Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-05

and far more stately than any that had
preceded it. To the right and left of it
glittered score of lifted bayanets, around
it thuribles rolled up their fragrant
clouds, and pretty children in white
dresses strewed flowers in front of it over
the leafy pavement. 1t was the Mater
Doiorso, sumptuously ROBBED in purple vel
vet and costliest lace, and gems of largest
size-diamonds, emeralds, pearls and opals
were lavished upon it. Rays of silver
issued from the queenly head and the
immensely long velvet train was borne by
priest.
Behind the priest walked many of the
first ladies of the city, carrying tall wax
candles, all dressed in black satin, their
heads concealed in mantillas of Spanish
lace. Some of them were young, graceful
and pretty, and the matrons-though in
clined to excessive leanness or fatness af-
ter the age of so, with skins that wrinkle
like dried tigs-were, every one, dignifed
and sanity.
All this, however, was but a prelude to
the absorbing figure of the pageant. This
was an immense sarcophagus of glass, up
held by twenty of the most reputable citi-
zens who marched like practiced soldiers.
Acolytes Ranked and followed it, bearing
smoking censers, inverted torches and
palm branches covered with Grape.
Within the transparent tomb were snowy
! folds Of the finest lace, strewn with roses.
. face streaming with blood, a crown of
thorns and the outline Of PROSTATE i'm
( age. As 1t passed great hush fell upon
the multitude. The spectators at door
ways and windows, in the balconies and
on the sidewalks, all knelt, with uncov-
cred heads. The swelling and subsiding
dirge, played by the military band that
headed the column of troops whsch closed
| the procession, with colors furied and arms
reversed, alone disturbed the breathless
silence. Z
A few hours later there was a very diff
ferent scene. 1t was the dawn of Easter
Sunday Suddenly the bells of all
the churches broke loose. Again and
again they rang out at their loudest, till
| the riotous air seemed to flash with the
strokes and the drowsy earth to reel and
! culver. Then came the rumbling of drums
no longer muilled- the shrill chorusing
OF fighting cocks, the yelping of dogs and
| the bleating and lowing of hocks and herd
in the suburbs. In less than half an hour
every MUST tbOuIGu IOIlu us lllLldIeS-l1
ponchos and mantillas, zarapes and en-
broidered jackets, velvet-collared coats and
shirt-sleeves-al bound for the plaza
And there, as the sun suddenly leaped
| from behind the clouds that yelled the
eastern horizon, striking spectacle was
presented The plaza was packed with
people. The steps and spacious esplanade
Of the cathedral was thronged to overflow
ing. The balconies and windows of over
looking houses were rustling and sparkling
with spectators Every body WAS laughing
and chattering. most we've smoking, many
on tip-toe, and all were nervous, impatient
and excited. Clearly something was in
the wind
In the center of the plaza, high above
the crowd, were four lines of cleaning
steel, where the troops had formed a hol-
low square; and overlapping the lifted
| bayonets by twenty feet stood monstrous
gibbet. Fastened together by thongs of
rawhide and bits of old rope, the rude
Continuance looked gaunt and CHASTITY
enough to brighten the boldest malefactor
From the cross-beam there dangled an
efigy-that of the despised Judas Iscariot
1t wore a waistcoat of yellow flannel
striped with black, red night-cap, a pair
of torn, brown brooches, and its musty old
boots were wonderfully down at heel and
crumpled at the toes.
Poor Judas Night-cap, boots and
waistcoat-all were stuffed with sauibs,
crackers and Roman candles, while the
breeches were burdened with a bomb
shell made of toughest pasteboard and
swollen with combustibies. There in the
dewy dawn, with the soft light of the
Easter morning playing on his grotesque
habiliments, hung the simaacrum of the
traitor in view OF thousands-slowly turn
ing halfway around at times, ignomin-
ously elbowed by vagrant breezes.
The trumpet sounded, barefooted Cor
poral stepped from the ranks, and erect,
emotionless with the cold solemnity of an
executioner, he approached the gibbet, car
rying long sugar-cane, at the end OF
which was tuft of lighted tow. Instantly
the hubbub Of the multitude subsidized and
a profound calm set in. Even. the qami,s.
frenzied as they were with fun and misi
chief, huddled together and held their
breath
Step by step marched the Corporal, till
at last he came to an abrupt halt right
under the cross-beam. The sugar-cane
was lifted, it touched tho betrayer's left
heel, and in the twiukling of an eye there
was terrific explosion. The boots flew
into shreds, flames leaped from the stom-
ach, the bombshell burst and split the
brown breeches into shower of rags, rock
cts whizzed from the ribs, the outstretched
arms vanished from their sockets, the
nightcap shos skyward clean out of sight
all in less than two minutes, amid the
crashing of drums, the ringing of bells, the
ear-splitting screams of the boys, and the
hootings, nldtdicioacS and uproarous merri-
ment OF soldiers and civilians, priests, pau
pers and patricians.
Half an hour later not a living creature
was left in the plaza, for there were bull
fights and cock-fghts, balls and gambling
bouts yet to be attended to before the eel
ebration of Easter Sunday was considered
satisfactorily completed in 4 strictly relig-
lous manner. FANNIE B. WARD.