The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-01-16
CENTRAL AMERICA. :
SEVERAL PECULIAR CUSTOMS OF
THE PEOPLE OF GUATEMALA.

The One Sided Attendance at Church-A
Funeral Professionalism and Cigar
ettes-Habits of Young Gentlemen Of
Standing -Spanish-AmerIcan Woman.
Ihat which strikes a person on entering a
church In Guatemala is the total absence of
wei dressed men. They send their wives and
children, while they seek diversion in the
Darrooms, billiard saloons and clubs. for
winch Sundays and feast days are the busiest
tunes. The Guatemalteco regards the prac-
tice OF religion as good enough for women.
but he himself has use for it on four occa-
slons only-at birth and baptism, marriage
ana death. Whena child has reached an ape
when its parents believe it will not cry dur
ing baptism, all near relatives and dear
friends are invited to the ceremony. The
first act is a very decorous performance
of his duties by the priest; the second
IS "jamboree,n which is continued
all that day and up to the business hours of
the next. IL the family BIO wealthy the very
nnest brands of wines are consumed; if it be-
poor, native whisky is set before the guests.
and not unfrequently many land in the Gala.
boose before they arrive at their own homes
Here, rather more than in their own country.
does it seem the custom to celebrate every
unusual event with ''drunk.p A s,mozop
regards it as right to demand and receive
from his employer sufficient advance of
moneyto defray tho expenses of his celebra-
lions, and the employer never refuses to help
along baptisms, marriages and funerals.
Almost any day in the streets of provincial
towns one may see collins carried to the
cemeteries followed by crowds of nourners.
who fairly seem to rock and stagger along
under their load OF grief, but if the stranger
VIII approach nearer he will get whiffs OF
alcoholic breaths that will account for tha
unsteady gaits of the friends of the deceased.
lhave seen old women so much overcome as To
finally give up trying to keep along with the
procession, stagger toward the curb, and.
with tears rolling down their cheeks. |
iall asleep in the gutter, to be carried |
OH by a policeman or to be taken home |
py rlenuS. There seems to be a rule
that the guardians of tho peace
will not interfere with an intoxicated citizen
while the latter is In the funeral cortere.
They will not prevent him from showing his
sorrow to his hearts content while he is able
to stumble along, but the instant he s.falls
out" ON his way to the burying ground. or.
when he is sneaking home through by streets
after the interment, he finds himself grabbed
by the collar and hurried off to prison.
DRINK AND CIGARETTES
Tho "mozo' is quiet, unoffending person,
except when drunk, when he is ut first
and noisy and then wicked. The native
called iaguardienten or "guarrop
makes men crazy, Sometimes drunkenness
nay be pleaded in extenuation OF crime in
civilized countries, especially where it may
20 shown that no intention existed in tho
mind of the guilty party before becoming
Trunk; but here it may be pleaded in SO
ttong manner as to relieve the culprit i
rom punishment, il it BIO proved that he was
trunk at the time Of action. !
Late prosperity in coffee has enriched !
many families here who before were pretty
"a" RIM down at the heel. but who now Q
A--.--e xplo | o