The Republican journal., 1905-10-26
DEATH IN MENDOZA.
funerals are Conducted in this South
fl Republic. The Ball of Little

ag when returning from an excur-
INTO the country. Having gone
LEI than we intended, night over
rs while several miles from Men
i. Being driven rapidly cityward,
highway robbery is not yet al
her a thing of the past in these re-
Z districts, we passed an adobe
-rouSe from which came the sound
.sIc and revelry and a broad stream
-At from numerous lamps and
Ies Our driver remarked, "Un
lr MI angelito," "a little Angels
on in unsentimental English, Il
over dead baby. We had heard
.>- balls and curiosity to see one
too strong within us to miss the
unity, even had the road to town
med with footpads. The company
the casa appeared to be greatly
g, by visit from foreigners and
d, hearty welcome. The central
il the room was child, laid out
.e on small table, with burning
at its feet and head-a tiny
'.e which could not have been
months in this troublous world.
almost hidden under a mass of
Unset and flowers, and its little
f.. trossed upon its breast, held
- crucitix nearly as long as itself.
lrmous crown of paper roses was
- upon its head and wings of
paper were fastened to its
er: and-strangest and most
y of all-on each cheek was a
# cochlneal paint and the lips
smeared with the same vivid
From the rafters near by hung
ypty cradle of cane, which. we
Did, would later serve as coffin.
W)men, sitting on the floor III the
furnished the music, strumming
carS, and when we went i'll "El
The Cat, lively sort of jig) was
Z Ianced. 1t is something like the
. aUaca of Peru and Chilli, perform
tWo persons at a time only, who
-leir fingers iii time to the music
tation of Spanish castanets. We
odd that the revelry would con-
i'll daybreak about three O'Clock
is time of year. and then the baby
u be wrapped in bundle and laid
, tradle and the father would take
Aorseback to the cemetery, several
$ aWay-if not too much intoxicated
1T time to attend to business.
= remained long enough to wit
81 a ar two anl Inaljna rofraeb
IS N the form of mate tea, or gin,
lie away amid the kindly farewells
r company-vaya u con DioS may
~ with YOU, which sounded like a
uetion.
ese are the customs of the rural
It's and of the lower classes IN
tina: but even among the aris-
B y, rich and educated, the ways of
rting funerals appear strange to
Or example: as soon as the breath
1T the body of sick person, the
II which it lies is transformed by
lertaker into a "capllla ardinte, "
led chapel; that is, the curtains
Wn, walls and windows are hung
k, an altar is erected at one end,
1It of which the body is placed
whole is lighted up by many
candles in silver candlesticks
let high. Argentine law requires
turial shall take place within
d four hours after death, and if
Us is to be buried in one of the
-IieS within the city limits, or
. in vault, it must be put not
.l regular coffin, but also in a
-tlcally sealed lead coffin, one fit
lsely inside the other and a glass
ID permitting nothing but the
10 be seen. As the time between
and burial is 50 short, individual
IS cannot usually be sent to
S. and so the invitation to take
the funeral services is printed
papers, as follows:
Francisco Camacha.
Q. p f. d.
Died September IT., 1905.
te, Dolores v; his children, Manuel
"a. Lavelle, his father-in-law, Antonio
iez, his brothers, Luis and Carlof,
Ter, Maria, his brother-in-law, Jose,
4udchildren, uncles, nephews, cousins
her relatives, invite you to accompany
mains of the deceased to the Recoleta
cry, Sunday 18th, at 2.30p. m.
lie Church of the Holy Cross a mass
IL eternal repose of his soul will be
rom I to 10 d. M, the body being pre-
The family will take part in the one
q. m. The leave-taking of the deceas-
be by card. Only invitation.
maps | should explain that @. E.
means "Que en- paZ deScanse'
he rest in peace. If the death has
expected long enough to give
for having cards printed, one about
inches with mourning border
quarters of an inch wide, with the
wording, is sent to the nearest
is, in which case the words "only
are omitted from the death
g in the paper. 1t will be noted
the funeral service and burial are
distinct ceremonies, it not being
ustom for women to accompany
ody to the cemetery. The express
taking will be by card"
IS that friends attending are not
ted to come up personally and
ale the family at the funeral, but
is usually a servantin black livery,
shed by the undertaken, either at
ouse or the church, with silver
7 on which visiting cards are placed.
fault of this, on arrival at the
terry on one side of the entrance
IS a high wooden desk painted
(, and on it pencil and paper, and
ned to one side a regular letter box,
lack, with a slit in the top. Into
the card is dropped,or the name
en- on the piece Of paper, and these
elected by an attendant and sent
e house after the funeral. In a
lays, to all those whose cards have
received, as well as to the friends
lave written notes of coincidence,
sitting cards of that member of the
~ to whom you may have address
,urself is sent, or the card of that
Der of the family who may know
est, with the single word upon it
meaning Thanks for