The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-09-11

,.y
 dent
 greater
 -Jr chang
 5ct his state
 d rulers and
 Ind his word was
 $4ere was no appeal.
 as more potent be-
 srvable on the surface;
 ated to every home in all
 of life, swaying the strongest
 their superstitions and main
 it's firmest hold through the wo-
 d and children. Now that he is dead the aspect of the whole city is suddenly changed. Martial music no longer fills the air, flags are at half-mast and tied with crape, black banners are dropping from the windows of all the houses near the Episcopal palace, while the latter the huge prison-like structure original ly occupied as barracks-is literally lCORGISQ Will LII MOSs ASCOIo- ing to church custom in Bolivia the bishop must lie in state four days; and meanwhile people of every class put on , deepest mourning and come to see him. . All day long. from 10 a. m. until mid night throf1gs of people are seen wend- ing their way in one direction to pay the last token of respect to the holy father. There are monks, gray-cowled, bare-headed and bare footed; priests in black robes and shovel hats; friars all in white from head to foot; processions of boys who are being educated for the priesthood; Sisters of Charity and nuns of all orders; various societies going in a body; delegations of citizens; troops of employees from every branch of the government; Indians, Cholos and ladies of high degree.
 By the way, the women of South America can mourn more in outward appearance than any other class of peo- pie on earth. All wear straight, scant gowns of black wool, entirely un- trimmed and slightly stirling; and mantas or shawls of the same material draped in straight lines over the shoul- ders and body and covering the face so that only the eyes arevisible. A com pany of these funeral figures gliding slowly through the streets, with bowed heads is a sight which calls to mind some of Dore's illustrations in Dantes Inferno. Since everybody is expected to call upon the illustrious dead, let us join the multitude and proceed to the house of mourning. The Indians and half breeds go in their everyday, bright hued toggery having no other, s but custom decrees that white people must slsess entirely in black, the gentle men in tall hats with band of crepe around them, and the ladies with no hats at all, but the universal manta worn over the head The palace, X though very extensive, looks shabby enough outside, the lower floor on the street side occupied by several poor shops and it's once white walls now yell low-gray with dirt and time. Passing down an alley at the side, we find pair of double doors. like those of barn, standing wide open, and enter a big, bare patio, paved with small round ! stones. During Melgarejos time, when this building was barracks, that fl- 1ustrious general drilled his troops in this patio. In the second story apart nlent where the bishop now lies in state was Melgarejo's dining room; and it is related that from the windows of it he one day ordered his troops to march, to fall Of fifteen feet and broken bones, merely to show off their obedi- ence to some guests. s
 toI>1 m ss,II ci Gpf the patio, but there is no nlistaking the right one. Through a hall-like sala we go, where soldiers stand on guard and rows of black -goWned priests are perched all around the edges, and come, at last, to an inner room, in which the prelate is holding his last reception. It is al large, square sala, the walls com pIetely covered with wreaths of white and purple flowers, each chaplet tied with long black ribbons, to which the card of the doner is attached. Monks, priests and friars stand all around, each holding a lighted candle; whils, hour after hour constant procession of mourning people pours in at one door and out at another. The bishop never looked better in life, notwithstanding the sufferings of his last days The proud dark face, Moorish in type, wears a calm, though by no means happy snlile--a Sphinx-like expression that will long haunt the beholders. He lies at an angle of forty-five degrees, on what appears to be a solid bed of roses, his tall and portly figure dresesd in it's richest vestrnents of purple and gold, with splendid lace beneath and sparkling with jewels, with the mitre on his head, and golden crook beside him. The right hand, which has dis pensed so many blessings, lies at his side within reach of the passing multi tude. It is covered with a black kid glove, and on the middle finger is the well known ring, set with big, flat di- amond, which has been worn by other bishops long gone to glory, and pressed by the lips of successive generations. It is said to be worth fifty thousand dollars, and being the property of the church, will be removed before the body is inferred. There are two other splen- i did Jewels on the back of the same glove, each act in a rosette of red rib- bon, the signiieation of which do not know; and everybody ascends two black-palled steps, kneels beside the fiowery bier, and kisses the dead hand three times, once on each jewel. Mean x., gf .-.I l. a1.x,4A A1.a a@