The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-04-16
A COSTA RICAN SPA.
HOW OUR LATIN NEICHBORS
USE THEIR HOTSPRINGS. i
Burial Ceremonles-HOwa Church of Eng
land Man Got Cunsecrated Ground-Ad-
vice About Stage Coach Riding in Prlma.
tive Countries. ~.


Derore visiting the famous Aguas Calientes
(hot springs), which lie about three miles
southeast of Carriage, and several hundred
feet below. it, near the brink Of the river
that threads the valley. A much patron
.ized tramway connects the spa with the old
city, but by far the better way is to go in the
saddle, or, better yet to trudge out on foot
very early In the morning, make day of it,
and return by mule car after sunset. In
recent years, since the completion Of the
railroad from the coast, and the consequent
tnnux or foreigners, fine brick hotel has
been erected at the springs, equipped with
plenty OF bath tubs, and most modern con-
Ven1ences. 1t is called the Belle Vista (beau-
tl1ul view, and never was name more appro-
PrlateIy applied, for the prospect on every
hand-the towering volcanoes and smiling
valleys and verdure Of endless summer-is as
enchanting anything this beautiful world
can snow. During the season, that is, before
the annual rains set in, the great hotel is
crowded with guests, from all parts of Cen
tral America, not only because it is the fash
lon' as our people flock to Saratoga and other
tesorts lor soclal pleasures, but also for the
penent or the waters, which are considered
sovereign remedy for govt, rheumatism.
anu cutaneous diseases. All lovers of the
picturesque, however, will agree with me
that the primitive adobe structure which has
peen used as bathhouse since time out of
nind' ana IS gulltless Of every modern an
pllance, Is much more in accord with "the
eternal ntness Of things in these romantic
regions. It's uncouth tubs Of brick and plas :
Yer are supplied with water, hot, cold, or
tep!d, IN rather ingenious way A very large
spring which issues, boiling, directly from
the rock, Is inclosed within high. adobe
wall, mus making huge steaming caldron
or cstern of it. A little way above is
similar cistern, filled with cold water from
the river, so to give the necessary nres-
sure, and also to regulate, through woocen
troughs the amount of hot or cold water tn
Ploouce the deslSed temperature in the baths
IN us normal state the water Is about lee
: uesrees Fahrenheit. 1t is very soft and
D asleetlole 10 the touch, and has the taste of
aualed eggs common to a preponderance of
sulphur and iron.
"Field of Saints"
Another place which should be visited he.
lore saying final adios to Cartago ia the
ola Campo Santo (Field of Saints). within
whose walls lie the mortal remains of MANY
OF our countrymen. Passing in through a
cnapel OF WhiteWashed adobe, whose door is
always surrounded by beggars and vendors
or lottery tickets, you find a very bare and
grim GODS acre, for these good Catholic folk
care little for the Earthly prison" after the
soul has escaped therefrom and make few ut.
snad p's TO Deautlry the resting places of their
oead. In the chapel corridor, in an honored
place amid Cartago's dear departed" re-
Pose the bones OF an Englishman. named
balllle, who, quite by accident, secured for
nlmself christian burial in a land where here
49, oIoo VI alive, receive small cOnSidera-
ZION. 1t happened in this way: Mr.. Baltic
was coffee buyer who had accumulated CON-
SIDERABLE property during his residence IN
COSTA Hlca knowing that death was near he
sent Tor the alealdi to draw up his last will
O.. seStament IN regular form for the bene-
~ ol MS helrs. The alealdi, according to
custom, asked the dying man if he was a
Chrlstlan, meaning, of course. Roman
Cathollc, as people Of any other faith ara not
toGsloered Christians in this country. Be-
, ng d stanch adherent of the Church of Eng
1ard, and, therefore, of the true fold a.
cordlng to his own belief, Mr. Baltic promnt-
~ answered Yes to the alealdi's nuastion
ana was legally recorded as Senior J. J Rail
ne, Catolico Romano, Apostolico Chr,stianon
T 1gnGiant OF his unintehtional deception, the
cnsllshman gave up the ghost in full eniov-
ment OF the Episcopal faith, and thers was
great rejoicing in Catholic Carriage over his
supposed death-bed conversion. His friends
sald nothing knowing how difficult it was
a. tne tlme TO obtain decent burial for So
called heretics, and, indeed 1t Isl doubtful :.
any protest on their part would have bee,
listened to, for the alealdi's word was smf-
nclent evidence of Mr.. Baillie's orthodoxv
SO ne was buried in consecrated ground n,ith
~ ahe ene ceremonlals Of the Romish church. amid
cnoral service and clouds of incense. The
Whole city attended with crucifixes. banners
swinging censers, and figures of saints and a.
tne corners OF the plaza and all the nrincinol
streets the concourse halted to sing halle
du}ans, representing the Joy in heaven over
orand snatched from the burning.
"A Young Chicagoan,s Fo+e
Not so we'll Jared young American WIN
bniii; ~ tnis Guy not long afterward. He was
brilliant, whole-souled fellow. the on1v CO
OF wealthy Chicagoan, who had stravad
Gown mere in spirit Of youthful adventvro
and fallen victim to some local calent,,ro
AS ne was not Catholic, the vicar of Carriage
refused him burial in consecrated ground
mat time the only American resident ~ tho
place was DR.. Bridley, in whose house the
young man died The doctor fastened tn So
Jose, the capital. making a special point on
me treaty which existed between the United
OBTAINED an order from the President for the
Cnlcagoan.s 1nterment in the Campo Santo
out stlll the vicar, acting, as he said under
higher power than that Of the President.
refused to ADMIT the hereto corpse to the
cemetery Meanwhile, in this land of sun
shine, the dead body was becoming q horror
and menace to the health of those who
guarded 1t. A mouL ed messenger was dis
patched with all speed to San Jose, with the
result tnat two companies of Federal troops
were ordered out to escort the corpse to it's
grave, In spite Of the vicar. The people gath
cred in scowling groups and threatened to
mob the soldiers; but the body was safely
Inferred, and for several weeks was guarded
night and day by bayonets. The grave is the
third from the entrance, and it is marked by a
plain white stone; but doubt if it holds any
"remains,' for the soldiers could not watch
1t forever. The day after the funeral the dis
gusted vicar, with concourse of citizens
went in solemn procession and reconsecratet
their field Of saints" which had thus beer
polluted by the presence of an unbeliever
Mortuary Ways.
All funerals are occasions of great cere.
mony in Costa Rica. Printed notices, lad.
visos,' they are called, are posted upon til,
outer walls Of churches and casas like an.
nouncements of an opera or bullfight, ant
black bordered, cross-bedecked, printed in
vitations are sens to all the acquaintance O.
the deceased. The priests charge large fe,
for attendance proportional to the means o
the family; and when the relatives are poor, i
Is considered no disgrace to solicit contribu
lions to pay the funeral expenses The spec
tacle OF beggar, sitting at a church door, o
street corner, asking aims to pay for buryin,
his wife or child, Is common; and quite q
often one may see the bereaved father carry
ing in his arms to the cemetery the cofi
If his little one, not being able to pay TO
both priest and carriage, and the forme
is indispensable. 4
Another familiar sight in Cartago is th
death procession. When one is dying hi
friends send for a priest to administer th
last sacrament. The priest responds at ono
to the call, for q substantial consideration
not, however, as silent minister of grac
and consolation, but accompanied by a bras
band and rabble Of boys, the latter ringin
bells and chanting hymns. Band and bell
boys head the procession. closely followed