Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-06-30
FEAST OF SAN JUAN.
Unique Celebration in Rio Arriba
Countrywide Description of
Scenes and Incidents
Religious and Other
Exercises.

10 the oath of June priest and people
alike, Mexican and Tehuan, look forward
as day of JOY, long before celestial sur
takes central position in the summer
sky. At last the expected day comes and
with it the friendly Pueblos from Abi
quiu, Chama, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz and
San Ildefonso, and even the distant Taos
men appear in gaudy array on dashinR
horses. If you think this merely an In.
dian feast, however, you are mistaken
In prima loco this is day in the chris
tian calendar. Not only in Catholic COM
munities, but also in plous protesta Mt
countries of Europe, especially in the
southern portion of Germany, in Wurtem-
berg, you will find the custom prevailing
to celebrate the remembrance days of the
twelve apostles by going to church in the
forenoon. Now on the day of which we
speak that most intimate friend of our
Savior, the dear apostle of love, John,
comes and claims attention, making our
hearts glow with radiant love.
Yes, New Mexico is a unique historical
ground and 1 doubt whether you will find
on the whole globe many places where
such Kaleidoscope view would present
itself to your outward as we'll as inner
eye. But-well, you shall tell me after
ward whether am right or not.
At o'clock the bell tolls. Forthwith
the entrance to the church presents a
more live appearance. Before the church
yard is the imported statue of ell padre
Camilo Sioux, of France, who has been
here twenty-six years. 1t is dedicated as
the stone says: "a la madre dc Dios."
With the pious wish: "Maria, concebida
sin mancha, ruega pro nosotros" The
devout adherent kneels down on the step
and raises his eyes to the gilded figure
which uplifts folded hands and implor-
ingly looks up to the heavens.
Let US follow into the church. There
before the high altar stands the celebrator
in magnificent robe. To the right the
Pueblo in Navajo blanket,
farther still to the right the chorister, an
Indian boy of 13 years at most, who
shows to the congregation his back cov-
cred With white shirt and diagonally run
ming suspenders and his short pantaloons.
Incense is burned. Up on the gallery the
tiny rattling voice of descendant of
the aborigines, softly accompanied by a
sweet girl of 16, robed in white. little
son of sunshine land thinks fit here to
join in the song and his voice gives hope
of developing finely. Then prayer, all
kneeling on the bare floor. Twenty
virgins in white are nearest the altar.
PaterJ Jouvenceau, (this much we hear out
side now, having forced our way out), is
delivering his sermon in clear, forcible
language. Hurrah! Another shot from the
sentinel at the church door. How happy
an Indian is when he can shoot into the
clear, sunny sky and see the powder paper
flying right and left! Here, the process
sion is coming. The shutters of the
kodaks open. All ready! First the cross
bearer, then the virgins, beautifully robed
and yelled in this innocent color. San
Antonio, who was not quite as prominent
in life as San Juan, Is carried out to see
the demonstration in his behalf; his COM
day was on the 18th; now he
parades at the side of his more ilustrious
brother and seems quite happy. How
often in life some big fellow is only
noticed when little chap is placed by
his side So these dolls pass. Next
comes the officiating priest under ban
dana canopy, four poles with big cot
ton handkerchief over them. At the
statue a beautiful liturgy by the priests
ends the procession.
Now, for the dance! By this time the
Santa Fe extra has come, and, wonderful
to behold, is on time. Now one, then
another of our gallant soldiers visits the
caballeros. The inevitable kodak is with
them. Before the plaza, in front of church
and chapel, more people gather, anxious
to see the procession. Here come five
men in bunch, one carries several bot.
ties under his arm, possibly Santa Fe
reservoir water. But not as many guests
have come from Santa Fe this year as in
former ones. 1t may be that the Ger
rillos base ball game has attracted the
lovers of sport, or the inhabitants of tho
capital city may be growing more religi-
Gus, and do not venture out on pleasure
excursion on the Lords day. Surely in
some instances this must have been so.
Such people can only be commended who
prefer quiet Sunday rest to hurrying
about under the perpendicular rays of
summer sun on a dusty day.
But to Ell Bale de Cibolo, or rather Ell
Baie de Brifalo, the Buffalo dance. Two
rows of grotesquely dressed, or better un-
dressed, warriors are after two buffalo
steers and one COW. Verify, buffalos have
grown scarce! Forty-two brave, daunt-
ess bucks after three harmless animals,
who seem to have been SO unfortunate as
20 have fallen into lime-kiln besides,
'or their bodies are besmeared with lime.
How would you like to have the sacred
head and horns of an entire buffalo rest
ng upon your shoulders on such day as
his, let alone the dancing with it? And
ook at the buffalo, how helplessly this one
acts the beast of the prairie,
.omping about with eyes riveted to the
ground as if seeking lost pin. All, yes;
1ot only the buffalos have died out; it