Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-12-12
GREAT RELIGIOUS
 FEAST IN MEXICO

Guadalupe, the greatest festlVdi III the Mexican religious calendar, was eel ebrated here today. Special eXcur- sions on all railroads brought thous- ands of pious pilgrims from all parts of the republic, and it is estimated that before the day is over not less than 5O,00O devotees will have paid visits to the shrine in the famous church at the villa de Guadalupe, just outside the city. Tn every city throughout the country, and in all the villages and rural communities, sim liar deyotions will be paid to the me ory of Mexico's patron saint. Since the passage of the reform laws, mark ing the absolute separation of church and state in Mexico, the president and the government officials no longer take part in the celebration, but it's observance is none the less enthusi- astic on the part of the populace.
 For days preparations for the fes tival have been going forward and, as usual, they illustrate that curius mix ture of piety and worldliness that is a trait of the Mexicans. No other country in the world produces such a medley of devotion and barbarism in the observance of it's national fes- tival. Prayers and devotional eXer- cises, while an important part of the days program, by no means satisfy the enthusiasm of the pilgrims who come here to pay their respects to Muestra Senora de Guadalupe. Games ot chance flourish, and the most pious peon, after satisfying the demands of the church by dipping his fingers in the holy water, crossing himself and uttering a prayer, hastens back to the gaming table or the cock pit, supreme ly unconscious that his actions are in the least paradoXical or incongruous.
 In booths located at advantageous positions near the shrine are sold the tamales, the chili con carne and the other connections of food so dear 10 the Mexican taste, while at other booths liquid regreshments of an eX cedingly maddening character are dis pensed. The tourist who visits the scene of the festivities is able to buy, at a price not more than dozen times that which a native would have to pay the marvellous articles for personal adornment, novel specimens of h. dian handiWork, pottery and other bric-a-brac peculiar to Mexican curi- osity shops. The merry-so-rounds furnish amusement for thousands of MeXicans, clad in serapes of many
 colors and crowned with immense sombreros, and the gay sight is not less amusing and novel for the visi- tor who sees it for the first time. Indian dances, barbarous perform ances accompanied by the weird, wild music of Indian instruments. are a feature of the celebration and give a touch of savagery to the scene. The dancers are attired in fantastic cos tunes and chant the dolorius dittes handed down 10 them by their fore fathers, in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The crack of firecYackers and the drunken babbling of jewellers who have drank more than is good for them is heard on every side Tonight q great display of fireworks will close the festivities.
 In accordance with the usual cus- tom on Guadalupe day, picture of the Virgin is displayed in front of nearly every home in Mexico today, whether that home be the palace of a Spanish grandee, the hoyel of peon or the hut of an Indian.
 According to tradition, it was in 1531, ten years after the conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards, tha; the Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian on the spot where the famous church now stands and commanded him to build an edifice to her honor on the site. This Indian was Juan Diego. IL was on December 13 that ne re ceiyed his mission, which he proved to the bishop by showing him his blanket, on which had been miracu lously imprinted an image of the Vir- gin.
 This blanket, bearing the m.racu~ lous image, is still preserved i'll the church of Guadalupe. VI oney ana costly jewels aggregating in Value many millions Of dollars have been given for it's adornment and it now lies in q frame of solid gold, covered with a crystal plate, aOove the altar of the church which was erected by command of the Virgin. On each side of the image. within the golden frame, are strips of gold in which glitter and flash myriad diamonds, emeralds, pearls and other precious stones.
 Despite the scepticism of some Of