The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-11-03

shocked But hardly had tongues ceased
wagging over this worldly innovation, when
the browning horror came, and the climax
was capped with Sonora Peralta, famous
Mexican opera singer, who died the other
day at Guyamas. She was an immensely fat
old lady, with no attraction what
ever but a magnificent voice. OF course,
the Bishop couldn't attend the opera, but
being an intense lover OF music he invited
the prima donna to his house, to sing and
lunch with nina la presidential custom IN
our own blessed country. But this sacrile-
gious proceeding raised such breeze, which
has not yet quite ceased to blow, that he has
never Yeutured upon a second similar eXper-
iment And so this cultured gentleman,
with all his wealth and attachments and
brilliant social gifts, really lives the life OF
hermit. If he calls upon friend the ladies
of the family are never visible. lie may
not marry ana leave his honored name to
children, He must not step down from his
high but solitary state for a single moment,
nor ever lose sight of the tragedy said to
have been enacted more than eighteen hun
dred years ago on Calvary. The poor Bishop!
| wonder if, sometimes i'll his lonely grand
eur, he does not envy the bare-footed
boy who blacks his boots. The children
believE that he born with his mitre,
and do not imagine that he ever
removes his black robes, eats and
sleeps like other people. According to the
custom of his office, he wears upon the mid
die finger of his right hand ring set with
different precious stone for every month in
the year For example, that for May is
magnificent emerald; for December, a dia-
mond; for October, an amethyst. When
Catholic ladies and gentlemen come into his
presence they reverently kiss this jewel upon
his hand. 1t is scarcely necessary to supple
ment this statement by the remark that
American ladies, with equal res ect for the
good and courteous Bishop, do no such
thing 1t is said that Obispo Monies de Oca
accompllshes much good with his private
fortune in a quiet way-sustaining colleges,
assisting needy families, and educating poor
young men. 1t is to be hoped That he will
find his reward in a more cheerful hereafter
than he has been permitted TO enjoy here
below.
THE VIRGINS BRIDGE.
Let US finish our sightseeing by a visit to
the Virgins Bridge" which is situated at
the extreme southeastern edge of the town.
Because of its out-of-the-way location most
tourists come and go without seeing, or even
hearing of this ancient and curious land
mark. 1t is an old, old structure of solid
stone, the date of whose building is lost in
the morning twilight of antiquity. There is
a tradition concerning it, which l cannot
vouch for but will tell the tale as twas told
to me-" Many years ago there were number
of American prisoners in the city, captured in
some frontier raid who were confined in the
common prison and compelled to work ON
roads with Mexican criminals. A bridge
was needed at this point, but it was an ex-
tremely difficult undertaking, as the current
Of the river was too deep and strong for
adobe, and no large stones were to be found
nearer than the mountains. So the Mexican
authorities agreed among themselves TO offer
the American captives their liberty on con-
dition that they would bridge the river with
stone before specified date. 1t seemed
feat impossible of accomplish
ment Tor the allotted time was
very short, and they had none of our modern
apparatus for bridge building But sus-
tanned by hopes OF promised freedom, they
toiled bravely night and day bringing these
great stones from the distant mountains on
their backs and placing them with bleeding
hands. After incredible labor, the work was
accomplished within an hour OF the specified
time. Then, so the story runs, this is the
way they were given their liberty: The next
morning at day break they were marched out
manacled two and two, all stiff and exhaust
ed as they were from superhuman efforts,
upon the center of the bridge they had Just
finished, when, without moments warning
ordered to fire upon them, until all were
killed and the river ran red with their blood.
Exactly in the middle of the bride, as if to
to mark the tragedy, stands a sml
ing statue of the Virgin, dressed
in sky-blue, with much scarlet
adjoining. The image is life-size, upon
lofty pedestal, and surrounded by the usual
chubbycheeked, legless cherubm. The
poise of the figure. with hands crossed upon
her stomach-evidently before the Blessed
Babe was born-and the smile of self-com-
PLEASANT satisfaction upon the face, are ex-
ceedngly comical. Yet because of its pres
ence, all good Catholics never cross this
bridge without crossing themselves-a para.
doxical statement, but true nevertheless.
And now the time has come to go further
into the terra incognito of the interior, and
to bid farewell to the quaint old city which
for six months has been my home. l shall
long remember with love its queer conglom-
Grafton of the ancient and modern, the
pathetic and ludicrous, the tragic and comic
and deplore the day when it becomes
thoroughly Amercanized, as it is destined
to be at no distant day.
FANNIE BRIGHAM WARD.