The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1882-04-26

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until the desired coin was dropped
into it. Immediately opposite the
door was the principal altar, and at
it's foot, in the centre of a square rug,
a low platform was placed, just large
enough to support an extended figure,
whose crown of thorns and red.
streaked hands and feet sufficiently
denoted its purpose; from one Of the
feet the drapery was thrown back in
such a manner as to leave it fully ex.
posed to view. Around this figure
clustered the few persons present,
each one advancing and kneeling to
kiss the sacred foot, before arranging
his or her little rug, or handkerchief
or chair preparatory to kneeling
thereon the more comfortably to re-
peat the numerous prayers proper to
the occasion. These concluded, one.
after the other arose and departed,
many of them to go through the same
pious formula in each of the churches.
At San Jose and Santa Domingo we
observe nothing different, save that the
former possessed a few rough benches
which served as pews, and at the lat
ter tin Japanned tray was substi-
tuted for the glass contribution dish.
AT San Felipe, the parish church,
where all the funerals, marriages and
christenings OF the city proper are
celebrated, our attention was chiefly
attracted by mammoth figure Of
the Virgin which occupied niche
over the altar; its robes were, as
usual, of blue and white, these colors
being specially dedicated to the
Mother of Cod" but it was the
head which most excited our wonder
and we must acknowledge our amuse.
ment also, for more complete repre-
sentation OF Dutch face surmounted
by Dutch windmill, with three long,
gilt sails stiffly awaiting their motive
power, we never be held we presume
the three gilt sails projecting from
the head were intended to represent
halo, but TO dull perceptions they
were somewhat of a failure.
Crossing the plaza from San Felipe
to the church of San Francisco, they
are close by each other) we passed
through dense crowd coming aud
rng ng lle q DE c:alrf1edraf'pr5z eas.
pore brilliantly illuminated candles,
lamps and gaily colored Chinese lan-
terms being placed in every available
point; every niche was occupied by
a richly dressed saint; the raised
platform upon which stood the altar,
was lined with white>robed priests
and choiresters, the centre and left
aisles were thronged with people
moving to and fro, while the right
aisle with the brilliant sepulchre else.
where described, at its head, and the
guard OF troops drawn up in line at
its foot, was Que dense mass of kneel.
ing figures, from which arose a deep
murmur OF muttered prayers and rat
ting beads. The Government band,
as usual, supplied the music during
the regular services, continuing to
play Tor an hour or more alter its ter
minatlon, not solemn dirges or an
thems, but maZurkas, waltzes and
polkas. Those Of the congregation
who had chosen TO remain, walked to
and fro during their rendition, the
gentlemen smoking their cigars,
while laughing and flirting with the
ladies.
y strange spectacle this a solemn
cathedral service to commemorate
the death of our Saviour, in presence
OF simulated sepulchre, followed
on the spot by genuine promenade
concert
Thank heaven, such things, mon
stroslties we must call them, are not
more common! Not in our own
more enlightened country could such
conduct be tolerated, but IN far famed
Panama, where the priests are, as it
were, emancipated from all authority,
they and they alone, guild" the popu>
lar opinion, and teach it whatsoever
they do, is therefore right and proper.
We drew a sigh OF relief aud mental
ly shook the dust from our feet, as,
emerging from the glittering ediiice,
we looked up at the archng sky, with
its millions of bright worlds, aud
prominent among them all, the glor-
ious Southern Cross; its pure light
shining alike upon the righteous and
the wicked.
Until a late hour at night the
streets were filed with "penitents"
proceeding in bodies of fifty or hun.
dred from church to church, their
voices uniting the while in solemn