perceive nothing what
soever. The best you can do IS to
shut your eyes. and allow yourself to
be guided onward fer q time. Then
lift your eyehds cautiously, and turn
YOUR head to either side, and you will
begin gradually to discern the enor-
nous columns and the vastly bays
around You. By degrees, found that
the trdscoro and the central nave were
full of people, nearly all ladies, who
we're not kneeling, but sitting on the
pavement in Oriental fashion, as Is
customary in Spanish churches when
something extraneous to the ordinary
ecclesiastical ritual is being performed.
Carefully picking my way through the
redundant groups, | came at last within
view of the sanctuary and the high
altar, which were all ablaze with lights
But there were no ceiebrants on the
altar steps, no acolytes, and not so
much as q single minor canon In the
stalls, which / thought strange. The
function was evidently not vespers.
What was it? Wait whispered Bar
low. Rourd the great lectern OF the
coro, with its huge illuminated music
books, every minim and crotchet as
tall as drurnsticks. were gathered
dozen of the youngest choristers, sing
ing away like so many dying swans.
But it was no ordinary chant these
children, with their sweet and clear
ayd silvery voices, sang. 1t was some
thing quicker, livelier, more jubilant,
and, as it seemed to me. more secular
than anything I had heard before in
Catholic place of worship, and the
singing was accompanied by music
quite as gleesome from band of wind
and string instruments. The chant cul-
minated in ringing exulting pecan of
Joy and then, to my utter amazement
and bewilderment, the twelve young
choristers began to dance around the
lectern and before the high altar-ab-
solutely, literally, and operatically to
dance. 1t was the eseUeia de bale
without girl performers, and under the
highest ecclesiastical auspices. At the
close of the proceedings the choristers
ranged themselves in line, and a regu-
lar and most harmonious faa1osie on
the castanets was performed. Again,
and once again, did the band strike up
and the merry chant ending with the
e1ulting ps.n was sung, and twice and
thrice did the sound OF the castanets
click through the huge expanse of the
mighty Cathedral of Seville. The cas-
tanet dance before the altar was, was
told, a privilege enjoyed solely by the
Cathedral of Seville, and was indalged
in only thrice a year-on the anniver-
sary of the capture of the city by the
on the festival of Saint
and on the last day of the