Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-15


the SINS thereof, while their male relatives
LOOK on conpiacently intending TO slip into
heaven somehow through their intercessions
A lew OF the more aristocratic ladies bring rugs
OF squares OF carpet, on which they SQUAT a la
Mohammedan when tired of kpeeiine The
only remarkable thing about the interior Of
this cathedral is a really elegant pulpit inIaia
with tortoise shell and pure silver, but sur
rounded by the usual images of wax and wood
gaudy with tinsei and tissue flowers
PLAZA DE LAS ARNAs
Not far away from Boliyar's statue ia the
Plaza de las Armes, one hundred meters long
and traversed from east to west by the San Au-
gustin river. At each end of this park is a
bridge over which runs n busy street ana ex-
tending north and south on either side of the
river are narrow avenues always crowded with
pedestrians. On the northern bank is a pretty
garden. OF irregular shape because following
the bends of the river. and on the opposite side
beyond another fowery space. stands the fine
old church and former monastery of San Au-
gustin. Besides its religious history, which
dates back nearly three centuries, this church
is memorable for having withstood a siege of
three days duration in the revolution of 1851.
Though the building was mined in three places
and the besieged were entirely without food
and water they held out heroically until help
came and the day gained.
Scarcely second to this in historic interest is
the Plaza de los Martires tthe martyrsl-so
named because within it have been executed
many of Colombia's patriots, politicians. coun-
cliors, soldiers and statesmen, shot by the
Spaniards during the bitter struggle for indie
pendence. Again and again has il been del
uged with human blood, which perhaps ac-
counts for the fact that grass and flowers seem
to grow more rankly here than elsewhere. 1t
has also been the scene of several autos DIES fes
IN those earlier days when Romish inquisitors
had power to burn alive those who dared to in
cur their displeasure.
THE PLAZA DE La cAPucHINA
is surrounded on three sides by the SWEETEST
private residences and fanked on the other
by the College of MERGED ('Mercy'O and the
ancient church of the Capuchina. Straight
through the middle of this plaza runs a river.
shaded on both banks by tall. ugly eucalyptus
trees, said 10 be the first ever planted IN CO.
lombia-imported by the monks. whose favorite
promenade was along this stream at the sun
set hour.
Speaking of churches, one Of the most Gu
rlous III Bogota is that which shelters "Our
Lady of the Cliff" Like other intensely Cath
ohc communities this has its miraculous virgin
which corresponds to the Mexican Guadalupe,
the French Lady of Lourdes. the Spanish Nir-
gin de los Remedies, or any other of the nu-
merous forms In which the mother of Christ Is
said to have revealed herself to man. The
Lady OF the Cliff was discovered by an In
dan carved on the face of an almost inacces-
slble preclpice away up in the mountains. With
which the miraculous carving appeared was
cut away from the peak and carried 10 Bogota,
where a church was erected in Its honor. True,
there are heretics who hint that the willy
priesthood, desiring to raise money from the
poverty-stricken people for the building of a
new sanctuary. took this method of imposing
upon their credulity and caused the figure to
be secretly carved by human hands; but the
faithful devoutly believe in its divine origin
and prove 1t by numberless miracles which the
''Stone Lady" has performed in curing dis
eases, relieving the people of their dlstresses
and protecting them IN times OF danger.
THE ONLY PROTESTANT PLACE OF WORSHIP
in Bogota is the Scotch Presbyterian mission
house, which occupies a building that was
originally constructed for printing Office
There are galleries along both sides and at the
farther end are two very high windows above
the raised platform which holds the reading
desks and a rather squeeky harmonium. The
services are mostly conducted in Spanish, for
the benefit of native converts. of whom. / am
told. there are considerable number. And
queer enough it sounds to hear the same old
home tunes, endeared by so many associations
Brock of Ages" "Old Hundred" Jesus Lover
of My Soul" &c.-rendered with words of
another tongue, and the Lords prayer repeated
in concert by the congregation: Oar nos este
dia nuestro pan, Give US this day our daily
bread"
Though Professionalism is tolerated in Colom-
bia and even protected in a measure, in COM
mon with all other forms of religion by the
Liberal government, it is regarded with hor-
ror by the people at large, who consider souls
given over to such heretical doctrines as lost
beyond redemption.
DEAD HUMAN INSTINCTS.
The maternal instinct is by no means want
ing in the lowest classes of South American
women and many beautiful examples are seen
of the mother love that will suffer all things
for the sake of the helpless little ones: but
among the more degraded the poor creatures
have so many children and are SO habitually
hungry and hopeless that it is no wonder
human instincts nearly die out of them In
some cases infants are utterly neglected and
left to shift for themselves soon as able to walk
to live or die, "assi Dois quere" Gas God willis,
as their parents would piously remark if ques-
toned on the subject.
An American tells me that he was riding one
day in the suburbs when his horse accidentally
ran over and killed a child that was living asleep
in the road its dirty and naked brown body
completely hidden in the sand. Of course he
was stricken with horror and remorse, and
hunting up the mother gave her all the money
he happened to have about him amounting to
about S40) as balm to assuage her grief.
SHE WANTED MORE MONEY.
A few days later, riding along the same road.
he saw ahead of him another child squatted
in the sand in precisely the spot where the
other was killed. Dismounting to investigate
he discovered that the little thing could not get
out of the way, being securely tied in a fiat
basket. He did not run over any more babies
you may be sure, but again sought the mother,
who proved to be the same one to whom he
had lately given $40 and who appeared to be
in waiting, and proceeded to bless her-back-
wards-in good, round Yankee terms, for her
carelessness, whereupon the creature merely
shrugged her shoulders and indicated in the
most innocent and businesslike manner i'm
aginabie thaS ii was more money she wanted.
not the baby, and that there were a number of
other olive branches whom she would like to
dispose of on similar terms.
Throughout all Spanish America the death of
a child seems to be matter of rejoicing rather
than of sorrow-the idea being that the little
one. not having arrived at years of discretion,
must be without sin, and therefore is in no
danger of the torments of purgatory; whereas.
had it been permitted to live longer, ''quein
sabe" (who knows what might have been it's
eternal future? The small corpse is spoken of
by all as otra angelita, another little angel"
1t is decorated gaily with birds wings, flowers
and bits Of gaudy paper, kept in the house as
long as possible, often great deal too long,
and its interment is celebrated by lively
music, followed by feast for all concerned
and sometimes dancing. FANNIE B. WARD.
Her Picture.