Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-11
W. NraNLsn cnnRcn.
An Act Of Christian Zeal Characteristic of
III" Common People of spain.
Aru,,nI n.y,, 10, II,,,.rty AIn.Ltr

An Act Of christian Peal Characteristic of
III" Common People of spain.
Almond Dayot IN lIarper's Weekly.
But u few days ago, in one Of the most
curious, though least known Of the
churches of Coriova, Nucstra Sonora dc
In FurntGsanta, | witness one Of those
acts OF Christian zeal still so common
amongst the people of Spain, and to
which they instinctivelY give an appear,
ance Of exaltation which is most strik-
ing.
The ancient gilded church, baked by
the suns OF many centuries, corr0ded by
the gusts of scorching wind, and almost
fottering with old age, rises far from the
town, in a steep suburb nj the end of u
garden enclosed within lofty moss-grown
walls, and full of grand orange and cit.
ron trees, sheltering lildcs In full flower
and blue iriSes, in the midst OF which
splashed the limpid waters of the fuen.
tosanta, or Holy Fountain. | entered
the building, and around me, OH the
walls, the ceiling, aud the pillars, was
the long series OF quaint cN-votO offer
lhgs and images commemorative some
miraculous cure. Nuestra Sonora de la
Fuentesanta contains no less than three
Thousand touchingly simple Illuminated
designs, all representing the patron saint
| appearing on Il cloud in q poorly fur.
nished room to some dying sufferer,
over whom she extends her healing
| hands, whilst the doctor guzns with sad
face and detected mien at his pawrrless
mixtures set out on the night table.
Then there are plaits of hair, and even
masses Of flowing hair, looking like
scalrs, hanging amongst embroidered
stockings, silk dresses, ostrich eggs,
stuffed crOcodtlcs and lizards, and WAY
babies and bulls. was making my
plous inventory when | heard u deep
sigh IN the shadows near me 4 woman
ia mounting, with lcr head drapcd in d
long mGntllla, was dragging herself on
her knees across the church, pausing
before each image of the Passion size
was pale, very cmacilled, aud seemed to
pc with difficulty performing a painful
pilgrimage. The sacristan Who was
| with me came up TO me and whispered
IN my car, " La pUbrc muicr ora por sll
chieJ, que sc estil muriendO". The poor
woman is praying for her child, who is
| dying) After this | could not take my
| eyes OIL TINS poor woman, who, With
bleeding heart, was Ut her own free will
| bfulslng her knees upon the stones Of
| VIC church. Willingly would have
kneIt beside her and Joined my prayers
with those Ot this dcsulate mother at the
| feet u NuGstrl Sonora dc Id Fnentc-
santa, who gNled cUldly down, booking
upon this Immense despair like co.
quettish doll, wearing silk dress
trimmed with beads, her shoulders COW
cred with Il long white mantle cmhrOi
dered with gold, on her head 4 pompoUs.
| looking pink hat dcciiod With ostrich
feathers, dainty satin slippers on her
leet, light violet gloves on her hands,
and rings Oh her fingers.
For "a long time the poor mother
dragged herself painfully along before
the symbols Of the Passion, pausing at
last AZ the foot OF a quaint figure OF
Christ roughly carved in wood toy the
| inexperienced hand Of some predecessor
of Alonzo Cano or Bcrruguete. This
| statue was half hidden beneath an an
tlqne ,ureador costume OF the heroic
| days of Pedro Romero, d long lock Of
real hair hung over the pale face OF the
| "Christus,' IN which were two inurdn.
ately large sockets fun Of blood. can
still see the unfortunate woman with
her arms extended before this sinister.
looking object Aloud, but III voice
| chukcl with tears, She addressed Il pas
sluna'c pray CT 20 the impassive crucihed
| one, not wuslug IN her plie0us appeal
until her arms dropped heavily to her
| sides like TWO branches beneath thea%e.
Then She staggered TO her feet and Is,
capped, almost running from the church,
her hands stllled clasped in prayer.