The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-01-18
PICNICS.
Festivals of San Jose and Corpus
Christi.
ONLY FEMALE AMERICAN SAINT.
Curious Ideas of the South American People,
and How They Differ From the
North Americans.

CURIOUS lucas OF the south American People,
and How They Differ From the
| North Americans.
AEEQUIPA, Peru. Dec. II, 1907 Special
correspondence of The HERALD. We
arose with the lark on the fiesta day of ST.
Joseph, SO as to miss none of the strange
ceremonials, having been assured that the
best place to view them was the balcony of
our own rooms in the hotel Presently a
deafening sound of church bells, every bel
in the city being beaten, might and main,
by boys up in the belfries, accompanied by
terrific fixing of fireworks, announced
that something was about to happen.
Down the narrow streetca the process
sion; first
BRASS BAND PLAYING LIVELY AIRS,
then an enormous crowd Of priests. monks
and nuns, men, women and children, COM
pletely filling the thoroughfare as far as
the eye could see, and in the midst of all
number of lifesize wooden figures, each
borne upon platform to which long poles
were dashed, upheld on the shoulders of
bare-headed Indians. Some of the images
were carried with comparative ease, while
others were so burdensome that the
bearers were frequently compelled to
lower them ANONYMOUSLY to the ground,
thus hating the whole multitude.
AT the head, OF course, came San Jose, in
whose honor was the celebration, in a vel
low brocaded gown to match his yellow
curls, looking as meek and gullible as his
character is generally portrayed Then
came tall and stately virgin, arrayed in
blue satin garnished with pearls and yelled
like bride, surrounded by billowy puffs
of pale-bl tulle, spangled to represent the
starry heavens. Among a number Of other
SAINTS AND sAINTEssEs
was a small female figure, to US unac-
countable, but which received especial re-
spect and attention. 1t was poised in the
attitude of dancing, dressed in a very
short, full skirt of white tissue like that of
a ballet girl, with golden crown upon the
long curls of real hair, pair Of scales in
one hand and a short, curved sword held
aloft in the other. Each figure was pre-
coded by a number of little girls
strewing paper flowers in its path
from silver baskets, while, crowding
the pavement on both sides, marched a
multitude of nuns, all with black mantas
enveloping their bowed heads so that little
of their faces was visible. Some of them
wore blue ribbons over their shoulders,
meeting on the breast where wooden
cross was suspended; others had crimson
ribbons arranged in the same way, with
brass cruci6xes. Some had ropes tied
around the waist, having long leather
strap dangling at the right hand side One
group was composed Of elderly women,
dressed precisely like the begging friars of
San Francisco, with gowns, cloaks and
cowls of rough grey wooden; while the
good sisters of charity appeared in their
usual frocks of coarse blue cotton with
voluminous aprons of the same material
and wide white bonnets starched stiff as
shingles.
THERE WERE MONKS OF ALL ORDERS,
some bare-footed and, Ike Cassius, ''with
a lean and hungry look" others silk
stockingeo and kid-slippered, triple-chin-
ned, bow-windowed and oily. The habits
of some were snowy white from top to toe,
shirts, cloaks, hats and all, while others
was multitude OF gray friars from the
Resoleta and few with large scarlet
crosses sewn on their sable gowns. There
was the archbishop clad in cardinal,
bishops in purple and gold brocade and
acolytes in scarlet and lace, swinging burn
ing censers. Several brass bands were
placed at intervals along the line and now
,
miSerere, assisted by the shrill voices of
nuns and acolytes; while the rear was
brought up by regiment of soldiers with
, drawn bayonets, marching with peculiar
swaying motion of their bodies in time
with the music.
! Flags were flying from every housetop
along the line of march, and constant
fusilade of crackers and other fireworks
was kept up, accompanied by the incessant
clatter of bells and the booming of cannon.
t On overlooking balconies and the fat roofs
/ of the houses stood men and women with
long poles in their hands. To the enc of
each pole was tied a small basket, the latter
edged with wreath OF tissue flowers and
, filled with dried rose leaves, bits of tinsel
J and bright colored paper cut into bits, and
as the figures passed beneath, the poles
were thrust out and the contents of the
baskets emptied on their heads.
AT FREQUENT INTERVALS
along the route ropes had been stretched
across the street. from house-top to house
top, dozen ropes in group, each closely
hung with tiny flags Of tissue paper in
brilliant colors. The fallen images had s
hard time OF it to get under these ropes
The meek San Jose looked in imminent
danger of being beheaded and was more
than once caught fast by the chin: while
the stately virgin had her crown knocked
, off, which was quickly rescued from the
dust by ragged Indian, who reverently
knelt, kissed it, crossed himself, and Their
climbed like cat with his dirty bare feet
up over the pale blue satin train an6
spangled pillows, to replace it. Thus, with
all "pomp and circumstance the sacred
: efigies were carried from their home in
the church of San Domingo to the cathe
dral, where they were set down among the
effigies of the latter sanctuary while mass
ra,1 ftAy,
toted back again, reminding one irresist
ably of the way children take their doll.
and play 'go-a-visiting."
ANOTHER PROCESSION,
dependent upon no fiesta day, is often seer
in the streets of all Peruvian cities. viz.
the holy host being carried to the bedsid,
ringing hand-bell as for an auction. TheI
comes an acolyte in scarlet and lace, swing
ing smoking censor, closely followed b.
other acolytes each carrying some sacred
= emblem or device, whose use or sienifica
ton is known to all good Catholics. Thel
comes the priest, with the holy ark con
tanning the sacrament, followed by NOR
t priests. more acolytes and burning incense
the rear being brought up by squad O
soldier with drawn bayonets. Over the hol,
ark and the head of the officiating priest, i
held gorgeous canopy of cloth of gold
: When the first tinkling of the bell is hear,
men, women and children fall to thei
knees, in the strests, in the shops, on thei
q balconies-no matter for rain or mud O
: whatever may betide, kneel you mus
wherever you are, and as if you meant il
too, unless you do as some of the heretica
"Gringoes" "a derisive epithet applied +
Anglo Saxons), turn a corner, run down
: side street, or dodge out of sight at tn
!. first thinking of the bell. To remain stand
ing while the. host is being carried by
1 would certainly