Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-15


or TO those Of some especial Aesta-the Sweet
bells tangled out Of tone" by boys hired for the
purpose, who go up into the belfries and beat
upon them With might and main, according to
Instructions They begin q. the first peep OF
dawning and keep IT up at intervals throughout
the day till far into the night and on saints
DAYS. which are almost as many as the days IN the
year. there IL little cessation OF the ear-spitting
racket. But one gets used to IL in time, as to
most things in this weary world, and even
comes 90 miss the accustomed din with vague
sense Of something gone which should be
nigh" when returned TO his own Quieter coun-
try.
One Of the things that traveller in Brazil can
not get used to- with any degree Of satisfaction
i the surprising frequency Of festivals which in
convenience him at every turn; for none OF the
hboring classes will work on q saints day II
they can possibly help II. and only those who
are IN debt TO thar employers can be legally
compelled 20 do IL Is the rule to close
government Offices on all those days, so that no
business Of an official character can be trans
acted ships cannot get their clearance papers,
and II you want to embark there Is 10 Office
open at which to buy your ticket. nobody to
wise your passport-not even u money changer
To convert your Brazilian coin into the currency
Of the country 90 which you going OF q
earsadOr to transport your luggage.
In most respects the festivals of all the saints
ing dAy by discharge Of fireworks at noon and
the ringing Of bells In the evening. During the
fiesta. also, whether IL continues one d1y or a
week. incessant bell ringing and discharge Of
rockets 10 kept up. The Brazilians appear to
be excessively fond Of pyrotechnics. IL you
give . wee brown-skinned fodder medic, in
stead Of investing il in candy or chewing gum.
a. q northern urchin would do, he PUSHES to
the nearest shop and buys torpedoes or fire.
crackers. And men are but children Of larger
haek md ~, rtrr nra
other. The sending Up of rockets is made the
most prominent feature Of religious celebra-
lions under the belief that prayers may be thus
carried TO heaven Whether the idea was
handed down from their Indian
hre-worshiping ancestors. or was borrowed
from the Chinese or Turks, cannot tell you;
but IL certainly prevails throughout all Of Span
ish-America, from Mexico to Cape Horn, in
GLIDING the islands of the sea. and is particu-
larry INDUCED in by the poorest classes, who can
least afford to burn up their scanty earnings.
strange to say the favorite spots for letting of
these religions pyrotechnics are the cemeteries
and church tops and funerals. All Souls day
and Easter especially demand them. The mis-
siles are constructed so Us TO explode high up in
the air with q cracking sound after which hey
descend IN beautiful wreaths OF white smoke IL
IN the daytime, or like metOric showers in the
darkness IL looks very odd to TO
see q Prodigious lot Of fireworks let
Of from the cathedral top in the
nooDQAE sunshine. puI mere IL Is mat
ter Of nearly everyday occurrence. / am told
that at least $4,000 is annually expended in
Para alone for fireworks and wax the latter
substance being consumed in incredible num-
bers Of candles, which are kept burning on the
altar-, before the shrines and around the IN
buried dead.
RELIGION AND TRADE
Not only large sums Of money, but great care
and taste are bestowed upon the adornment Of
the churches for these festas. Sometimes rows
Of blazing tapers are arranged IN front Of the
affairs from floor 20 roof TO look Ike huge pvra-
mids OF semi-cones Of light, sometimes in 9
succession OF arches, with lcr-ered texts and
anon the whole interior Is lined With uha. ap-
pears 20 b. solid walls curtains on fame
All the candles are made from vegetable and
beesva1 imported from the coast Of Africa for
this express purpose, and highly perfumed.
No animal OILS are ever used In the poorest
churches Of Brazil, that which supplies the
lamps being made from the olive or palm nut
Natural flowers enter largely into the decora-
tons, and the foors ere strewn with sweet
Scented leaves.