The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-24


want TO rob a traiA or elope with one
OF the pretty senoritass This latter nat~
urally arouses the blood of the Mex
ican. and he brings hia bowie knife into
action. ~~Thc -orchestfa consists OF a
violin, guitar and steel triangle The
farccs. 10 IAN American. are compi-
Gated. The figures are pretty. executed
Hvhfs sJvsrenf Ease. and the steps are
gracefdl and IN time with the music
Every square" dance has in il more or
less waltzing.
At the casa of the m1st prominent
and hosptable don in the pueblo a
gran danza' Is given. This Is an in
vitation affair. but che invitations are
freely given. the main object being to
exclude curiosity seekers. The most
fashionable Spanish dances constitute
the programme. such as La Paloma
(the Pigeon) and La Jota This is "a
very popular dance. as IL permits the
senor TO express his admiration for his
fair partner in rhyme as they keep
step 10 the delicious music. In soft.
low tones he whispers into. her more or
less willing ear some love ditty which
he has memorized, or, perhaps worse
still, some burning words of his own
composition fresh from his heart. The
senorita replies in verse, or something
that passes for IT, for they have all
been studying up on love poetry. Ii Is
pretty custom. and the poetry takes
the place OF much idle gossip. The or
chestra is usually violin. harp and
two guitars-the harpists and guitarlsts
being ladies, who are dressed in red
or blue silk with "a wide silken scarf
to match extending over the bust from
the right shoulder to the left side. The
ladies do not wear trains In dancing.
The Mexicans are artistic and critical.
and they like 90 see good dancing. They
| watch the NOV ements OF the feet, and
when the figures are executed with un-
usual grace hum OF admiration re-
wards the senorita and sometimes
couple are appaudcd with cries OF
| "Eueno'" (Good)
! In the meantime the youth OF the
! pueblo have been busy In trying JUDAS
Iscariot This is an old custom and is
| always enacted on Christmas eve. A
| gallows has been built i'm front of tho
+, cathedral. a court organized and the
| effigy OF the arch traitor. Judas Is
| CARROT. Is placed on trial for his life.
II Is foregone conclusion that Judas
viii be convicted. Nevertheless counsel
is appointed for him. The prosecution
| easily makes out its case. and Judas
is condemned To be hanged. The pros
ecutor reads what purports to be the
last will OF Judas and then offers for
sale to the highest bidder certain value
less articles supposed To have belonged
TO the late Iscariot. The crier enlivens
the auction with remarks on each arti-
| Gle The effects are then placed in
heap and burned The stuffed efiigy OF
the friendless Judas Is dragged around
the cathedral amid the gibes. Kisses ana
| imprecations OF the court and spec
tators and finally is brought to the gal
lows and hanged without the benefit OK
clergy. When Judas has been officially
pronounced quite dead. the remains are
tied 10 the tail of a valueless donkey
and the effigy is set on fire The fren-
zied donkey makes a circuit Of the
pueblo with the burning Judas at his
heels. much 20 the amusement OF the
cruel populace. and finally the frightep'
ed animal takes 10 the woods, and nell
ther il nor Judas, as a rule. Is ever
again seen.
Next morning, Christmas day, the en-
tire pueblo turns out TO early mass.
| and few hours later, 10 the usual
| Christmas services when the church is
| prettily decorated and the music un-
usually excellent.
In the afternoon the programme OF
| amusements is resumed.
j. NJ. SCANLAND.