Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1891-10-14
GAY FUNERAL CUSTOMS.

GAY FUNERAL CUSTOMS.
The Death OF Child Far From q Mourn
full Affair In NIoaraHua.
The death of child in Nicaragua,
writes an American visitor to Grenada,
the chief city of that republic, is not
considered mournful affair to those of
the poorer classes.
One is rather mourned on coming into
this world of sorrow and hunger to SO
many of them; the going out Of 1t is
made an occasion of pleasure and re-
joicing. Then all seems to be smiles
and festivity.
In one of my walks about the city,
hearing strains OF rnnsic from a guitar
and a-violin or two proceeding from a
jacal (native hut). 1 approached the
place, expecting terfnd a w edding party
perhaps, or christening going on.
Ientered without fear of intrusion,
for among the poorer people of all Cen
trail America it is esteemed quite an
honor to receive a stranger to any OF
their festivities, whether wedding,
christening or funeral, or the celebra-
ton of their Dia de Santo Saints day.,
the day of the saint from whom they
are named, which is observed there in
stead of the birthday, as with US. At
such time one is sure to receive most
polite and profuse attentions.
The owner, evidently, met me at the
door, and with smile waved his hand
toward the interior and invited me In.
Expecting to enjoy the pleasures of
wedding, with an expectant smile on
my face, entered.
What did 1 findP For a moment 1
was quite shocked. had introduced
myself abruptly to a funeral.
Dressed all in white, ~ ing in a bed o
roses, with eyes wide open, pink flow
er between the lips and surrounded by
candles at sides, feet and head, was the
body of q small child not more than a
year old.
The furnishings of the room were of
the simplest-an uneven earthen floor,
bare adobe walls, no attempt at adorn-
ment. excepting few cheap pictures of
saints without frames pinned to them,
and some chairs; nothing else.
The body lay on board, between
| two boxes. There was no coffin in
sight. This is not brought forth until
the start is made for the cemetery, and
among the very poor is often not used
| at all, unless it be rented for the occa-
sion, to be returned after the burial.
was offered a chair, invited to help my
self to the funeral meats" consisting
of tiste, kind of drink made from
toasted corn; chocolate and sugar
| ground together and mixed with
water, sweet cake and dulcies,
or native candies, and the house
was placed at my disposal in true
Spanish fashion, with many bow and
ceremonious wave of the hands. And
1 accepted and partook, the musicians
in the meantime playing tunes that
gave me great desire to dance, after
which gave my thanks, complimented
the beauty of the child and bowed my
self out.
continued my stroll. On the return
to my hotel encountered the funeral
party on it's way to the grave. First
came boy of some fourteen years OF
age carrying the diminutive coffin on
his head. The lid was not on. A troop
of children surrounded him and fol
lowed along, looking with longing
eyes; the girls, as if they envied the
dead one; the boys wishing they could
take turn at carrying the coffin anG
envying the fortunate one who per-
formed that Office, while he trudged
along with smiling, happy face, occa
sionally lowering the burden so thai
friends whom he met could admire the
child within.
begged that privilege. 1t had beer
a pretty creature in life, and death, will
its flowers and smiling followers, ha6
not robbed it of all its charms. The
clasped hands held small crucifix, ant
the pink flower yet remained between
the child's lips. l have not learned
whether that was only placed there BY
chance or was symbol that life is bu
as flower, perhaps.
After the body came boy swinging
an incensory, and then came the priest
a benign, staid old man with bale
head and amiable features, but who's,
rubicund color told only too plainly tina
he and the wine cup were not unac
quainted, and whose portly form be
tokened the best of living. He salute,
me kindly, and the procession move'
away, the fiddlers vigorously saving OF
their instruments a most lively polka
and one and all, each man and boy an,
child following, carrying a lighted can
die.
No women go to the cemetery. Il
spite of the apparent joyfulness of tn
occasion they weep and mourn, AM
until the men return to comfort then
mournful cries ofttimes ring out on tn
still night, showing how dear to evel
the poor are the dead and absent ones
IN. Y. Herald.