The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-20

and wavering as n fearful Of its own sound
rises In weird monotone which 10 hardi
heard above the murmur OF the crowd, bu
the notes soon become clear and steady
the whisperings and stunning Of feet cease
ana in language no longer understood
but still felt by the spectators, he sings
~ sad life OF the body, o CRUEL world 81
tuli OF perils! Unhappy mel what shall
90 when see my dear Som"
This Is repeated until the procession ar
rives near rude piece OF stage decoration
on the left wall, sort Of trellis covered
with leaves supposed to represent the en-
trance to the Garden Of Gethsemane. wher'
Mary kneels and sings.
20 Holy Gate Of Gethsemane, where thu
Lord was seized and died; cruel treatment
| for the Lord of Israeli
She rises and turns to the left wall. where
a life-size crucinx hangs, and, knseling be-
fore It, sings another couplet, and while
| she Is singing the masters of ceremonies
| advance and wave fans over her head; and
also over tho heads and faces Of the two
| other Marys and the little angels. At last
they reach the Tablador, In the left corner
OF which 10 bed with a white brocaded
silk cover and richly embroidered cushions.
Mary mounts the steps leading to It, and
kneeling on the cushions. sings,
| "A great sorrow has entered my heart.
| filled with love for my dear Son, sorrow
so great that cannot express 1t and desire
| to die"
This desire Is granted. While the Virgin
Ia praying. the organ peals forth, the mill
tnry band plays, and loud roll Of artil-
lery rings out. Heaven has opened, and from
the cupola ~ large blue globe suspended by
golden chains and decorated with heads of
| cherubs, slowly descends. The crowd ap-
plauds wildly at the sight of the mysterious
"Mangrana" (pomegranate). The fruit
opens and the four quarters rise. forming q
spangled dome; in the centre stands an an
gel who scatters shower Of gold pieces,
which are eagerly seized as they fall among
the audience, and sings in strong melo-
dious voice that rings through the building.
Hail Imperial Virgin. mother Of the &C.
lestiN King. I come to salute you In the
namo of your omnipotent Son."
He then tells her that she Is about to die,
and as the Mangrana touches the Tablador
he gives her a golden palm which, he says,
10 to be carried before her at her burial
He then returns to heaven while Mary sings
hymn Of Thanksgiving, and begs that she
may have the Joy of seeing the Apostles be-
fore she leaves the aarth. The quarters Of
the Mangrana close over the angel, heaven
reopens. and the apparition disappears and
the Joyous ringing Of bells, loud strains
from the organ. military music, and the
roar of artillery.
The Caballero standard bearer and the
two chosen ones now 60, according to Gus
tom, to the chapel OF st. Sebastian to fetch
the Apostles.
St. John is the Hrst to arrive; he kneels
at the side of Mary's bed and salutes her:
Honor and homage be given to thee, o
excellent Mother, and may the Lord. who
is master Of the thunder, console thee"
Mary gives him the golden palm, and the
saint calls the other Apostles. They enter
two by two with st. Peter at the head, sing
Ing couplets in which the Latin is curl
ously mixed up with the Catalan dialect.
The Apostles weepIa as they surround the
mother of their Lord; she gazes affec-
tionately on them, and with n long drawn
sigh falls back on her pillow as though she
had dropped of to sleep. The bed opens
and the boy falls through the aperture
into the arms OF men who are stationed
underneath to receive him; at the same in
slant the miraculous statue is put IN place.
and the coup de theatre is 30 quickly &C
complished that It is not seen by the peo-
pie. AS the Apostles separate, the vene-
rated statue Is seen on the bed and Is
greeted with cheers and sobs and clapping
OF hands.
While the Apostles are singing the hea-
vcns again open, and the Araceli, the celes-
tial altar, descends. In the centre stands
an angel dressed in white. on either side
kneels q cherub crowned with flowers. play
ing q guitar and harp, and above them also
kneeing. two white winged angels play the
guitar. They sing three couplets to the
accompaniment Of their own instruments as
the altar descends. clarifying the Mother
of God. whose soul they have come to
fetch. The soul of the Virgin is repre-
scented by dlminutive Madonna, plump and
pretty, dressed in rich silk and wearing a
superb crown Of precious stones The angel
in the centre takes her in his hands. hold
ing her upright. and as she is thus borne
with deafening roar, accompanied by tho
organ, the band, and the bells. And thus
ends the celebration of the first day.
The night Of August IA is night Of de-
exposed on her death bed: around her can
dies are burning and Pickering on the
bright colored garments OF the worshippers
as they press forward in respectful silence
to make their applications All those who
have received any favor from the Virgin.
spiritual or temporal. bring a candle. and
after lighting It at the flame Of one Of those
burning around the Patronsss, leave the
church and form procession through the
streets. All night long this apparently end
less procession with It's myriads Of twink
ling lights winds around the town. and at
o'clock on the morning of August 16 the
grand procession leaves the church. headed |
by a cross bearer. behind whom walk the
Standard Bearer and the two Chosen ones.
followed by the venerable Archpriest of
Santa Maria and the rectors of the other
parishes. After these. walking alone. comes |
ST. John. bearing the golden palm of the |
Virgin before the statue. which is carried |
On the shoulders OF the Apostles. Reclining |
On a richly draped couch, her hands Joined |
On her breast. gorgeously arrayed in |
heavy mantle OF silver and gold, and a gold |
en- halo set with precious stones surround
ng her head the Patroness 10 borne slowly |
through the streets. She Is white and her |
eyes are closed, for to add to the illusion a
ieath mask has boen placed over her face,
which is darkened by time Behind her
come the other two Mariss. whose blue
rains are held up by the little angels. and
behind these walk the clergy, the Ayunta-
niento, the crowd with their lighted can
lies. the artillery. and the band, which
,lays at intervals snatches Of local music.
decided touch Of Moorish melody being
noticeable in most OF the airs.
The church is again filled with people and
looded with lighk on the Tablador the Vir-
Din still lies In the sleep OF death. with the
GOLDEN palm placed at her side. In the cen.
re Of the stage is a large empty space Dor
Tered by a rail- This 10 the tomb that has
'een prepared to receive her body. Priests
nd choristers sing first Vespers, then Com
lime, and during the latter the Apostles ad-
'ance towards the Andador and beckon to
he two Maries who are kneeling below to
DIN them. They mount the Tablador and the
urial commences. st. John has taken the
alm at the request Of st. Peter. and all the