The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-05
BLESSING ANIMALS.
1T is AN ODD, OLD AND LAUGHABLE
MEXICAN CUSTOM.

Pigs, Chickens, Bulls, Asses and Ca
nary Birds All Come Yearly Dress
ed in Caps, Coats and Steamers to
BE Blessed by the Priest.
New York. Nov. S.-One of the most
| laughable sights in the world is the bless
ing of the animals on ST. Raymund day,
the SOth of August. in Mexico. For weeks
beforehand one hears of it as among the
Oldest, oldest and most not-to-be-missed
| spectacles of that land of festas and
quaint customs; and as the day approaches
| the entire neighborhood about the ancient
church where the ceremony takes place
assumes a festal air with strings of many
colored tissue paper, cut in shapes, stretch
ed across the narrow streets, and stalks
of carrizo-the Mexican bamboo-outlining
the doors and low roofs of the houses.
The ordinary dwellings of the cities and
towns of Mexico lend themselves pleas
anuy to any schemes of decoration the
soft pinks, green's, blues, reds, and espe-
clally the deep yellows of the plaster COW
ering their adobe walls, forming a lovely
! background to the banderas and lace cur
tains hanging from every window and bal
cony. The church, "Sas Nieres," La
| Soledad." La Sangre de Christie" or
perhaps, ia catedraP' itself, is hoary with
years; its massive stone towers and their
ever-jangling bells, looking down for CEN
turtles on many a revolution and scene of
turbulence. Within it is rich with gold
and queer old Spanish paintings--some-
times with jewels of price, a pear shaped
pearl of brilliant set in the meek fore
head of the virgin over the altar.
But the beasts, of course, do not enter
the sacred place; they assemble outside
in t1ocks and herds, a motley collection,
an unequaled menagerie. They begin their
journey early in the day, choking the
streets and roads-horses big and little,
paper sashes about their-shall we say
waists-at any rate, bodies; their tails
braided with ribbons and names intertrm-
med with flaming paper roses. A bull,
lowering and red-eyed, gorgeous in a GRIM
son red blanket, and streamers on his
wicked-looking horns; dogs, dogs, of all
sorts and conditions, hundreds of them,
from the huge mastif down to the tiny
puppy squeezed in the arms of a dirty but
eager diminutive lad-all clad in Josephs
coats and hats of many colors, or their
bodies painted in cheerful stripes and
splashes of yellow and red-all very low
and AFFECT as to their minds But very
say anu ANSllNS dS iGSdIuS llIlr outward
seeming. Then there are cats and kit
tens, in long dolly dresses and very frilly
caps tied under their reluctant chins, their
solemn round eyes staring unblinkingly
out from under the frills; and birds nests
galore-love birds, knocking BIRDS cana
ries. all in cages beribboned and be-fow-
cred.
But funniest of all are the chickens In
peaked caps of paper tied also under
their feathery chins-their sharp beaks
and beady eyes inside the paper ruffles
CONFUSING you with laughter. They are
varied hue, and pink and green paper gar.
tiers are tied about their wretched drum
sticks in large bows. Here comes wild
ly struggling brownish grayish beast--a
coyote, poor creature! straining and gnaw-
ing at his chain, and forcibly assisted
from the rear with sharp sticks in the
hends of a mob of delighted small boys
Calves, family of young ducks, goats.
parrots loudly protesting from their bow
cry tin houses, Pigs squealing defiance-a
molly procession, all gaudy with paint and
bits of gay rag and paper-and all crowd
ing toward a small latticed window in the
upper facade Of the church
Presently appears a white-robed prizes,
inside; he spreads his hands in BLESSING
for a moment while an attendant holds
aioft a silver crucifix; a burst of music
from the state band stationed near--A
pause, while the cura looks down solemn,
ly on the multitude waiting below. The
tiniest twinkle draws up the corner of one
eye, and small wonder, for how any NOR
tai man can gaze upon that ridiculous
medley of sacred, squawking, squealine
things, without grinning cannot be imae
ined. Then taking a large brush, the
priest fills it full of holy water and sprin-
kles it far and VIDE, while the anxious
owners below push, pull, holdup and
thump their respective charges to catch
cen but the smallest drop of the precious
liquid. A few murmured words of bless
ing with palms outstretched and the cere-
mony is over, only to be repeated after
the lapse of a few moments over an even
larger, pushing, forcing mass of heads and
people, while those who have had their
turn melt away on their homeward trip
and the sweet strains of The band drown
the pandemonium of discord made by the
beneficiaries of the blessing, who scarce
ly appear to properly appreciate their new
made sanctity. All the same, however.
they are purified and made. ready for an,
other year, at the end of which they win
again come in their paint. trappings. 10
collect a little drop of water and "a liz
tie grain of blessing" May we be there
to see! T. Smith.