St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-10-13
A BRAZILIAN FESTIVAL,

How Miracle Performed Long Ago Il
Celebrated at the Present Day.
among the numerous churches in
the City of Para is one called Naza eth
Chapel, dedicated to Mary, the patron
saint of the country, whose image is
said to have been found in tree on the
spot where the building now stands,
''Our Lady's" method of Indicating her
choice of this place for the erection of
this chapel.
Our Lady Of Nazareth is also remark
able for a miracle performed in the elev-
enth century, when the devil in the form
OF deer was leading a noble hunter
over precipice. Every year there is
grand festival in her honor; the City
of Para is thronged with visitors from
towns 300 Or 400 miles away. The fes-
tival or fiesta, begins with great cheer
ing. combined with religious hallelu-
Jahs, which are the characteristics of a
feast day in Brazil, and procession on
Sunday in which nearly 5000 partici-
pate; great enthusiasm prevails as they
fall into line, marching, with heads and
feet bare, in the searching sun and stiff
ling dust. There are hundreds of
small boys, followed by box wagon
that are loaded with rockets, that are
fired at every crossing; then there are
little boats filled with dainty child an
gels with spangled dresses and gauze
wings, carried on the heads of strong
men. But the greatest attraction to
these simple-minded people is the ''Be-
linda, small carriage in which Our
Lady rides. Our Lady is a figure about
twelve inches in height, wearing white
satin cape embroidered with gold and
golden crown. To this carriage two
long ropes are attached, and five hun
dred or more persons, mostly women,
rush and crowd, at times even quarrel
ing, for the privilege of grasping the
rope and being near the belinda, that
being the place of honor. Numerous
bands, attended by red and green
coated brotherhoods, also the chief Off |
GERS of the city riding in their carriages
follow after the belinda then there
are thousands of men, women and chill |
lren, many of them carrying high above
heir heads some representation of a
portion OF the human body modelled in |
wax, or 1t may be coffin carried on
he head. This is in obedience to a
7ow made to Our Lady for their deliv-
france from the distress in the particu-
ar member, sickness or death through
Ter intervention. On reaching the
hurch these wax pieces are deposited
n a room set apart for them, where
hey are arranged about the walls to
he best advantage; some tied with rib
ons, others decorated with bright
overs or certificate bearing name and
ate ofDess and cure.
The eat square of Para near by is
I'D VI n booths where drinking and
ambl$ g are carried on day and night.
he tire grounds are gay with flags
- fansparencies, and Illuminated
18th gas jets prettily arranged in arches
nd circles. Every night there is {
rand display ofsireworks. while music,
ances and theaters, with, for the most
art, very poor actors, attract the pub
G, especially on Sunday evening, and I
r two weeks the city is given over to 6
UNIVERSAL enjoyment. Mrs. d. ID. Har-
n, iu Detroit Free Press. +
$50 c
First Thespian- Hello! old man. G
hat'H you drink? Second Ditto-TfI F
ink with you. dear boy. what will il =
st youp F {. don't know TWEEN.
five or thirty cents, / suppose. S. y
lend me fifteen cents. an., 8
l go and work the beanery f.se = plate 2 2
hash. - 0syn Tones. r