The Republican journal., 1892-10-20

1y34tcnrm
hang, stone, beat, punch, drown and burn
to their hearts content.
Lent being safely over, Easter Sunday
is ushered in by joyous strains of music
from the finest bands and grandest orches-
tras; by Illuminating the churches with
greater splendor than ever; by the trium-
phal discharge Of rockets from the house
tops and cemeteries, and of artillery from
the forts and batteries; by balls and mer-
ry-makings among all classes: and as in
our own country, every female who can
afford it, celebrates on her own account
with new ''gaud and gear if not in
Easter bonnet. But the strangest of all
is the great White Sunday feast of Esprit
tn Santo-the Holy Spirit. In preparation
for this begging professions so through
the streets weeks in advance in order to
secure funds. They canvas and recan-
vas the city, its suburbs, the shipping and
surrounding country, and nothing which
can be converted into cash is refused. The
collectors wear red scarfs, called capas,
over their shoulders and display flags on
surrounded by halo OF ''gloria. They
are always attended by musicians, (com-
monty negroes. with drums, flies, baniocs
harps, guitars, and any sort of instru-
II, -, L.
players are hired at the highest rates
Their cry is, "Esmolas para Espirito San
to-" Gifts for the Holy Ghost and is
seldom made in vain. They hand the
dove embroidered flag in at the doors and
windows for the faithful to kiss, quickly
| followed by a plate or bag in which to re-
ceive the expected donation. | have heard
that in the distant interiors these pious
| beggars 90 about with mules to whose
sides leather panniers are attached for the
reception of pigs, hens, vegetables, house
hold furniture or whatever may be given
| them. Travellers state that when wishing
! to buy necessary provisions, they are fire.
| quently refused 10y the Indians under the
| plea ''That pig belongs to The Holy
! Ghost" or Those are ESpirito Santo
| hens.
Mr.. k.Wbank, Il noted traveller i'll Brazil
describes his eXpelience-which is by no
means a novel one-as follows: "While
engaged this morning in writing. bona
H-----came running up stairs to urge
me to descend quick Here's the Holy
Ghost coming up the street; don't YOU
want to see him? | am sure no one could
be more startled at such an announce
ment than | was, nor at the unaffected
simplicity with which it was made |
went down and looking out of the open
window asked, 'where?' Gone into that
venda, "a grocery half a block Off but will
be out directly replied a dozen voices.
Soon negro band consisting Of two
French horns, three drums, Il clarinet
and fife, emerged and commenced a
waltzing air in the middle of the street.
abs over their ordinary dress. Two had
small crimson banners, on each of which
was the figure of a dove in a triangle.
Another bore a little silver bird. on
a stand resembling chamber candle
stick. Like the banner men, he also car
ried an aims box. The fourth bore
Il capaclous bag. Wonder lady is
throwing back Il palr of latticed blinds: a
banner man flies over, and burying her
face moment in the flag, she adds a con-
tribution to the dish. Next door a clus-
ter of girls have got the little bird among
them, and return it with vintens (coins).
\ neighbor now takes the flag indoors,
that every member Of his family may per-
form an act of devotion by kissing it; and
there a Mozambique fruitwoman battles
her face in its folds; her offering, two
oranges, are dropped into the bag. the re-
ceptacle of donations other than money
no, not for all such, for the musicians
have now come up, and, as | live, the
clarinet player carries Il live rooster un-
der his arm, the gift probably from some
Nt0olCI Ill pollCIN vi COURSE IL would not
do to put it among eggs, Bread fruit, and
kindred quiet things. Nothing is refused
from bank bills to a banana. OF half ii yard
OF ribbon us a streamer for a banner staff
The troop now passed ON. The Minis
trels struck up {. fresh air that set young
feet tripping. The rooster actually crow
ed AN accompaniment. Independent of
the eXhllarating fife and drum and rous-
ing trumpets, the scene is a stirring one
! The collectors, with their banners tlutter-
ing over their heads and their abs stream
ing behind them, are running hither and
thither, crossing and recrossing the street
as devotees appear DIT the windows and
door matches, while their brethren with
the little bird and bag are busy answering
the calls to them
The procession Of Corpus Christi is diff
ferent in Brazil from any of the others.
The only image exposed is that of Saint
George, who is set down in the calender
as ''The defender of the Empire' How
this came about | do not know, but his
festival, falling as it does ON Corpus
Christi day, is celebrated with extraord-
nary pomp. 1t is a daylight affair and
the godly Saint Cappadocia is carried
around on horseback. He is represent
ed as ruddy and fair of countenance, with
taken hair floating in curls to his should
ers, dressed in armour, with red velvet