The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-17
A GLIMPSE OF MEXICO.
Casual Impressions JOtted Down by
u T~ravelcr-A Land of Superstition.

hE
The Mexicans are a very religious people.
They are also very superstitious. They at
tach peculiar theories to everything which
they cannot sensibly explain. They are
firm In the belief Of witchery, lamentations
and charms. In fact, everything which is
a mystery to them is explained in the light
of some weli-established superstitious the
DRY. The laws of nature which they do
not understand are believed by them to be
the workings of some miraculous power.
The greater part Of their superstitious ideas
they have inherited. no doubt, from their
ancestry, the Aztec Indians. Their religion
is Roman Catholicism. Professionalism has
gained but little foothoId in the country.
The Mexican has no conception of a high
ideal; he grovels in the dust and worships
blindly. He is ignorant; he is servile.
The other day i happened to be passing
q splendid cathedral. An cid gray-haired
Mexican. bent with age, came lettering
along. The clock in the tower began to
strike the noon hour. The old man dropped
to his knees. lifted his hat and bowed his
head. His lips moved as IL engaged in 81
lent prayer. He remained in this position
until the clock had finished the last stroke.
Then he arose, lifted his eyes in the direc-
tion of the tower, made the sign of the
cross on his forehead, and proceeded slowly
down the street. A Mexican never passes a
s cath : cb, Without y d Lifting his = hat I'll, for co, when-
the father "blesses'' the bell in the tower,
which is to warn Gods servants of the
hour" When that bell speaks every head
must bow in submission to his God. The
Mexicans are especially partial to the erec-
ton Of churches. Every city Of any size
poor hamlet, indeed, that cannot support
at least three or four. In the larger cities
structures. carved inside and out in all
kinds of fantastic figures. Nearly all OF
them are constructed of stone. Near this
city, On a foothill of the mountain, is a
very ancient cathedral. which has long since
fallen to decay, and at the present time
is constructed Of native limestone, now
water. stained and colored with age. 1t is
built in the form of a maltese cross, with
building. The tall arched doors and win
dOws are as substantial as the day they
were built. but scarcely a trace remains Of
worin-eaten timber may be seen, but the
ravages of time have destroyed everything
meath the tower is the altar. 1t is con-
structed of rough stone slabs built in two
mounted by a large Slab Of clouded marble.
The structure is very. commodious, and
would accommodate quite a large number
known, and many queer stories are attached
to the old pile b. the natives who live
ing. She was a decrepit old bag, with a
rasping voice and an angular face. She
had set down upon a stone to rest. A large
bundle of charcoal which she had been
carrying ON her head lay on the ground
beside her. Walking toward her / babe
her good morning. Looking up at me with
a cunning glitter In her eyes. she returned
the salutation. / asked her IL she lived in
the neighborhood. She answered in the
affirmative, and, pointing to an adobe hut
lived there all her life. After scrutinizing
me closely Wondering, no doubt, If I had
money! she asked me If / had been paying
a visit to the old cathedral. She seemed
more at ease and assured me that she would
not enter the place for the world (pointing
towards the door, for the place was
haunted with evil spirits, who, at nighttime,
during certain periods, held their revels
there. / asked her If she had ever seen
them. She looked at me s0lemnly and
nodded her head. She suddeniy seemed to
remember that business should come before
pleasure, SO, reaching out her hand to me,
she asked me to give her un centavo. /
complied with her request. She then began
her story. .sThis night she said. reflect
lively. 'sthe devil and his wicked ones will
be here. This night their fires will be kin
died on the altar, and their latest victim
will be burned to ashes Woe unto the
traveller who passes too near Opespado to-
night Abruptly closing her story she
arose, picked up her burden and turned
away. My eyes followed after her, and
IN my own mind / resolved that the devil
would make a bad mistake if he did not
send her an invitation TO attend his car
nival. EDGAR L. NAMES.
Monterey. Mexico. March II.