The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-11
baldaquin rises ABOVE all and is purely
architectural in spir.s.

FOUR WINGED ANGELS.
At the four corners are minarets sur
mounted BY classic attics. and these form
a basis for four winged angels very boldly
designed and very effective. Above these
are four others that tower in alteration
over the tilma of the hanaquan. On the
west side Is the altar table of Italian
marble, with the cacrariam table nearly
under the relic. In the center is a circular
panel of the Lamb OF God. The sides are
filed in with traceries OF Byzantine arches
and pilasters. and in the center Of the
erches are little panels OF a creamy white
marble, carved with acanthus leaves.
TIL platform OF the altar Is reached by
two staircases OF Italian marble, with bal
ustrading OF solid silver Weighing twenty
with newell posts of chuluca, from which
rise candelabra OF silver. The color dec
GRAFTON of the body of the church is a soft
columns that support the roof, and this is
renewed by a soft salmon color. Tn
church is a Latin cross, with a dome and
transepts. The ceilings Of the nave and
aisles are a series OF smaller domes. These
ceilings are all a bright blue, studded with
stars and traversed by bands of color form
ton OF the Latin cross with the cross of
ST Andrew, the holy rood of Scotland. The
sapita si,, Of the arches are corinthian. and
On the walls Of the traIlsept are being
hung four great pictures which are being
painted by Professor Pima. The first or
bringing the glorifed tiIma under a SUI
perb baldaquan of crimson velvet to the
little chapel on the hill where the virgin
first appeared. Zumarraga in his magnii-
cent pontifical robes occupies the center;
on the left is an Indian in an agony of
lero In full armor, with his visor raised,
looking over his mustache with an air of
proud contempt. The other three pictures
have NOR haQn nnrnnlafnd 0nd tho Crh-
jects have not been made known. They
will all be in their places by the 1st Of Oc-
This is a description Of the Church of
Our Lady as it will be seen at the corona
ton. The exterior Of the cathedral has
was Was neee aIey' to enIa ags it, mag Its S1 walls Sa are
from three 10 four feet thick and the whole
structure is one of the most massive, though
not one of the largest, in the republic. To
the right Of the cathedral, a little further
up the hill, is the chapel Of the Well. This
is built of Spanish thing and it's design is
the continent. 1t is supposed to be built
exactly on the spot where the virgin last
appeared. AS her feet left the ground in
her ascent to heaven, the tradition is. the
water .gushed forth. 1t is a peculiar fact
that the source or the water cannot De
discover where it disappears. h water
has a peculiar taste of iron and lead and
it is the poo, of SLOAN of Mexico;
begins the holy way to the little church on
top of the hill. The way is built of rough
stone tagging and adobe bricks and is very
circuitous and hard to CLIMB even on foot.
Yet in December, during the feast or
Guadalupe, all penitents make this journey
on their knees. 1t is estimated that there
will be twenty thousand devotees who VIII
make this trip on their knees during the
first twelve days of October next.
Beside being the greatest religious shrine
on the continent, the village OF Guadalupe
is also the greatest gambling spot in Amer
ca. Gambling is inherent IN the people OF
Mexico. Yet while it is. licensed in every
part Of the republic and is practiced the
year round, at Guadalupe 1t IS not permitted
save during the feast OF the virgin. Then.
every one who has a cent TO spare stakes
1t, offering at the same time a prayer to
the lady OF the shrine. 1t is a gala season
for the Mexicans, and the rich and the poor
men and women, pray and gamble alike.
Gambling here is not regarded as a vice. In
fact, there is nothing vicious In the Mexi-
can character and their fever for gambling
is just as profound as their Christian love.