The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
LIFE In NICARAGUA.
Prevailing Religious BeIief-SoInce I'm
AfIlictiOn-Conducti Funerals.

Correspondence Boston Transcript
The routine of daily life is much simpler
than in colder climates; there are no car
pets to gather dust and moths, and there is
very little furniture and few pictures and
bric-a-brac to be busted and cleaned. The
clothing or the children is also much simp-
Ter and the fashions are not variable. The
children of the lower class wear no cloth
ing until twelve or fourteen years old, and
LII the upper class one garment, sort of
shirt is enough for home wear, and children
sometimes go the street in this simple
garb. What marketing is not brought to the
door Is done by the master of the house
and so the women are free to Toll in their
hamnocks and nurse their babies.
The delight of going shopping is entirely
unknown. If anything in the dry goods line
is wanted a servant is sent to the shop
who brings home an armful of whole pieces
OF the desired goods If none of these suit
or If the sonora desires to look at others
these are carried back and another and an
other armful is brought. This same servant
can De trusted to pa for whatever is bought
ters, only indulging in small offerings. One
Of the servants al the college was accus-
toned to so to the treasurer every month
to draw the salaries of the teachers and she
used 10 have each ones money wrapped up
in different part of her dress, and she
never made a mistake giving the wrong
While the women are very affectionate
if death inVades their homes you do not see
the despair and gloom that so often reign
with us in like affection. They seem to thor
oHghly take In their religious belief that
their dear ones translated 10 happier
scenes, and that the separation is only tenn
poTary. The women of the family do not go
to the cemetery with their dead: only the
male members and friends. There are no
hearses and the coffin is borne on their
shoulders and they are relieved by different
relays every little way. Colored collins are
used for young people blue being favorite
color. The coffin is usually rented by the
lower class, just for the funeral, and the
body is removed at the grave and inferred
in the ground, with nothing to preserve ii
from contact with the earth. The wealthy
have vaults, or inches in the brick wall sur
rounding the cemetery, but these are only
rented, and il is nothing unusual to read
an advertisement In the paper that If the
relatives of such and such one do not pay
the rent OF the vault the body will be re-
moved by such date.
After a death in house, the piano. If the
family is rich enough TO own one, is re-
moved from the sala. or parier, to the back
of the house, and though ii may be moved
in a room or two nearer its former station
during the year, il is not opened for that
length OF time. After the death of the wife
of President Galva, his daughter lent their
piano 10 Mrs. GuZman, the wife of the
Nicaraguan minister to this country, who
had just come there as bride, so that II
might be used during their year of mourn
ing, and not be spoiled by being shut I'D
and gathering dampness, for during the
rainy season everything mildews which is
not exposed TO sunshine occasionally.