The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-23
DEAD FOLKS In CHILE
What is Done With the Dear
Departed There.
A VERY QUEER SIGHT TO BEHOLD
Even the Tomb Has Its Ludicrous Side.
And it Crops Out in That
Singular Country.

CoNCEPCIoN, Chile, August Is, 1891
Special correspondence of THE HERALD.
"A sound of music attracted me to the
window this morning; and what do YOU
think saw, A mahogany-hued peon, OF
Chllian peasant, carrying on his out
stretched hands a board, about five fee
long, and on the plank dead child, attired
in a red calico frock The small corpse was
that of girl, apparently five years old
The lower extremeJies were encased il
white cotton hose. "a world too wide fol
the shrunk shank;n a jaunty wreath OF
paper roses crowned the smoothly braided
jet-black hair; the cheeks were horribly
daGbed with vermillion, to simulate the hue
of health, and the wide open eyes seemed
staring into intiuity. The plank bearer
was followed by two women, evidently the
mother and grandmother of the deceased.
who walked with an air of conscious i'm.
portance as becomes those who have fur
nished an ''angelito'' Qittle angel to swell
the heavenly host. Behind the women
marched two men, playing with might and
main, one on fiddle and the other on a
guitar, each intent on tune OF his own.
while the rear was brought up by laugh
ing and chattering dozen or more Of men,
women and children, most of whom gave
indubitable evidence of unwise generosity
on somebody's part in the way of chicha.
They were on the way to the pantheon to
inter the little angel" over which they
had been dancing and drinking for three
days past-and which, possibly, had been
loaned once or twice in the meantime to
friends who were not so fortunate as to
have a corpse in the family. Among the
more degraded class of Chilians it is a gen.
eral custom TO make death and excuse for
orgies as wild and ridiculous as those of an
ultra Irish wake; and the body of a child
especially is often kept for festive purposes
until 1T becomes offensive 10 all who an
preach the house. In this queer country
there is
FUNNY SIDE EVEN TO GENERALS
A member of the United States Navy As
Economical expedition in Chile, made some
years ago. tells the story of common oc-
currence, He says: Returning late one
night from dancing party had the CD
portunlty OF witnessing festivities of quite
different character. Passing in front of
small casa my attention was attracted by
loud singing and shouting within. A
woman who stood in the doorway, seeing
me pause, invited me to enter.
What is going on 20 l asked.
"Estamos yelando un angelita de Dios,
1--WE are watching an angel of Cod she re-
piled.
My curiosity being excited by such an
answer, / entered. The room was crowded
n mo A.
engaged in drinking and clapping their
hands to the music of two females, who sat
on the floor, guitar in hand, singing a
drawing ditty, the burden of which was
the happiness of something or somebody in
heaven. But the most prominent object
was kind OF rude altar, set around with
lighted candles and ornamented with tinsel
MOWERS. In the midst of these sat the life
sized ngure OF an infant, dressed in tawdrv
tnery, adorned with gauzs wings. its face
protusely painted red and white. 1t is the
image OF some saint / said to myself. and
was turning away, when second glance
convinced me that there was something nm
usual about this figure. The hair looked
very natural; the eyes were strangely va
cant ana hImy, and even the finger nails
were perfectly formed. There seemed to
be good deal too much of art sor nature
and yet too much of nature for art. Ian
preached to scrutiniZe il more closely and
was Mortified TO discover that it was a
corpse
What is thatl' l asked of bystander
'Un angelic, senior" ian angel, sir, he
replied.
"A what?"
"A dead child, SIR
! was afterwards informed that these
watchings were very common throughout
the rural districts of Chile, and that ire
quently they are continued with music.
dancing and drunkenness, night after
night, until
TIE CORPSE BECOMES TOO OFFENSIVE FOR
ENDURANCE.
One can understand how refined sentiments
may induce the bereaved mother to strew
the bier of her infant with fresh flowers
emolems of youth, beauty and innocence.
but this display Of paint and tinsel. This
maudlin blasphemy and midnight debauch-
cry In the presence of the dead is revolt
ing.
Among the better classes of Chslians
funerals are conducted on pretty much the
same plan as in other civilized countries
except that here ladies never attend them
1t is customary for all the friends and 90
quaiDtan of the afflicted family 10 nav
them visits of coincidence within len davs
after the obsequies. For a month the
mourners are expected to sit in one CORNER
of darkened parlor. The condoling callers
approach them, one after another. occunv
the nearest chair for five minutes or mora
while expressing their sympathy for the
living and regret for the dead: then make
their bows and retire, as succeeding ar
rivals move up, A refreshmenf folla 4;