New-York tribune., 1900-04-15
HOLY WEEK IN SAN JOSE.
A STRANGE COMBINATION OF RELIGIOUS
FERyoR AND MEDIEVAL IDOLATRY.


and luxuriance. at elevation of nearly five
thousand feet above the sea, lies the picturesque
city of San Jose de Costa Rica. the capital of a
land whose natural resources are boundless. as
its name implies. Its people, like those of most
Spanish American countries, mixed race,
made up of the pure blooded Castians, half
breeds negroes. the native Indians and a
strange commingling Of all these four Such
people the Indians and the mixed races espe-
cially, superstitious; to them religion is
most intense emotion, full of strange beliefs and
fallacies; which, perhaps. explains why their
ideas of truth of right and wrong, differ so from
those of the sterner North. In consequence,
they naturally make great deal of the holy
days of their Church be they days of fasting
or rejoicing: and especially they celebrate with
much pomp and show such festivals as Christ
mas and Easter, such days OF fasting as Good
Friday and Holy Week.
At San Jose Holy Week at least when was
there many years ago. and doubtless now. for
Spanish countries change not, was observed
with the most intense religious fervor- The
story of Christ's last days upon earth was then
acted out in full, from Palm Sunday to the
death of Judas Iscariot and the Resurrection
Easter morning.
Upon that Easter morn 1 was awakened about
3 o'clock by the continuous noise of crackers.
the firing of guns and pistols, the harsh' tune
less jangling of bells, the explosion OF bombs
and by the general uproar from many human
throats l knew full we'll that San Jose
alive and tireless, and gladly welcoming in the
day of its Saviour's resurrection-no, the end
of Lent. | was in the street, where 1t
seemed if all the male portion of San Jose
had congregated to rejoice in right good earnest.
resurrection or no resurrection: for San Jose
was now making up for its long enforced fast
and general deprivation of the good things of
life. and tipsy songs and tumult were the order
JUDAS HANGING IN EFFIGY.
The day was just breaking, and by the dim
light L saw that everybody drifting toward
the plaza, whittier l naturally went. too Well
idle curiosity repaid. for there 1 saw a sight
in these religiously lukewarm North
ern lands-the body of the suicide Judas a
make believe Judas only-an effigy. hanging
from the tree, the outstretched of lofty,
misshapen gibbet- There doubtless a real
object lesson here, but 1 failed properly to ap-
preciate it. Judas dressed in long boots
with trousers tucked therein black body coat
black tie, black kid gloves. with gold trimmed
spectacles his nose. and his head stove
pipe hat, while in his right hand he held a slight
rod not much than a reed, in fact This
reed may have been intended to typify a scep-
tire, the grasping after greater power perhaps a
dictatorship; for the efigy of Judas made
up to represent former Secretary of State
accused by his opponents of trying to bring on
a revolution in his favor. Needless to say
this former secretary the wrong
side politically and had left his country for his
country's good-and his own
soldier kept guard beneath this mock Judas
holding the end Of long black cord depending
from of the betrayer's boots. The crowd
well he rDe hing e iS
ly waited Just the rose above the noun
tainS the soldier touched the cord with a burn
ing match. and fzZ! bang, the unfortunate effigy
exploded in a mass of flames and spitfires,
ing to the ground with a rush. where everything
except the heavier parts OF the boots was
quickly consumed, from which l infer they had
been previously well soaked in nitre When
poor Judas thus came to earth the crowd rushed
in Immediately, saving what relics they could
but who captured the gold trimmed spectacles
failed to
Having thus satisfied their truly Christian
feeling of revenge the crowd moved off to the
cathedral to attend mass, whittier I followed
them leisurely, finding 10 my regret that | had
arrived too late for the resurrection, which had
taken place while was watching Judas, How
belt, | stayed through this beautiful early ser
vice. where two military bands taking the place
OF organ filled the edifice with solemn touch
Ing music. yet infinitely grand. Thus with the
rising of Christ and Holy Mass at the Sepul-
chre ended the long story told since Palm Sun
nd San InSG rela sod from dow