The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-09-26

Mlxn4 1u4It@te~
One class OF Mexican buildings
there Is whereof. save only at night
the doors never are closed; the
churches From dawn until darkness
comes again the doors stand open. and
whoever will may enter to seek solace
In prayer Though less than In the
period preceding the passage OF the
laws Of reform-which swept away at
q single blow the priestly rule that
undermined the civil power-the
church IL an active part OF Mexican
daily life. Going to church Is not an
ONCE fixed for small part OF . single
day In the week and celebrated only
In garments of price; every day and
all day long there Is constant flow
and ebb OF humanity through the
friendly open doors to and from the
friendly shelter from the sorrows OF
the world.
In the very early morning working
people-cargddores and dguadores,
and such like humble folk-surrend
few minutes OF their working time
that they may begin their day with
prayer; a little later come the house
servants on their way home from mar
lSet bringing their market baskets
with them and usually having in their
wake little dog. whose decorous
gravity suggests the possibility that
In these early devotions he also has n
share; at eight o'clock the mass Is
celebrated. when the women OF the
upper classes--the men are conspicu-
Gus by their absence--throng the
churches; and thereafter being clad
In black and wearing lace mantillas.
az greatly to the picturesqueness OF
the streets as they go homeward.
Then come the vendors OF milk and
vegetables and poultry and wood and
charcoal and other household supplies
country people who wish to make
their sacrifice OF prayer before faring
forth from the city; and who. IL they
have had luck In their small cheatings.
may be disposed also to thanksgiving.
Even on Sunday--the only day that
he would be sure OF finding the doors
open-a charcoal-seller would not be
encouraged TO hitch his donkey TO a
lamp-post in front of fashionable
church In New York. and thereafter
TO enter the church and say his
prayers. Quite the contrary.
When the country people have gone
their way homeward there are COM
paratively few people in the churches
until the late afternoon; and even then.
says Harper's Weekly. unless vespers
are sung. the number passing back
and forth through the doors is not
nearly so great Us In the morning hours.
But never are the churches deserted
utterly; always within them, until
darkness comes and their doors are
closed. are men and women kneeling
silently before the affairs or making.
with prayers half audible, tho round
OF the stations OF the Cross.
This mingling OF the Offices OF re-
ligion with tho affairs OF everyday life
emphasizes the sixteenth-century feel
ing which in Mexico Is so pointedly
suggested by the strong houses and the
barred doors. II Is feeling that
gives to the country IA potent and a
peculiar charm. under the spell of
which come gladly those who seek
refuge there from the later civilization
that Is glared upon by electricity, and
that Is driven by steam. And the
charm works most powerfully upon
the fortunate few who dwell In this re-
gion OF rest long enough really TO
understand the whole of its excellent
meaning. and TO know how true and
how cordial Is Mexican hospitality
when once the barred doors are opened
wide. They do not open easily these
doors; but. having been opened, they
mover are closed again against a friend.