New-York tribune., 1902-12-28

and they were escorting the President to his pai-
ace j stepped back they reached the place
where had been standing, and IN oroer TO snow
NV reenect bowed my head To my astonish-
rr,ent President Castro stood perfectly sun "nen ne
saw me- thus OBTAINING the whole PROCESSION thsn'
bcwing very low, ne murnured some "oius W.. w.
could not hear AT this all the holy fathers niteo
.ha,r ewes I'm q most worldly fashion and grinneo'
while /. the Americana" wished were home
again
In The afternoon the streets and courtyards SUI
rounding the federal palace were so closely packed
,,,,h .bese Same rnourners that it almost i'm
,,ossi,,le IN move We were among these mournefs
when an Official motioned us 20 follow him Inns
we did not knowing what might be expecteo Ga 20
next To our delight We were leo to NINE oasuo'
who was standing on the steps Of the feoerai par
ace with ten of her friends They were the most
r.rominent women of Caracas, and richly dressed
from head foot. in the deepest crepe AI'ef
shaking hands with her and exchanging ie"
Spanish words she made room for Us oesice he'-
There we stood and watched the sacred procession
as 81 passed First came the priests, carrying burn
.ng incense which they waved slowly TO and fro-
Then came twenty men. bearing on their heaos d
huge glass cossn with golden torches and plumes-
In It. partly covered with a sheet was wax fg-
,re meant to represent our crucihed Lord Slowly
they advanced swaying from side to side. two
stems forward. then step backward. while the
solemn music of Chopns impressive funeral march
filed the air
AA%@~-N -
stone steps facing coffin. and we all followed
her example / the lowest step, and the
fumes Of incense almost stif1ed me.
After a long interval the waxen image OF the Vir-
gin Mary. seated golden throne and robed In
a magnificent black velvet gown covered with gold
spangles. was borne past similar manner.
To this service dreadful in its awful So
lernnity and Mortified when noticed that the
onlookers smiling and bowling gayly TO one
another. This comparatively small procession took
y1-a tired
did not remain 20 see it pass again.
afterward learned that the who carried
the images Of Christ and of Mary did so IN order
atone for their sins committed in the year.
These sins must have been numerous and grave.
for to the torture and suffering depicted
their faces caused by the terrific weight resting
upon their heads, made very that no slight
could possibly have led them to undergo this
painful atonement.
The two cemeteries of Caracas are well worth
seeing The first and oldest one, which is no longer
used is like the ruins of an old house. only the
walls remaining. with the doors through which one
passes from one room into another. Fountains had
once spiashed in the centres OF these spaces, but
now they were still and overgrown with bright col
ored tropical flowers. In the walls spaces were
cut. six feet long and four feet wide while the
tops were cone shaped. Some Of these spaces
were empty save for tin wreath OF flowers: others
were sealed. bearing inscription engraved upon
steel plate. snd telling the names and ages Of
at the foot of the wonderful mountains. and as we
left il the setting. Never before have
seen such mountains and never before have seen
such glorious sunsets. The coloring is magnificent
and the whole cannot be described To It all
seemed very peaceful. and I preferred that peace
with its quiet unknown inhabitants to the dirty
i'll kept people and streets which awaited US upon
return TO the CITY
The second cemetery. the modern one is at the
other end OF the city. There whole families OF
white brown marble statues are found. guarding
the graves OF those whom they represent. One
statue of q woman, rather stout and middle aged /
attracted our attention. She was dressed in a (,
tight fitting, many scanned gown. and holding her !;
skirt Slightly raised from the ground. thus showing
a most remarkable lace underskirt and feet shod !
In high heeled slippers and elaborate lace stock
ings AT her feet stood small white marble !
Scotch terrier His eyes, with ours were lifted to
the form Of his departed mistress In wonder and /
admiration
as entered this cemetery We noticed six men /
walking briskiy and carrying between them q very |
small white coffin. After ten minutes we saw these
same men walking briskly out of the cemetery. /
their little burden longer resting in their
hands, but in its place was food, which they seemed
TO be enjoying hugely, Judging from their loud |
talk and satisfied countenances. 1t was growing !
late; was cold and discouraged. and thankful TO
leave the place. did not revisit it.
Mr. and Mrs Theodore Pond, American mission
aries TO Caracas, doing their work faithfully
Aleg nave Ior lhelr cnDrch a small room. in
it they hold their services. The preaching and
singing are all in Spanish, and during the week they
hold several meetings. while Sunday they have
two serTices-Sunday school in the morning. and
when the days work is done the older people gath
Hr in this small room TO worship God
What the future of these people will be is i'm
possible 70 say. they so satisfied with them
selves and their surroundings. IF their FREQUENT
eVoIurons could be prevented, the chief obstacle
70 their prosperity would he removed Venezuela is
naturally one OF the richest countries in the world