Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-20

some OF the figures being hung with
strings OF Mexican bread, or sausages,
on huge pieces OF scraps intertWlned
with long fuses leading from one figure
Go another, still others have copper
cents these attracting the largest
crowds. Precisely at 10 o'clock The
cathedral bells. which have been silent
from Holy Thursday until then, ring
out Joyous peal. which is taken UP
by the bells Of all the churches AZ
the same moment those I'm Charge Of
the Judases light the fuses. aud 10 the
changing Of the bells IS added the pop
ping OF thousands Of hre-crackers that
blow the Judases into bits, while the
crowds below scramble for bread, meat,
ana pennies. with the burning OF the
Judases Holy Week Is practically
ended. To most OF the people Easter
sunday means no more than any other
Sunday In the year
IL a Mexican visits seven churches on
Holy. Thursday he earns two hundred
and nifty induleences so the churches
are generally well filed. The descrip-
ton Of the scene az the stately lnQulsl-
ton Church Of santo Domingo may be
quoted IN part:
AZ the farther end Of the beautiful
church rose the altar, a blaze OF light
from the floor 90 the golden triangle
whose cleaning nlmbus filled the dome
above. Hundreds of candles, Inter-
spersed with oranges tnsel and glasses
OF newly sprOuted wheat. produced at
first the effect of q wall OF fire. on
platform slightly raised above the floor
stood "a long table.at which were seated
wax and wooden figures Of Christ ana
the eleven disciples the figures being
copied from Leonardo da Nincis Last
supper The table was set with silver
gablets. oranges and little pots OF young
wheat symbolioal OF the resurrection.
The same scene was repeated In every
church
In one corner OF the churchyard Of
the fine old church at Tacuba was a
raised platform on which stood
kitchen chair, a small iron washstand
and tin basin The scene represent
cd the Judgment hall OF PLATE. the Ro-
man governor being represented by a
severe looking Indian In a long robe
who washed his hands In the basin
while the sad faced figure OF Jesus was
being borne into the church by the
curiOusly rObed Jews. I'm a few min
utes the procession emerged from the
church where they had changed the
erect. blue-robed figure Of Christ Tor a
heavy cross This was carried on the
shoulders OF four Indians. Preceding
the image came four Roman soldiers
on very sorry-looking horses, one carry
ing the Mexican flag. After them
came Roman foot-soldlers trying 10
march 10 the music OF a toy drum and
squeaking FIFE. All the soldiers were
gaily decked IN tinsel with tin helmets
supporting yari-colored feather busters.
After the sorrOwful image came long
line OF Indians representing Romans
and Jews, all dressed IN most eXtraor-
binary costumes. OF which tinsel, gilt
paper. and feathers formed the chief
accessories. the Jews being dlstin-
guished by bushy red wigs. As the
procession moved slowly around the
churchyard lt stopped az three stated
places. while the Indians bearing the
sacred image bent 20 the earth. thus
representing the legendary three fans
Of Christ on His way 90 CrlciiNlon
After this the members Of the process
sion and the observers thronged the
church where the figure Of Christ was
left on one side and the heavy purple
veil over the altar was drawn away
revealing the scene Of the CrucitXion
A figure representing Christ hanging
on the Cross. the indicators on either
side stood out distinct In the gloom Of
the church. while a thrill Of horror ran
through the vast throng Some groaned
others wept: no one seemed unmoved
by the tragic scene. Later
IN the day the long curtains before the
altar were drawn. and standing before
them was a solitary figure Of the Nir-
Gin ROBBED In black The gloom, the
silence the pathetic figure were i'm
presslve At one side OF the
church was a rocky tomb ma which lay
the figure Of the Savior, with blood
stained face and mutilated hands and
feet"
SO yearly the tragedy OF Christs suf-
ferings and death IL brought before the
people Of Mexico.