The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1897-08-28
SAN LvADoR..
SOME OESs CURIOUS GUS
TOMS AMONG THE PEOPLE,.
When two Rival Orators Meet Then There
Is Sometimes Great TrOuble-Cheertul
Observation-Disclosures Criminal Code
Curious Holiday Customs.

wa ne ScLS uSeQ 10 IT,, inc
stranger in Salvador is likely to be startled
half out of his wits more than once in every
twenty -four hours, by series of sharp ex-
plosions, which sound like the rattle of mus
kerry. 1t is not the signal of another revolu-
ton, as one might reasonably suppose, nor
an earthquake shock, nor volcanic eruption it
is merely the church, or the government, or
some generous individual, advertising "func-
ton in the customary manner, by letting off
lot of rockets and crackers. All civic
ecclesiastical, and military celebrations are
proclaimed in this way; also the opening Of
balls, and OF performances at theaters, even
private parties weddings, and funerals. These
PEOPLE do not consider darkness essential to
pyrotechnic display, and fireworks" are as
frequent fixing at MONDAY as at any other
time. In Salvador, where everybody goes to
bed with the early bird and gets up before
him, evening amusements usually end about
the time the fashionable hours begin in our
Northern cities. Therefore, going with some
acquaintance to the theater the other even
ing. we were not much surprised to be called
Tor before the sum had fairly sunk out OF
hight behind the western hills, and hurryins
with the crowd across the plaza to be gree ted
by display OF Roman candles, pinwheels
and other familiar devices looking strangely
unfamiliar In the garish light Of DAY.
San Sulvador's Theater.
San Salvador's rather handsome thester.
Banking che side of the Plaza de Morazan Is
subsidized by the government and very lib
orally patroniZed, being the only place OF
public amusement in the city. Looking at its
graceful facade, adorned with emblematic
paintings. one can hardly believe that every
bit of the big building was made in San Fran
cisco, Cal. transported thence iii sections by
steamers, landed in the cage at La Liber-
tad. hauled over the hills on the backs of
mules, and finally put together again, like
the pieces Of a Chinese puzzle. The much
crhamented interior is very pretty, oil white
and gold and ose-garlande1 frescoes; but the
dim illumination OF poor kerosene detracts
somewhat from the effect. One of it's unique
features is the arrangement for mourners, by
which tereaved families, supposed to be Sc
cluded from the world in the sacredness OF
their grief may attend the play unseen by the
audience For this purpose each of the lower
proscerium boxes is faced with a netting CT
fine wire, which completely screens it's &C.
cupants from view while affording them a
tolerable view Of all that is going on. Every
year two or three opera companies from
Italy or France, make the tour of Central
America, and are enthusiastically received in
salvador. But the Eiost popular "funciones
as they are called, are given by local anna
tours, the programmes: being made up of vo-
cal and instrumental music, recitations, and
original poems and orations. The latter are
invariably the most popular features of the
occasion and usually the affairs are arranged
on purpose to give some aspiring young ora
tor a chance to "show off, There is great
deal Of rivalry, too, among the local poets and
poetcsses. each having his or her own clique
OF admirers ("faciOnes'), who consider it a
solemn duty to applaud their favorite to the
echo and to hiss all rivals down, however
MeritOrCus.
When Rival Orators Appear.
When two Of these popular idols appear
upon the same platform of an evening. as
they often do, feeling runs so high among
these exctable people that sometimes vio-
lence results and the standing army" has
to be called cut to quell the tumult. Love CT
country is a theme Of which the Salvadorans
never tire. The subjects Of all the orations
and poems are patriotic, and the programmes
of most public entertainments are made up Of
patriotic songs and national airs of local COM
position. scores and all.
The nation has a dozen or more Fourths Of
Julys. memorial days, or the anniversaries
of historical events, sometimes two or three
celebrations occurring in month. Every
body joins in the demonstrations; places Of
business are closed, work is suspended, streets
and houses are decorated, high mass is said
in the churches, professions and patriotic
0r4kiOns fill the rest of the day, and the
evening is closed with fireworks, banquets,
and balls. The two greatest festas of the
year are Christmas and the feast of San
vaior. The latter is celebrated much as our
Independence day used to be, and still is in
some parts of the country: except that here
the hours from sunrise to noon are devoted to
religious services in all the churches, the
Bishop himself officiating in the cathedral.
After mass, festivities hold high carnival,
cock fights, bull-bating, dancing by daylight
in the open air, while great deal of powder
is squandered in salutes by the artillery, fire.
works, and "bombas" as frecrackers arc
called. and if it doesn't wind up In another
revolution, the excited populace dividing into
factions and rushing to arms on one pretext
or another, the government considers itself
lucky.
The Fair of San Miguel.
The annual fair of San Miguel which occurs
aext month February, is always a notable
event, being not only national anniversary,
i5ut the greatest market season of the year,
Md the occasion of prolonged and universal
festivities. The fair lasts two weeks and is
attended by buyers and sellers from all pa is
Of Central America. The importing houses
always have their representatives present on
such occasions, planters and haciendadoes
come in from distant estates, and Indians
flock to the capital with their indigo and
palsam, the latter product peculiar to Saliva
dor. The days are occupied with trading and
military parades and martial music; the
nights with theatrical performances, balls
concerts, and gambling. Every Salvardorian
from knee high to the grave, plays cards;
and no man, woman, or child ever sits down
10 game without stakes of some sort.
While thousands of dollars are changing
Aands in this way among the wealthy mer-
chants and planters, their servants and poems
ire gambling away their scanty wages, theil
clothes, everything which they possess
ladies play in their parlors and patios, risk
ing their jewels, dresses, and often articles
of furniture after their pin money Is gone; anG
even the naked children in the streets are
swapping firecrackers and toys on games Of
chance. Bull fighting Is nominally forbidden
by law in Salvador, but the fact remains
that at fairs and other occasions which RIM
crowds of the lower classes together the
cruel sport prevails. .''
Bull-FiEhts and the Gifded Youths.
The cock pits and the Plaza de Toros Il
there is a bull fight are invariably crowded e1
suit3nH Wand up to the religious perform
ances, az often the best people are fount
among tho spectators, particularly the swell
young mem, who ruin themselves with reck
less betting and then brag about it, as in
dicatirL courage. generosity, and other ad
mirable traits. It is the fashion for tn
"gilded youth to keep game birds and en-
ploy professional cock fighters to train an
handle them.
Christmas is another great day in Salvador
Festivities commence at midnight, with tn
ringing of bells and the booming of canno
and the sending off of rockets and roman can
dies. beginning with the cathedral clock O
the stroke of L.. Everybody attends mas
long before sunrise, and the first glimmer @
dawning secs the sweets full of gaily dresse
people, salusing one another and exchangin
The compliments Of tie season by THROWN