Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23

want to rob a train or eiopc with one
OF the pretty sonoritas. This latter nat
urally nrouses the blood OF the Mcx-
lean. and he brings his bowie knife into
action. The orchestra consists OF
violin, guitar and n steel triangle. The
dances. 20 an American, arc compile
Gated. The fsureB are pretty. executed
with apparent ease. ana tho steps are
graceful and in time with the music.
Every square" dance has In 1t more or
less waitsing.
At the casa OF the most prominent
and hospltnbls don IN the pueblo
gran dnnza" IL given. This IL an In
vtntion affair. but the invitations ara
freely sivor. the main object being 10
exclude curiosity acckors. Tho moat
fashionable Spanish danccn constituts
the programme. such 40 Ia Paloma
(the PigeonJ and la Jota. This IN q
very popular dance, ~ 1; permits the
senior to cxprem his admiration fos his
fair partner In rhyme a. they keep
step to the delicious music. In soft.
low tones he whigperr Into her moro or
less willing car some love dlity which
he has mcmorlzcd. OF, perhaps, worse
SIM gone burning words 9r his own
composition fresh from his heart. The
sonofita replies In verne. OF something
that passes for a. Tor they have all
boon ntudyluG Up on love poetry. II IL
pretty custom, and the poetry takes
the place OF much Idle gognlp. The or
chcstra Is usually violin. harp nnc
two guitars-thc hnrplsts and gultarists
being ladies, who are dressed In red
| or blue SILK. With wide s.lkcn scarf
to match cxteadinR over tho bust from
] the right shoulder to the left side. The
ladies do not wear trains In dnnclnr.
The McNicana are artistic and critical.
and they like to see good dancing. They
watch the movements OF the feet. and
when the figures are executed with un-
usual grace n hum OF admiration re-
wards the Honorta. and sometimes a
couple arc applaudcd with crics Of
"Eucnow (GoodJ
In tho meantime the youth OF the
pueblo have been busy In trying Judas
lscariot. This IL an old custom and II
always enacted on Christmas eve. A
gallows has been built In front OF the
cathedral, a court organized and tho
ofiigy OF tho arch traitor. Judas Is
cariot. n placed on trial for his life.
II Ia a foregonc conclusion that Judas
viii be convicted Nevertheless counsel
is appointed for him. The prosecution
/ tlhiN tnAh'N out lNH Chhcs anu suuus
Is condemned 10 be hanged. The pros
ccutor reads what purports TO be tho
last will OF Judas and then offers for
sale to the highest bidder certain value
less articles supposed 10 have belonged
60 the late Iscarlot. The crier enlivens
the auction with remarks on each arti-
Gle. The effects are then placed in
heap and burned. The stuffed cfilgy OF
the friendlcss Judas IL dragged around
the cathedral amid the gibcs. Kisses and
linprecntlons OF the court and spec
tators and finally Is brought 10 the gall
lows and hanged without the benefit OF
clergy. when Judas has been officially
pronounced quite dead. the remains are
tied to the tail OF valueless donkey.
and the efiigy is set on fire. The fren-
ziod donkey makes circuit Of the
pueblo with the burning Judas at his
heels. much TO the amusement OF the
cruel populace. and finally the frlghtcn-
ed animal takes to the woods. and nell
thcr Il nor Judas. ms n rule. Is ever
again seen.
Next morning. Christmas day. tine en-
tire pueblo turns out to early mass.
and few hours later. TO the usual
Christmas services. when the church IL
prettily decorated and the music un-
usually excellent.
In the afternoon the programme OF
amusoments IL resumed.
J. NJ. scANLAND.