San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-04-07

llsneu ana WORKED LOT tn6 simple
reason that the manufacturer can
undersell the wares of importers
and yet make far greater profit,
and agriculture is improving and
extending. This boom Mexicans
believe is as much due to the de-
probation Of silver as 1t is to a wise
government that is ever fostering
the industries and commerce Of
the country.
HOLY WEEK.
The great attraction for the past
week has been the church celebra-
tions, indeed, that was all there was
to see, for the races were suspended
and all places for amusement closed.
In fact this week most Of the bust.
ness is practically suspended and
the natives go out Of the city for a
vacation. There Is no country in
the world where holy week is more
grandly or heartily celebrated than
in Mexico, because the churches
are the grandest in the world and
the richest, il we except the vati-
can. Then they have the properties,
SO to speak, to fix for the celebration,
and the people, while being very
pious, cling to the old time cere-
monies and grandeur OF the past.
PALM SUNDAY
Was very well celebrated, the
churches were decorated, well at
tended and nearly every one car
ried a palm worked fancily in all
kinds Of shapes by the Indians.
This did not not, however, compare
with the old time glory before
the church was shorn Of riches
and power by the republic and
when it was fostered by the i'll
fated Macmillan. Then the
cathedral facade was covered with
palms and thousands of Indians,
carrying palm trees, crowded the
Zocola or Main plaza, and as the
crowd moved to and from it
seemed like a palm forest.
On Thursday at the cathedral
the fact that Christ
WASHED THE FEET
or the disciples is commemorated.
At four o'clock in the afternoon Of
that day twelve OF the dirtiest and
most wretched beggarsIare selected
and taken to the church. There is
no difficulty in finding beggars, for
there's thousands of them here and
there is no trouble in getting the
requisite dirt. These beggars are
seated in fine chairs and then the
archbishop, church dignitaries and
priests publicly wash the beggars'
feet in token of their Christ-like
humility. At night
THE CATHEDRAL WAS ABLAzE
with light, which showed all the
many affairs, save one, were
draped and thus the brilliant gild-
ing and beautiful pictures that
grace them were hidden from view,
much to the annoyance of visitors
who wished to see them. The one
altar that was left displayed was
specially and temporarily fixed,
and is most artistically arranged
and of great beauty. The back
ground is of red velvet, with gol-
den stripes, and it is ornamented
with statues, scenery and church
paraphernalia. Seen in the day
light it is beautiful, but when it Is
illuminated by innumerable cam
dies it presents grand ecclesiasti-
cal picture, such as man rarely
sees or is scarcely likely to forget.
There was also a choral service
that added much to the beauty OF
the service. There were similar
services in many other churches
during the same hour and the
faithful Catholic must at least
visit seven churches that night if
he would have the indulgences
that are granted to the faithful.
There is nothing doing in the
churches on Good Friday, but in the
suburban villages the Indians gave
the real old passion plays seen there
for centuries. On Saturday morn
ing about 10 o'clock the clsmor OF
bells remind the people that
JUDAS ISCARIOT
was to be hung in effigy, as is done
yearly in various parts Of the city.
There is a life size figure. In the
inside are fireworks and a big
earthenware jar that forms the
stomach. This jar is filled with
candy, cakes, fruit, etc. The eff1gy
is hung on telephone or telegraph
wire, the fireworks exploded and
the figure is blown to pieces. The
jar is also broken, its contents are
scattered around and scrambled