The Republican journal., 1897-12-16


great reinedy-Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescrp-
tion
Dr. Pierce's Pellets cure constipation
corpse to its grave in spite of the vicar
The people gathered in scowling groups
and threatened to mob the soldiers; but
the body was safely inferred, and for sew
eral weeks was guarded night and day by
bayonets. The grave is the third from
the entrance, and is marked by plain
white stone; but doubt it if it holds any
remains '-for the soldiers could not
watch it forever. The day after the fun
eral the disguised vicar, with concourse
OF citizens, went in solemn procession
and reconsecrated their "Field of Saints
which has thus been polluted by the
presence of an unbeiiever.
An funerals are occasions of great cere-
mony in Costa Rica. Printed notices.
''avisos," they are called-are posted
upon the outer wall of churches and casas,
like announcements of an opera or a bull
fight, and black bordered cross bedeck-
ed printed invitations are sent to all the
acquaintance of the deceased The
priests charge large fee for attendance,
proportionate to the means of the family,
and when they are poor it is considered
no disgrace to solicit contributions to pay
it. The spectacle of a beggar, sitting at
a church door, or street corner, asking
aims to pay for burying his wife or child,
is common; and quite as often one may
see the bereaved father carrying in his
little one-not being able to pay for
priest and carriage too, and the former
is Indispensable. Another familiar sight
in Carriage is the death procession. When
one is dying, his friends send for priest
to administer the last sacrament. The
priest responds at once to the call-for a
substantial consideration, not, however, as
a silent minister OF grace and consolation,
but accompanied by d brass band and
rabble of boys, the latter ringing bells
and chanting hymns.
Band and bell boys head the procession,
closely followed by two acolytes, one bear
ing a crucifx, the other swinging an in
cense- urn. Then comes the priest in all
the glory of sacramental vestments, seat
ed in chair, which is covered with can
opy and carried by four men. In his hand
he holds the Host-sacred emblem of the
body of Christ-under napkin; and at
its approach everybody in sight kneels,
says an Ave Marie, and then joins the pro-
cession. Reaching the house of aff1iction,
the band and bell ringers stand outside,
keeping up all the racket they can, while
the priest followed by the crowd, enters
the chamber of death, administers the
sacrament and absolves the passing soul.
Then all return to the church in the order
they came, and as before everybody with
in sight and sound of the holy procession,
falls upon his knees and mutters prayer.
Wishing to pay some visits which would
necessitate detours from the straight road
between Carriage and San Jose, we decid-
ed to return to the capital by diligencia,
rather than the newer and easier route by
rail. The rickety coach that still runs
between, via Paraiso and the valley of
Orosi, is extremely poor in the matter of
springs, but rich beyond compare in paint
ed colors-red, black and yellow. 1t is
furnished with cushions and curtains of
leather cracked and grimy, and with
miles upon miles of rope-the propelling
power being a mule and two horses, the
mule in the middle. The driver is stun
ming figure, in gray jacket deliberately
braided, leather breecheS trimmed down
the outside seams with rows of buttons
and jingling coins, military sash of red
silk, and a Panama hat of enormous size,
circled by silver cord as thick as your
thumb. Here is bit of excellent advice,
dear reader. Whenever you travel by dill
igencia, in any part of the world, always
make it a point to sit beside the driver
if that important functionary can be in
duced by love or money to let you. No
matter how the sun may shine, or clouds
may lower, OF dust may sting,-take my
word for it, the outside is infinitely pre-
ferable to the jolts and bumps and head
aches and nausea to be endured within. Do
you ask, how can circumscribed, femi-
nine drapery admit of climbing to that
lofty perch, away up above the great
wheels, with never a ''step" between?
Easily enough, if you only know how,
though, like the writer, youIbe not of the
''airy, fairy Lillian type. Put one foot
on the hub, the other on the wheel, give
your right hand to the driver aloft, while
the other manages the drapery aforesaid
IA long pull, strong pull" and there
you are. Possibly when arrived at the
journeys end your nose may be sun
blistered, your hair blousy and your raj