The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08
A GILLIAN WAKE.
The Odd Ceremonies Observed Over Dead
Body In South America.

Body In South America.
Bloomington (Ili.) Paragraph.
Rev. j. NJ. Alls, president OF Presbyterian
college at Santiago Chilli has written letter to
friend Of his in this city The letter tells of
wake, the circumstances OF which were told Rev.
Allis by friend who had just come from one.
Rev. Allis was for some time pastor IN Lafay-
cite, Ind and is brother-in-law Of Prof.
Storrs OF Jacksonville He is an interesting
writer, and the following extract is from his let
ter:
Wakes are not confined to the Irish people,
but have place in the practice of the lower or
ders of the Chilians The following account was
given by an eye Witness
The wake. or. as it is called by the Chilians,
the Watching" was celebrated in a modest lit
tie house, where the ceremony or custom was to
be observed. The child which had died was
about two years old. The narrator observed
with good deal of interest and curiosity the
work Of preparation. which occupied all the
members of the household. First large table
was placed in the middle of the room. Another
person brought q smaller and put it on the first
third brought still smaller table and mount
ed it on the second. Then a long white cloth
was placed over all, covering the tables entirely
and reaching to the floor.
The women of the home had each her special
work One cut several figures from painted pa
per- another prepared bouquets another was en-
gagged in finishing pretty white dress, orna-
menting it with ruffles and artificial flowers.
After the dress was completed, 1t was put on the
were fastened two wings made of paper. On it's
head was placed a crown of flowers, and it's hands
were Joined in prayer. AS soon as the dressing
was finished, little armchair, such as the chill
dren use, was brought out Il was provided
with pretty cushion, and the back, ALSO was
lined. The little child was placed in this chair
and then both chair and child were placed on the
pyramid of tables. Shells of various sizes and
bits of colored paper, of which each table edge
was bordered afforded a very pretty ornamental
lad ~ cd cfz IF ha m
bles making a convenient place for vases of
flowers and lighted candles. Behind the pyra-
mid of tables and on the wall had been placed
large blue paper studded with gilt stars. When
the work of decoration was done, the whole pile
presented tasteful object especially In the sight
of the class of people engaged in the ceremony
Everything being ready the family await the
coming of the visitors, who began to gather
about dusk, or at the time the church bells are
ringing yesper services in the churches. The
friends as they gather, salute the members of the
family with many shake of the hand and with
the customary embrace Of the Chilians. In this
embrace the parties give each other close hug,
each looking over the others shoulder and pat
ting the other on the back. These greetings are
repeated SO many times that they become quite
ludicrous. When these friends enter they cry
out in peculiar STYLE blessing the little angel,
who they say is In heaven enjoying the face OF
the Virgin and the saints
Among all the visitors the most remarkable
was Dona Ursula, or. as the people called her.
INA Ursula" The INA" is pronounced as If
there was ''y' between the letters. Ma Ursula
entered the room making the sign of the cross
and saving, in a tone of surprise, ave Maria
purisima Little daughter of my soul, how pref
ty the little angel is" On hearing these words
fat old woman, who was seated by good, hot
fire, arose and came to salute Ma Ursula. Her
name was Ma Peta The narrator said he had
never seen an embrace more sisterly than these
ancient maidens gave each other. There was
strength and earnestness In it that made one
sure that all friendship was not mere attenuated
sentiment. Ma Peta was very fat while Ma
Ursula was very lean. 1t seemed as If fairy
and giantess had met. In the exultance of the
embrace the little woman almost disappeared
But this was not all. boy. the inevitable boy,
is in Chill also. imagine ne was not small. and
he intended to amuse himself at the expense of
the old woman. So he presented Ma Ursula
with flower, on which he had sprinkled pun
gent substance worse than cayenne pepper. He
remarked to the little old lady that the flower had
very fine odor Ma Ursula, being somewhat fat
tered with the attention, took the flower with an
air of coquetry aud put IL to her nose. She had
scarcely taken one good smell of the odorous
flower, when she began making series of ex-
plosive sneeZes, which were SO furious that one
could hardly understand how so small a lady
could produce such startling effects. Ma Peta
lowered around the little sreezer with ponderous
but helpless sympathy, vainly attempting to
compose the nerves of the delicate Ursula, and
used the sacramental words common among
they were of no avail. The little woman had to
have her Sneeze out
This episode was interrupted by the arrival of
other neighbors who appeared at the door and
applying to Ma Peta, said to her with all force
and variety of voices "Whyi my little god
mother, how do you doY How do you suppose
can get along without seeing you, my dear god
motherl"
Ma Peta replies 'Come in; how are all the
family9" They are all WE'LL thank you, and they
Ill 49, and OH ahi and nod
father, how are theyP
Ma Peta replies: 'Oh, CO. so; they are in the
house." So the coming of one and another and
the greetings aud conversations continue until
the watching proper commences.
On side table are two large bowls containing
punch made OF aguadiente OK whisky and milk
There are also several bottles of 'mistela," a
drink made of wine, water, sugar and cinnamon.
Some of the men who are supposed to repre-
sent gallants arise and take the walters that have
been provided. apd hand on them the glasses Of
liquor to the girls, they on such occasions call
all the women without regard to age.
After the liquor has been taken the dancing
begins. The usual orchestra of guitar and
harps, accompanied with voices, and a string
tattoo to mark time, guides the persons on the
floor. The dancing and singing grows more and
more animated, and may rather be said to be In
honor CT Bacchus than the little child on the
decorated pyramid. AS the dancers chance TO
feel thirsty one of the men says Salute you,
miss" addressing his partner she replies, 1.-THE
same to you, sr,n and he gets glass of liquor,
drinks half and gives the rest to her, which she
easily disposes OF.
The dancing continues until they are tired,
when some one says, II drink to the health of
such a one" and another says when l am
tired then l stop" At these words the music
ceases and the dancers take their seats. The
person who has thus brought the dance to close
supplies the company with fresh draught. This
part of the performance Is repeated by different
parties during the night when the dancing
Is over. Then everybody sits down and
some of the women proceed to sing
songs, one after the other. Some of the
company begin to show the effects of the drink
ing aud grow drowsy, but those who can con-
tinue TO refresh themselves until towards the
angel are almost consumed Ma Peta and Ma
Ursula are at the freside drinking mate"
kind of Paraguay tea. A cat, which is the idol
&c Nh pntn IL enakad oft har aida and a don les