Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-18
CHILE'S HOLIDAY FUN.
Much Compulsory Patriotism and
Spontaneous Jollifcation.
RIGID DISTINCTIONS OF CASTE.
Elaborate Celebrations Indulged in by
the Rich and Great.
SCENES IN SANTIAGO EVERY DAY
rcoRREspoNDENoE OF THE prspArcH.1

safely over, except for those who find them
selves with broken bones, or in duranc
vile because of over-much boisterousnes
melted by chicha, the Chilean world nov
turns its attention to the real Diez ocho
the greatest festival in the country's oalen
dar, which, though supposed to commem
crate only September Is, RACES with more OF
less violence from about the 9th of tha
month ON into October.
Outside barbarians may marvel why thi
arrogant but puny Republic should considel
Its birth worthy of SO much more rejoicing
than is INDUCED in by the most powerful
nations of the earth (save for the miracle
that it could have been born at all from
such unsuitable eIements), vet the true
Chileno, if poor, will sell all he possesses tc
raise the necessary funds for this prolonged
holiday, and then contentedly scrimp along
the rest of the year, assisted by his hard
working wife and bare-footed children, to
accumulate enough for the next Diez ocho.
ALL MEN ARE NOT EQUAL.
Distinctions of caste are nowhere more
clearly defined than in Chile, and though
the whole population abandons itself to a
general jollifcation and rich and poor jostle
in one vast spree-yet the gulf between
Rico and Roto, aristocrat and plebian, re-
mains impossible as ever. Sunrise on the
18th will be proclaimed by the firing OF
cannon from the forts Of Santa Lucia, with
a Simultaneous display of the national flag;
and soon every city, town and hamlet in the
land will be CAV with banners futtering
from the house-tops. There is fine OF
from one to twenty dollars for failure to
display flag on this occasion; and though
foreign Ministers raise the colors of their
respective Governments, resident foreigners,
undistinguished by official rank, are allowed
to faunt none but the Chilean standard.
When the sun peers above the mountains
on the morning of the 18th his first beams
will fall on choir of 100 little boys and
girls in the Plaza Independence, singing
the national anthem at the top of their
voices. Then there will be grand misa de
gracia in the cathedral, which will be
decorated with flags outside, and inside with
ribbons and garlands of flowers wound
around the pillars and thousands of burning
candles on the altars.
| EXCLUSIVELY FOR AR1sToCRATs
This special display of rico patriotism is
not for the lower classes and at every door
soldiers will stand to prevent the entrance
of any roto. By 10 o'clock the enormous
| structure will be crowded with ladies,
L
superb black silks, with black lace mantil-
las on their heads, diamonds in their ears,
and white gloves on their hands-all kneel-
ing upon prayer rugs spread on the stone
floor.
AT II A. NJ. or thereabouts the President
and his suite should arrive (this year it
will be the Pennsylvania-born President of
the rebel "Junta'') j with the officers of the
army and navy, the foreign Ministers and
Consuls, many of them in superb military
dress escorted by battalion Of soldiers
| and band of music Threading their way
| through the kneeling throng to chairs that
have been set for them in front of the great
high altar, two soldiers with fixed bayonets
will take position on either side of the man
who represents the legal President; and for
a time the moldy old walls will ring with
the blare of trumpets and the music of
thousand voices in choral service. Later
cross and a book will be presented to the
Presidential figure head, which he must
kiss, and the osculation will be repeated by
each of the officials in turn, while all are
BEING FUMIGATED WITH INCENSE
and deafened by a triumphant crash of
music and the clatter of presenting arms,
And meanwhile "sad-eyed Memory" will
be busy with the recollections of last Diez
y ocho and other similar days, when many
who now fill untinely and dishonored
graves kissed the cross amid the plaudits of
the natiOn-the late President, driven to
death by his own hand to escape being
killed by his country; prominent generals,
whose savagely mutilated bodies were not
even buried, but burned on the CORY battle
field near Valparaiso, and men who few
months ago were the foremost in the Repub-
lie, now penniless exiles in strange lands.
The ceremonies, which usually continue
about three hours, will be personally con-
of cardinal robes, assisted by train Of
bishops, priests and "other clergy" in their
choicest vestments. The attendance of mil
itary and naval officers at these observances
is enforced by the loss of months salary
at every failure to be present. Any dere-
LECTION in patriotic duty would be especially
dangerous this year, for the Jealous Junta
would interpret it as an evidence of luke
warmness in their cause. On the 10th mil
itary review will take place, and afterward
the usual races will come off in the presence
of all the fashionable world, followed by a
dress parade in carriages of Everybody as
is anybody" in Santiago society, as well 90
many who are nobody at all. On the Goth,
the city still wearing its holiday aspect,
there will be another grand military parade |
and sham battle, followed by more races |
and dazzling pageant of elegantly dressed |
ladies, Chilean officers in splendid uniforms |
and foreign diplomats in court dresses. And |
SO on for many days.
DISPLAYS OF HoRsEMANsHR.
So much for Ia creme de la creme; the |
common people" will enjoy most of it to |
an even greater extent in their own crude |
fashion, besides many other simple pleas |
ures from which los Ricos are debarred, |
There will be thousands of happy creatures
on horseback, in birloches and Joyous |
route on foot, swar1ning the pulperias and |
confectionery shops that dot all the plazas,
and hurrying hither and thither with the |
restlessness of crowds. The country people |
are out in full force and high feather, de-
lighted to display their horsemanship and |
dance the zamacuaca, the national jig of
Chile.
As equestrians they are remarkably
skilled, and there is no feat OF horseman-
ship which they cannot perform. Indeed, |
it is dangerous to be in the way when they |
become little elated by chicha The men
delight to run their horses at full speed
upon mounted gentleman, and as they
pass to deftly catch knee inside of his.
when, unless he is also on the alert he is
bound to be unhorsed in an instant to the
unbounded amusement of the rabble. 1t is
equally common to see the women racing
together on horseback. They bring their
horses into line, apply the whip and set off
at furious gallop,. totally regardless of
pedestrians or any other earthly considera-
ton but the goal These performances are
varied by many other rude sports, and the
everlasting cuaca danced in booths and on
elevated platforms-the rustic beaux in
spurs and ponchos, the bellies in stifly-
starched white petticoats topped by. cheap,