New-York tribune., 1900-04-15


yelping barking. fighting. restless feverish-
ness was upon al-upon the dogs, especially
which ba ted not until toward the waning of the
afternoon they were able in solemn procession
to follow Christ from the Hall of Judgment to
Calvary.
The whole story, even to the end of His life
now marches forward without pause or break
The figure of Christ, / regretted to see. for
had looked for something more realistic, more
in keeping with His divine personality, was
only an image-and an Indifferent one at that
made of papier mache. This image, with
paper cross in it's arms. carried a plat
form by four men, while Immediately behind
came images of His mother the Virgin Mary,
Mary Magdalene and the disciples prominent
among whom was he whom Jesus loved. These
were all, well. made of unmistakable papier
mache; not the widest flight of the imagination
could take them for men and women-or wax
Grouped about the disciples were fully
two hundred young girls nihas, as they are
called in Spanish. Behind these maidens came
the President of Costa Rca with his staff and
all the foreign consuls, as well as officers and
dignitaries of both State and city. Then came
a platoon of military headed by two regimental
bands playing mournful. funereal music; then
the multitude, with uncovered heads.
Around the plaza they went three times,
marching with painfully slow and solemn steps
i was of them, with my soft hat under my
arm A little variety put into this mourn
full procession by the accidental meeting with a
young girl upborne on a platform by four men
she was a real girl, nina not a paper make
believe one-who, approaching Christ. passed her
handkerchief across His face to wipe off the
sweat; and 10 and behold, miracle. for on it
imprinted the features Of the Saviour
when the dazzed, awestricken multitude had
tI,o ,It ,Ycsh bI1t
counterpart of the original, Do not less than
six separate cathedrals in Europe claim that
particular handkerchief Surely in the multi
tude of witnesses there must be truth.
INSTRUCTIVE FOR THE PEONS.
Alas and alas for the inroads of education.
The natives of Spanish descent, of whom there
many present, beheld this seeming miracle
with complete Indifference. To them it was but
little better than charlatanry and nonsense
Beautiful and Instructive as all this is to the
poems and the poor unlettered Indians, yet
am sorry to say that in these late years the
touching pageant is fast becoming a meaning
less show, as the following well illustrates
AS the Saviour entered the cathedral. where
was represented the Crucifixion on Cavalry. the
holy and best beloved apostle, St John, was
little behind, and to catch up his bearers broke
into 4 sharp trot. AS result poor St John
was badly Jared and tumbled about, appearing
most undignifed. and the multitude gathered
about the cathedral door broke into loud
laugh destroying the solcmnity of the whole
thing.
When St John had thus rapidly entered, the
crowd poured in behind and packed the
thedral; while up by the chancel rails the story
of the Crucifixion graphically told. Moth
ing omitted: the paper image of Christ was
nailed to the cross the cross upreared, with
crucified paper thief either hand. and He
left to die, guarded by a Roman centurion
and his soldiers. the Virgin Mary. Mary Mag
centurion. soldiers. saints and all. After this
a solemn mass said and the story of the
day was finished
Then the multitude filed out: the cathedral
was left dark and empty for a faint light
lowering around the chancel. and the sombre
figures of few watching priests and silence
brooded over the city that night for it was a
time of mourning in La Villa Real de San Jose
de Costa Rca.
A deep solemnity, almost gloom, resembling
the still darkness that often precedes d
storm, brooded everywhere: nor did il
end until the d&wning of Easter morn. when to
drink and become drunken seemed a most right
eOus thing TO do.
young man | had met that morning in the
oathedral-he was a Havanese and. moreover.
was partly intoxicated. in this being no excep-
f, tion to the masses-said to me, Il always feel
like crying when l see this Easter celebration.