New-York tribune., 1900-04-15

in the observance Of Good Friday. The city
covered by a pail The stiffness Is funereal.
about noon or soon after the most striking of
all the ceremonials takes place. This is the pro-
cession of the Holy Virgin. Her image. nfesize
and robed in black is carried through the streets
in procession by priests. all In black Following
them walk eighteen canons of the Church, in the
singular costume imaginable. They wear
black caps nearly three feet high, and their sombre
robes have trains from sixteen to eighteen feet in
length. Naturally this requires that train bearer
should follow every canon. Behind them come the
people, and women, all in black and all carry
ing lighted candles. The people who do not join
the procession hestow gifts of money and flowers
on the Virgin with the utmost uberality. Often
II a great singer be in the city she out
her balcony and sings as the image passes her
house. In that case the procession pauses, and
only her voice breaks the silence till her tribute
of song is ended
"A singular feature Of the days observance is
the absence of the sound of bells frequently
heard all other DAYS. The signal for prayers
is made by shaking box with strips Of wood fast
ened loosely upon it. The evening is deathly still,
and by 10 o'clock every light is out and the whole
city sleeps.
THE next day is called The Saturday OF Glory
and the change is wonderful. At 10 o'clock in the
morning all the church bells ring IN what is
termed The Burst OF Glory and at the sound
the gloom vanishes. every drops his knees
matter where he may be-and says three Credos.
The veil Is taken from the altar. the mass is re-
sumed where 1t abruptly ended on Holy Thurs
day and the city abandons itself to music and glad
ness. Easter Sunday seems all music. and the
cial life becomes almost mad whirl of gayety,
If in compensation for the sadness Of the pre-
ceding days. This continues through Monday and
Tuesday. and, indeed through the entire week
In Mexico the ceremonies of Easter week former
ly almost the same but in recent years there
have been many notifications. Charles Albert(
Lopez, the well known sculptor, IS Mexican by
birth and although he came to the United States
when an infant has visited his native land from
time to time. He said yesterday;
Easter has lost much OF its picturesque quality
since the Daz AdTninistratton began. The Church
lost it's power and could not influence the people
as formerly The remote country districts are the
only places where Easter retains anything OF the
old character There they stu have their process
sons with image and banners. their pilgrtmages to
sacred shrines and their gloomy Good Fridays
But in the City of Mexico romance is fast dying
The Church is of little consequence, for IL no
longer owns the properties of olden time.
Then the people in general Were tenants OF the
Went hut now the mouasteries in ruins and
even the prtestly garb is permitted TO be worn
on the street Diaz Is uncrowned king, so greatly
he beloved.
.1The principal Indication OF Easter is the music
in the public squares. all through the week, and
the observnnce in churches and homes. There Is
no social gayety Holy Thursday OF Good Fri
iav but Saturday Easter Sunday and Monday are
Allied with festivities good many still make
the pilgrimage to Amecameca 10 the Church or
the HOLY Mountain. which Is about forty miles
from the City OF Mexico, stopping at all the little
shrines that dotted along the hillside