The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-21
A vICARIOUS PENANcE.


In the July Century Stephen Bonsal.
late of the American Legation at Mad
rid. describes "Holy Week i'm Seville"
In describing the, Procession Of Silence.
Mr.. Bonsal says:
But there is one muffled flgsre that
bears the heaviest cross, and walks
painfully with unshod and shackled
feet over the uneven stones, who owing
TO the strange and peculiar penance he
performs, cannot hope to enjoy the
anonymity OF his brother penitents. The
self-imposed penance OF the fathers in
Seville would seem. even as the weight
OF their sins, 10 be visited upon their
children TO the last generation OF their
seed. At least IL is true that the stag
gering youth before us is the twentieth
OF his name and line who has done vi
carious penance for the sins of his fore
father a celebrity OF the sixteenth CEN
tury, who looked ION beauty charm
ing" with the eyes of Don Juan Tenon-
dio. He was finally captured. the legend
relates, by Barbary corsair, and car
ried prisoner to Oran where, manacled
and chained, he spent many long and
weary day wishing that he were dead.
But while he pined hopelessly in prison
he made a solemn vow that. should he
ever regain his liberty. he would walk
barefooted. and humbly bearing his
cross. behind the Christ OF the Great
Power in every madrugada, or morn
ing procession: and. further. he vowed
that he would make the annual accom-
piishment OF this vow a charge upon
his estate for. all time. by providing
that, should any one Of his male de-
scendants fail In its performance, his
portion OF the estate should 60 to en-
rich the foundation OF convent
There have been no defauiters among
the old gallant's heirs; and though the
present bearer OF the proud name Is a
perfumed and scented polio. dude OF
Seville society. he too did not shrink
from the sacrifice necessary TO keeping
the money in the family. And regret
TO say that, as he came meekly along
in this arrange guise his appearance ex-
cited much amusement among the
other pollos. whose Inheritance had
come to them without so unpleasant n
and at the sight OF his bruised
and bleeding feet much money was
wagered on,the question OF whether he
would be able to lead the cot!llion at
the Duke OF Alba's on Easter Monday.
But perhaps the strangest OF all the
army Of silent maskers who followed
the Christ of the Great Power was q
girl OF some IL summers clothed I'm
her communion robes. weird and ghost
" apparel for this the dark hour before |
the dawn. Her eyes were blindfolded,
and. unlike the hoods of the Nazarenes,
there was not left the smallest aper-
ture through which she might look to |
choose and pick her way. She carried |
/ golden chalice in one hand while |
with the other she CROPPED and felt her |
way. Every now and then, mIsled by |
he deceiving echo Of the music, she |
would turn out of the way. now to the |
light, and now to the left. Once she |
stumbled and FELL and when she rose. |
n her confusion. started 10 walk back /
he way she had come; but the Eaza-
enes caught her by the hand. and di- |
ected her on her way again. The little |
,irl in the white communion dress SYM |
,olized that faith which is blind.