Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-09-22
RECORDS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY.

Trumbuu Writes of the Great Religious
Festival Celebrated on Sept. S-Women
In Full Charge of Household Affairs and
OF the Chiidren-Comparisons in the Cost
OF ClothinE-Large Pronts Made in Farm
ing In the Vicinity of Durango-Price of
Land Rent.
| Special Cor. of the Chicago Record.
Durango, Mexico, September 9.-Yes-
terday was q great feast day in
this city, a very holy day, and the peo-
| pie did not fail in their pious duties.
The celebration centered al the old
| church OF Los Remedies whose special
day it was, but the other churches of
/ the city took cognizance Of the i'm
portance Of the festival and shared in
| the ceremonies. From early morning
until late at night the bells in every
tower were Ginning, and the streets
were lively with a gay and brightly
| lressCl crowd of worshippers.
Los Remedies stands On a high hill
| overlooking the city, and may be seen
from a long distance as one approaches.
II is one Of the older churches of The
city. and is believed to antedate the
cathedral of Durango, which was be-
gun in 1895. The passenger train from
! Torreon reached Durango after dark,
and from several miles away, bsfore
the lights OF the city could be seen.
there was q striking view of a great
cross of gold against the dark western
sky. II was made by the mile of street
lamps extending up the path that led
to the summit of the hill, intersected
! bv cross street of half the length,
enuaUv lighted. Accidental, as the ar
rangemenc in this form may be. it was
one of the most picturesque !llumina-
tions that one could hope to see.
According to the legend, every pill
grim who visits the church Of Los
Remedies on September of any year
will thereby subtract seven years from
his STAY in purgatory. With a belief IN
that legend to encourage them 1t was
not surprising that the steep pathway
m the hill was crowded all day with
pilgrims from far and near, making
their holiday profit them for the future
as we'll as the present.
Woman's place in Mexico is well
| defined. whether in the upper or lower
classes. They have quite as full charge
| of the affairs of the household as DO
their sisters of our own republic. They
direct the life of their children, train
| their manners and govern them. They
| have full chargs Of the house servants.
| They select the bill of fare for the
table. keen the accounts of the house
hold marketing and administer The
household purse.
As TO the custom in so many other
countries. where domestic service is
better arranged than in our own, IN
houses of the upper and middle classes,
/ where servants are kept. one OF them
| is usually given the necessary directions
/ rs TO the bill of fare and purchases 10
be made So in the public markets
these house servants are seen, chatter
ing over the price OF vegetables and
fruits. as the mistress of the house
would not DO. therefore. getting much
better prices than if she chose 10 do It
herself.
In the United States. It Is not an IN
known circumstance for the domestic 10
share the good things from her employ
/ er's larder. with needy friends and re.a-
lives. even to the extent Of virtually
supporting their table. Well-to dc Mex
leans say that this IS practically I'M
known among them. Instead, each
family that is able has its regular list
of supplicants, who by long custom have
attached themselves to it as retainerS.
and these call regularly. on certain days
each week. for aims and food. After
similar fashion poor people support
! poorer relatives or friends. and take i
as a matter Of course that they should
do so. The result Of this IS thai The
/ poorhouses, provided as public charities
are BY no means well patroniZed, and
while beggars are as numerous as il all
Latin countries, they are usually sturdy