The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-10-19

of candles burn over the graves. The
entire population takes part in the observ-
ance and the. cemetery Is crowded. The
nearest female of kin represents the fami-
" and sits upon the grave, hatless out
seldom In mourning, unless the death 10
recent. She tends the candles and watches
the flowers through the long evening.
On the more imposing tornbs are lamps
octagonal in shape, street lamps in minia-
ture These are upon iron ratings sur
rounding the grave. There are twenty or
more candles to each grave and the scene
Is almost weird. In a corner grave
Is being prepared for funeral on the
morrow. The site has been selected De-
cause the family formerly occupying the
site has become extinct or too poor TO
pay the rental on the ground. The earth
sxcavated is in a heap and human bones
are mixed with 1t. In the open grave,
not yet completed "a bone or two may
be seen protruding from the side wall.
st. Andrews Day Is a merry one. Then
one plays pranks upon his friends. Wo-
men gather on the more pretentious
housetops and turn pals Of water on I'M
suspecting pedestrians. The contents OF
eggshells are removed and the shell 10
filled with mud. brick dust, indigo or any
harmless substance that win not make
permanent stain. The eggs thus pre-
pared are thrown in doors and windows,
against the whitened walls. and people
pelt each other with them. Several
changes of clothing are necessary during
the day, and no one must get angry. A
white duck suit Is a target for everybody.
National holidays are few and do not
last long on the calendar because there Is
nothing to celebrate or commemorate. Few
important events see successful first an
niversary. Yet there are holidays enough
without and the people are so given to
them that they find little time for labor.
Farther from the cities the holidays are
as rsligiously observed, but with less cere-
mony The principal observance seems
to be a complete abstaining from work.
Apparently the people keep no calendar,
and mistake their dates in this respect,
or. not being able to read take no chances
and observe every day of the year.
They are hospitable enough, and while
II is not possible for a stranger to sell
or buy anything, the humble home and
contents are at his disposal. This may
mean a hammock in the single family
room-a hammock of coarse. heavy can
vas built for one but to hold two II there
are two In the party. The previous &C.
cupant sleeps upon the earthen floor.
Sometimes only a place on the hard floor
Is offered, and that must be contested for
all night with the rats which infest the
place. A bed such as they have is a
luxury. Pronged sticks are stuck in the
earth and cowhide 10 stretched over them
This bed gets in order as the day go by
and the sojourner can feel 1t growing
harder every night. Its only virtue is its
elevation 1t Is rat proof.
The meal Is the sancocha. stew made
of everything that is left. 1t is good
when the ingredients are good, but too
often there is a suspicion. The serving
of this depends upon the resources of the
host, but spoons. knives and forks are
unknown. 1t is only question whether
each of the partakers has a gourd with
which to dip In or whether there Is only
one to pass around. The fingers do the
rest.
The reason they do not sell is because
there is a sort of family relationship all
around. and a system of exchange of COM
modities whereby no money is ever used,
and what property there is is family
asset. There is no occasion for hard Ia
Dor In this sort of life. and SO the holi-
days are welcomed as a relief from what
little might be necessary.
Liberty. peace and labor" LOWER
ture says. will reveal the treasures of
these islands" And he is met by the
words OF his chief. BLACK man don't
have to work"
II In an interesting problem.