The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-09-24
RECENT PUBLICATIONS.
The Peuiteutes.

sons only demonstrate the fact of their own
blindness. Those whose eyes are open
know that no land offers greater or more
picturesque variety of conditions. They
see in close contrast the princely magnifi
cence of millionaire life and the New York
tenements swarming with foreign inmi-
grants not yet assimilated-a class.
by the way, far less miserable in its dirt
and squalor than magazine social sclen-
lists would have us believe: they see the
half-civilized element just now prominent
in the Pennsylvania mining region; they
see the Unique relation of whites and
blacks in the Southern States; they see
innumerable social grades between the
highest and lowest, and marvel at the
variety rather than the monotony.
Louis How, whose name is new In fic-
ton, is one who has ability to recognize
this picturesqueness when he finds IT. As
the theme of his story, THE Penitentes of
San Rafael" he has chosen an episode in
the history of a colony of Mexican Cath
olics, which he locates in the San Luis
valley. in southern Colorado. This colony
belongs to the sect known as "Penitentes.' .
which has considerable numerical strength
had wandered many years before. The
distinctive popularity of their form OF
worship is the periodical representation,
by actual imitation, of the passion and
crucifxion of Christ. A man is chosen
from among them. sometimes by lot, some
times by supposed miraculous designation,
who, after elaborate religious ceremonies.
Is made to take up heavy cross and
wander in the wilderness for forty days.
being fed scantily by the priest during that
time on the bread and wine of the euchar-
list. Throughout the same period the other
members OF the community fiagellate them
selves and undergo other forms of pen
ance. AT the end of the forty days the
man is nailed to the cross while solemn
religious rites are performed: 1t does not
appear that there is a definite purpose
To deprive him Of life, but the crucifxion.
added to his exposure and starvation, COM
monty produces that result, and the vic
tim is buried with honors and large
cross raised above his grave.
The attempt to carry out this plan of
cruci1xion at San Rafael is made the
central incident of Mr.. How's story. He
describes the little settlement with q
sympathetic touch. The priest is particular
is we'll portrayed; he is fanatical, but is
nevertheless wise and kindly to his simple
minded followers. For various reasons,
mainly the opposition of more civilized
neighbors. the crucifixion ceremonies had
not been undertaken for several years, but
this season, as told in these pages, it was
decided to resume the old custom. The
methods of procedure preliminary to the
choice of a substitute Christine meetings
where the worshipers. looking for a divine
manifestation, rose to the point of relig-
fous ecstasy, and the subsequent drawing
by lot-are wildly set forth and form
novel chapters in modern fiction.
News of the projected event reached the
ears of an idle tourist lettering about the
region. and he. feeling that so barbarous an
a series of happenings that eliminated al
San Rafael on the morning set for the
crucifxion. One of his steps to visit
the Jesuit College at Denver and inform
the dignitaries there of the act that was
being planned by branch of their faith
Another was to notify United States army
authorities stationed at a post not far dis
tant AS consequence a detachment OF
troops made their appearance at Antonio
the nearest railway station to San Rafael
near the date fixed for the Penitentes
celebration, and at the same time came
Jesuit priest. His purpose, ostensibly
was the same as that of the troops, but
in reality it was his purpose not to prevent
the crucifixion, but to have ii go on and
have the leaders punished afterward, or
the theory that the moral lesson would
be greater. He. therefore. pursued
course of duplicity with the intention OF
deceiving the officer in charge of the squad
of soldiers. Mormon settlement became
mixed up in the affair. and circumstances
a
of Mormons arrived on the scene just as
the ceremonies were under way, but before
the final and browning act had taken place
Some dramatic force is lost at this point
through dwelling too much on details
preliminary to this arrival, and there is g
lack of clearness as to the meaning of GER
tain movements on the part of the Jesuit
and others-all giving the impression of q
much longer passage of time before the
climax than was possible, and thus rous
ing the readers impatience. The outcome
however. is forceful and impressive
The love interest of the story comes in
Dolores, Mexican, or. she called her
self. Spanish girl, as distinguished from
the half-breeds. Dolores is of the GARNER
type, ready TO beguile any male creature
even a priest. In the first chapter one OF
her lovers kills another and takes to flight
but she does not mourn for either. anC
| mirer at San Rafael. where she has gon,
under the wing of the priest This third
lover is the man who is afterwards chosen
for the honor of personating Christ at tn.
crucifixion Another young woman, one
Fay Grady. a servant and evidently Z
favorite with the author but not a con
vincingly drawn character, brings com
pllcatiOnS into the tale. Another person
age, also plainly liked by Mr.. How, :.
Lieutenant STANCES, lively youth who's,
propensity for love-making to any wearel
| of petticoats lends the comedy element Il
the story. He is cleverly drawn, and i:
attractive and realistic, but in the effor
| to make him true to life the author goes
step further than is necessary by ma kinf
him profane of speech. Pofanity and slang
| no doubt, belong to the phases of life de
| picted, but they add nothing to the strength
| or virility of a book, and in putting 81
much of this form of speech. IL il must b,
| used at all. into the mouth of n man who's,
West Point training is elsewhere EN-
| phasized. rather than into the language o.
the Mexicans and rougher characters is 1
| mistake. This however, is minor faul
| in what as a whole is an unusually enter
| tanning stOry--one which is worth readin,
both as story and as picture of un
| familiar phase of contemporaneous life
| Except for the obvious modernness of tn,
| soldiers and some of the properties of tn,
| tale 1t seems like leaf from the history o
the middle ages Here, for instance is :
passage which, when detached from tn
context. would never be suspected of bein,
| a nineteenth century happening in America
THE boy siezed the rope; and as pea
| after muffied peal beat forth beyond tn
| roof above them, Paez without n word hi
face set laid hold of the huge cross top
pied It slowly over, and hand over hand le
| IL gradually down toward him. until tn
beam turning rested on his shoulder TIN
| cross-bar down In front, exactly as vol
may see in the Station of tho Cross DRAG
| ging the heavy weight behiIo him. he 20
slowly down out of the chancel and step b,
step trailed down the aisle and out of tn
| open door-behind him the priest in hi
! green chasuble holding up his fingers i,
| blessing. As the door. though high enough
was not broad enough, the cross had to b.
| carefully manipulated through. This Pae
| managed win unheeding pains. So Their
was left in the dim, heavy-smelling churcl
| only the scarlet-robed, dark-faced nttl
| acolyte, who pulled and relaxed on his tau
bell-rope, trying 10 see but not seeing wha
| was being done outside. When. however
4 he afa