New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-09
THE BLACK VIRGIN.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF HER Az
NUAL FIESTA IN MATANZAS, CUBA.

. Correspondence Of The Philadelphia Record.
Early yesterday morning We came over from
Hayana-a four hours run by the Central Ran
/ Way-tO witness the annual fiesta Of la Virgin
Ncgra." the negro Virgin, which IS celebrated
with greater eclat in Matanzas than anywhere
else on the island Nobody seems able 10 ac-
count for cOlOred Mother Of Christ except the
duSky race on earth, who contend that theirs is
the complexion natural TO man, and tho lighter
shades but miserable authorizations. have
seen several representations Of her n the
churches Of Mexico, Peru and Brazil. and doubt
less they exist in other Spanish-Catho'ic coun-
tries. one is prepared for saddle-huei s.. Au-
gustincs, as that worthy was a Moor, but
the raison d'Gtre Of i Black Virgin remains
mystery. She does not appear in tho Cuban
capital, where living negroes abound hut ln
MatanZas, where the sons and daughters *
Ham are comparatively few, there is Il church
IN her honor. 1t STANDS Just beyond NE ou.-
! skirts OF the city, on top Of the ridge that
divides the valley. It built nearly two
centuries ago by a pious Catalan grandee. 10
commemorate some important happening IN
the history of his family. only twice a year
are services held In the old sanctuary-on
March Is and September %; but its doors are
always open, and true believers-mostly Of the
! colored race-cOme daily TO invoke the Viz
| gins blessings. and leave before her shrine
their vOtve offerings Of shells, first fruits, turtle
doves and fragrant flowers.
At MatanZas station selected The leaSt
rickety voante in sight, and drove out quickly
to take look at the famous Virgin in advance
of the crowd. Rafting along the narrow city
through the aristocratic suburb Of Bellamar
ard the squalid purleus beyond, We found the
heat of early spring intense, like that of mid-
summer in Pennsylvania But higher up on
the hill slopes O. breeze blew fresh and cool from
over the Caribbean Sea, and wondered anew
why the good people OF MatanZas did not
erect their homes above the sitting port
QUAINT OLD CHURCH
The Church IF La Virgin Negra is a quaint
structure of time-mellowed stone, surmounted
nd llI W IA all
OF masonry Because Of its position, command
ing a wide view Of city, harhor and adjacent
country. the Spanish soldiers made II re-
doubt at the now historic time When blahcos
mule met its death from American guns. Among
other vandal acts, they cut down many OF tne
gnarled old oaks that once shaded the lnclosuTe
brought, when baby trees. from the BaleaIic
Islands-and knocked down enbrasure5 IN the
walls To-day the interior is bare and cpttE-
less beyond compare. We found the alta!
heaped with sea shells, and the shrine decoraren
10 represent a submarine grotto significant OF
some incident in the history Of the Virgin v no
is believed 10 be particularly mindful 81 seafar-
ing people The sacred image, OF wood, IL
re- Their squat and square with race ana hahos
az inkv bIackness and the incongruOus features
OF blue eyes and a blonde wig. II was sA-
perby dressed in purple satin, emproidrreu
with gold, a jewelled tiara above me yeIo"
curls. and great many rings upon me "oout,I
fingers and strung a chain around the neck
the gifts Of faithful followers.
4 RELIGIOUS CARNIVAL
When we reached the central portion 90 the
town the streets that erstwhile looked SO de-
serted were filled with merrymakers women
in Spanish costumes. wearing harlequin masks
OF black silk. promenaded n bevies or rode ID
carriages throwing kisses and bandylng JOKES
with everybody they met. bOth lr"nuS ana
strangers Presently barbaric music was heard.
a weird Sound. Ike the beating or tonl-t"ms
before a cannibal feast and around me corner
swept motley procession II was hed"eu -
a score Of stalwart negroes, bearing 2loft ef-
fgies Of saints the most honored hgur"S beng
naturally the Black Virgin and 81 Augustine:
Following this advance guard were several
hundred men, women and children. OF a4 condi-
tions and shades OF complexion. Most % Lhs'b
were more or less darkly c0lored' arr VINE =
few sported gorgeous holiday ra'men HidMy
were rather too scartily attired for decency
with here and there a half-grown child as naked
as the minute he was born. All We're shouting
and singing at the tops OF their VOl'es ana
while the leaders kept step with me m9ho,'nous
RHYTHM beating the ground with thelr !OHs
heels like Indians in the ghost dance. the more
excited females were whirling IKE cops Gown
the dusty street in dance 4 Ia Esypuerhe.
Such a heterogeneous crowd! nave seen
King Carnival in many countries. but never
anything like this. The pavements were lined
with well-dresse1 men and women thousalus
of children footed horns and shook NOISY ratueS
like the Mexican metracas, while the barking
of dogs and the shouting OF the popuiace
mingled with the unearthly music. Now ana
then an over enthused negress in the procession
in the wild abandon of the dance, would waltz
out of the line to embrace an innocent onookef.
as regardless Of order AS of comment one or
the funniest sights of the day was the horrihed
.ev nrassion Of countenance Of digDified elderly
Army officer and the disgust Of his prm Amerl-
can wife when n buxom wench spun up 20 the
wsarer of the United States uniform slung her
fat arms around his immaculate collar. ana M
printed resounding smack upon his soidlefy
nuIStache.
An the saloons cafes and casinos were VIA,
open. their tables surrounded by elNllIans anG an.
soldiers Of every nationality drinking hght
wines and smoking cigarettes. Faster grew ne