The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-04-19
Written for The Florida AgrculturiSt.
Holy Week in Panama.
BY HELEN HARCoURT.
Continued from page $50 }


Once again the bells, hanging in a
low, square tower, roofess and almost
wall-less, so that bells and ringers
are in full view, peal out, and at the
signal the crowd on the plaza falls
back, leaving an open pathway to
The church door, while every bat is
dropped many of the more devout
kneel down in the dust and every
palm waves triumphantly. We know
what it all means, tor, thus far, ex-
cepting the palms, we have witnessed
the same scene every Sunday for
months past, having the vantage of
a residence overlooking the church
of San Francisco and its plaza. The
Lord Bishop is coming, coming in
the midst of his priests, arrayed in
his rich crimson robe, with its deep
velvet embroidered collar, and five
yards or more OF train, upheld by a
priest who seems in no wise at ease
under his burden, tor though it is
loopel over his arms aud shoulders
in a manner more curious than artis>
tic, he ever and anon makes frantic,
furtive snatches at sundrY unruly
ends and corners.
The priests are all, with one ex-
ception, clothed in white cambria
robes longer and shorter one, the
latter trimmed with deep lace, and
.he;r lseads .sss.ll sep
much ike The Bishops in shape, be.
ing the old time triangular cooked
hat. The one exception alluded to
is that of tall monk, with shaver
crown and dark, plain robe, a raven
amidst flock ot-shall we say geese
or gulls? Nay neither title BELTS
the willy white-robed priests.
The strange procession, headed by
two priests bearing wax candles and
another carrying the Bishops staff,
disappear through the great doorway,
the molly throng follows and silence
reigns on the plaza once more; a sill
ence broken only by bursts of music
from the band inside the church. No
unusual circumstance this; in this
strange land the violin and drum and
bugle are frequent accomplishments
OF the organ, and on such special oc-
casions as the present, the whole
government band is brought into
action.
An hour passes by, and then the
bells begin to clang again, the troops
march out of the church and the palm
bearing people follow. There is
pause, then stir among the eXpec-
tant people, and then issues forth
the procession of priests, the Lord
Bishop in their midst, white and
gilded mitre upon his head and a
magnificent lace gown draped over
his CRIMSON robe.
There is short pause, during
which we are painfully reminded OF
a farce at the theatre, by the occas-
ional opening and peeping through
the church door of priest who at
length waves his handkerchief to
those without, and then closes the
door with a heavy clang. The watt
ing is over; the Bishop and his
priests, surrounded by the people,
draw near and the former begins a
monotonous chant, knocking now
and then upon the door. Alter this
chant had continued tor about ten
minutes, the great doors flew open
and the Bishop and the people passed
inside, amidst triumphant hurst OF
music.
This ceremony, if such that may
be called, which was devoid OF solem.
inty aud earnestuess, was intended to
commemorate the entrance Of our
Saviour into Jerusalem, the Bishop IN
this instance representing Christ.
In the good old times OF a few
years ago. when Panama was blessed