The National Republican., 1885-11-17
MASSES FOR DEAD NGyICANS
STRANGE FUNERAL Customs IN THE
LAND OF THE MOYrEZryAs.


bofdered envelope, Just now handed bo-
tween my window-bars by the cupe.par-
nished valet of the late Senior Don Jesus
Jose Gonzalez, announces the death Of the
latter and invites the reader to his funeral.
The sheet of pink-tinted paper Is as heavily
bordered with black as its cover, aud bears
at the top a collection of tombstonos of
various styles doubtless the advertising
plate Of some dealer, which the thrifty
printer utilities in this manncr) and at tho
bottom OF the page q seasick-looking TO-
male bends IN the usual attitude over an
urn. Between these two suggestive pic
lures is printed in faultless Spanish the iu-
formation that Mr.. Jesus Jose Gonzalez died
yesterday at noon, and that his afflicted wife
| (who mourns under the neat little name of
Marin Conception de las Angeles Mario de
| Gonzaez), his son, Ramon Flores Gonzalez,
| together with his brother relatives, and
many friends, desire TO participate with you
| I'm lnmenting the melancholy event, and In
| supplicating the Rcdeemer TO grant the dead
mans soul speedy exit from purgatory,
and eternal rest In paradise also that the
reader Is invited TO attend the cadavcr from
its late residence 10 the Cathedral de San
Francisco, and thence to the main pantheon
at 3 p. IN. to-day
ETIQUETTE or THE HOUSE or DEATH.
Funeral etiquette is vigorously observed
to the minutest particular by all classes In
Mexico, and death In the family has been
the financial ruin Of many q man. Black
garments must be worn for at least two
years by every female relative, even TO re-
mote cousins and little children, while male
relatives, however dstantly connected,
must for an equal length of time wear broad
bands Of black flannel upon their straw or
felt hats, black silk neck-ties and black
gloves, not to mention the scarf Of Grape
with flowing ends, which Is kept tied
above the elbow Of the right coat sleeve
for not less than six weeks after the
funeral. Upon no account whatever must
the ladies OF the household be seen any
where in public during the two years Of
mourning. Jewelry and all adOrnments
must be laid aside, letter paper and en-
| velopes must conspicuously advertise the
family aflliction, and all the smallest signs
Of woe must he faithfully employed-even
| by those who could have had little interest
| in the deceased, or when, as sometimes
happens, death could have brought moth
lug but welcome relief to all concerned.
The one occasion upon which even a
thirty-third cousin, or a great-great-grand-
niece, may be excused for appearing during
the prescribed term of seclusion is when
public masses are being said for the dead
| INVITATIONS TO THE MASS,
These ''honors" for the dead are so nu-
merous that scarcely a day passes without
bringing an invitation to attend the celebra-
tion of one or more of them. Invitation
cards are gotten up much in the style de-
scribed above for funerals-each with tomb,
| cypress, and weeping woman above the let
tering. Among the half dozen now upon
|. my table here is one, lately received, which
sets forth the fact that the brothers and
| ,p1n rf 81 o.,
| who died on the 2Sth of last June, request
you to assist at his funeral "honors,"
which, by the desire of his wife, will he
celebrated on the 23d of the present month.
MAGNIFICENT AFFAIR.
Not long ago, In the City of Mexico, at
tended the "honorsn Of daughter of
cabinet officer who is one Of the richest men
In the republic. 1t was an indescribably
magnificent affair, no expense having been
spared to enhance the splendor of the occa-
sion. The walls and pillars Of the cathedral
vet, bordered with gold. All the choicest
treasures which centuries have gathered in
the rich old sanctuary were brought
forth; thousands Of waxen tapers bazed
from dome to pavement, and sew
eral bands of music played dur
ing pauses of the deep rolling
organ. An innumerable company of priests,
/
were ranged around the glittering altar.
| All the male relatives of the family, dressed
| in deepest mourning, occupied high-backed
| chairs placed along one side of the church.
| Hundreds of yelled and black-robed women
knelt upon the rich carpet which tempo
rarily covered the stone floor, but among
| them oil was not one near relative of the
deceased, the grief Of mothers and sisters
being considered too great to permit them
| to appear, even for this solemn purpose.
| Drawing our mantillasof black lace over our
faces (for to wear bonnet in church at any
| time is sconsidered sacrilcgious), Betsy and i
| knelt among the mourning throng, wonder
| ing much why II is that women must al
| ways kneel while men may sit or stand.
Is 1t because the latter are less wicked than
the weaker sex, and, therefore, not in need
| OF praying; or because IT. is the special PROV
ince OF oftheformert to possess piety enough for
the whole family9 Really, II heaven is to
be won only through personal prayers,
seriously fear that the "Sweet BY and By''
will include only vast colony of lonesome
saintesses, with never man among them.
| The whole service, which continued more
than two hours, was exceedingly impress
sive-the solemn music, the burning incense,
the chanting of priests and choir boys, the
impassioned prayers and fervent responses;
but all seemed more joyous than sad, be-
cause Of the prevailing idea that each note
|
lessening Of the tortures Of the young and
lovely dead and waited her soul nearer to
the City Beautiful. She was scarcely II
when called to leave this world-as pure
and innocent a maiden rs ever lived-yet,
according to Mexican ideas, as much effort
was required to rescue her from purgatory
as II she had been hardened criminal
A BEJwELED CORPSE.
An old lady, belonging to one of the 'nrst
| s,r
has told me, with great pride, how-on the
death of her grandson, a dozen years ago
the little corpse was decked with jewels
enough to ransom king, which out-shone
all the treasures of the great national pawn
shop. The boy was enyeloped In richest
point lace, and all the diamonds Of his
titled relations Gncluding six countesses
and five marquises) were collected TO put
upon him-rings, brooches, necklaces,
toviNs, to the value Of more than million
| pesos. The entire street was hung with
sable draperles, n brass band played
all day upon the outer balcony of tho house
In which the tiny cadaver lay in sta Q, and
crowds came to see the show. Poor baby
| Notwithstanding all this splendid maiquer-
aiding, no doubt the mother mournel her
| blighted hopes as other mothers do-per-
haps the more bitterly because In him
| perlshed the last scion OF a noble houe.
THE COUNTESS STORY.
ApropOs of thus making a show the
| dead q story is told by the Counties, Cal
deron dc Ia Barea, which is doubtless rue.
A lady Of high rank being dead her family,
according 10 the then prevailing faslion,
undertook TO commit her To the pmb
habited in her most magnificent dress, that
In which she had been married. This 'obe
was marvel Of richness, whose equalhad
never been seen even In luxurious Me,ico.
| IL was entirely composed OF the finest Iout
lace, OF fabulous value, profusely adomed
with bows Of ribbon covered with em-
broidery Of pure gold, and strewn With
priceless pearls. Thus gorgeously attrcd
the countess was laid In her coffin. Tlou-
sands of friends focked to view her b,au-
tiful costume du mort and at last she was
| locked In her sepuleher, the key Of which