The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1885-02-11
LETTERS FROM MEXICO.
Extracts from the Private Correspond
ence Of Miss Mamie LLOYD.


greatest feast days of the year here, in
honor Of the Saint Guadalupe, aud MS there
are special services at a suburb called
Guadalupe, a little company Of us went out
at eleven o'clock a. m. The crowd of peo-
pie was estimated ct 1000 already, and
more were constantly coming The major
ity Of them we're Of the very lowest and
poorest classes, mostly Indians
We saw segeH persons crawling on their
knees the entire distance from the city, at
Ave miles. BY this they hope to atone for
great sins. Most Of them were men and it
looked so pitful to see them so deluded
and ignorant. Crowds would gather
around them and occasionally persons
would give them money. One very old
man was more fortunate than the rest, as
his friends spread rebovos (shawls) down
for him to 'orawl over. It was terribly
dusty, and more rags and filth than 1 had
ever seen before Can you imagine the
scene As we tried to enter the church
which is dedicated to Guadalupe, a police
man at the door warned Mr. D. to look out
for his watch. It is a noted day and place
for stealing
never was in such crowd. We only
went in little way, when, with the burn
ing of the incense and the odors from the
people, it became so sitting that we thought
best to get out, which We did with great
difficulty. The perspiradon was rolling
off of people all about US. One poor
woman fell with her baby just in front Of
us, causing the crowd to pause little time.
We made our way to the patio of the
church, where we found about fifteen In
dians in full dress, dunoing-men, women,
and children. 1t was well worth the trip
out there to see them. 1 think they had all
the colors of the rainbow, and such head
rigging as 1 never saw. Some had crowns
made of pieces Of looking-glass, feathers
and paper flowers, others had plumes such
as we use on horses sometimes some had
red mosquito-bar wells, and 1 know not
what all else. 1t was indeed an odd sight
They had three musical instruments. A
fiddle without paint or yaInish-iust the
unoolored woodrow and all. The other
instruments can not describe, we have
nothing like them.
The steps they took were queer enough,
sometimes they would hold one foot high
in air and dance on the other for a long
time. They wore leather sunduls-just a
fiat piece Of leather strapped to the bottom
of the foot. The master Of ceremonies had
on pink stockings green vest, purple coat
and an old black felt hat trimmed for the
occasion with red ribbon and q feather.
He was a most comical sight. They at
tracted a great crowd, but we fortunately
found room to climb up on the curb Of the
fountain near, where we had fine view of
them. saw women washing themselves
and their children in the fountain near the
dancers, and others drinking from the same
water?
Poor babies Lo many, many of them,
and some seemed to be in great misery.
People came for miles and miles around to
celebrate the day. One of our missionaries
said if we had been out there the night be-
fore, we would have found the people
packed as closely as sardines in q box, all
over the ground.
Such sights, sounds, and smells, I think
no one will find outside Of Mexico. Poor,
deluded creatures, how much they need the
gospel of Christ.
While Bishop Harris was here this week
at Conference, we formed an "Ohio party,
Of six persons to go again to this celebrated
shrine
The large church at the foot Of the hill is
one Of the costliest, if not the most costly
of any church in all Mexico. It is verv
plain outside but magnificent within. II
contains two grand pipe organs and a LONG
railing made of solid silver
Behind the main pulpit is a sort of
blanket with a representation Of the VIRGIN
Mary, in frame made of gold. It's history
runs thus About three hundred and ffty
years ago, the Mexicans and Indians claim
that the Virgin appeared to an Indian who
was seeking a priest, and told him to % tc
3 the Bishop and tell him they must bniId
her a church. He was repulsed bv the
Bishop, bnt again she came to him oDf
told him to take his blanket from his beod
I put some flowers in it which she gave him
and carry them to the priest. He did so
but when he opened his blanket that h,
might give the priest the flowers behold
they were gone and in their place was ar
image Of the Virgin painted on the bIaDFet
She announced herself as the patron soin
{ Of all Mexico, and that they must build he,
a shrine in Guadalupe. So they built tb,
a small shrine at the top of the hill. and m,
magnificent church costing probably over
n million Of dollars at its foot The view +
very fine from the top Of the hill to wbicI
we climbed.
They say that where the Virpip plapte,
- her foot O fountain spraug up and Ia MI
constantly bubblng. There is a beautifn
Il dome built over it, for of course the yyote
is holy, but it is very dirty looking. and w,
IL noticed to-day large vessel resembling
gas metre resting on the water. and IN
l. pipes running to it are plainly visible am,
the bubbling is probably due 10 SOM
plumber rather than to the VIRGIN m
some Of our party who tried the water
. huN "a vnHrr macmillan Nnrfa