The Washington herald., 1909-04-04
HOLY WEEK IN CUBA.

maddened crowd. beaten. torn. hung 20
lamp post or rope stretched across the
street, and finally annihilated about 10
o'clock Saturday morning The fayorite
method Of destroying this effigy mass Of
filthy rags and protruding straw IS 10
touch lighted torches 10 the hanging
Judas. The explosives within are ignit-
ed and the betrayer is literally blown TO
pieces. while the gloria IN the mass for
the risen Christ is being celebrated IN the
churches.
Easter Sunday morning Havana Is q
veritable bower OF the Islands wondrous-
ly beautiful fora Tall. pearly white and
yellow lilies. calas Of gorgeous hues as
seen only in Cuba. mammoth red. pink.
and white rosees; violets twice the size
OF ours. heIiotrope. and Jasmins, are
everywhere sold and worn by the wor-
Slippers The great cathedral bells and
hundreds OF minor ones throughout the
city. mellowed by centuries Of service,
plaintively can the devout 70 celebrate
the resurrection Of our Lord.
From all thss region about la Cap!-
tai over the green hillside and through
the royal palm valleyways. come the
peasants. the grave signor landlord. the
comely senorita. and the gallant cabal-
lerOs. The cathedral and churches are
thronged. We visit the former The
faithful crowd the stately edince and
thousands await without their turn at
the services. which continue until noon
The magniicence Of tie Roman church
IN al Fr n N
miniature in Havan's cathedral Erected
in 1724. its grand golden altar. carved
black mahogany stalls and confessionals,
graceful blue marble columns. and many
small altars dedicated TO particular
saints, are OF much artistic merit.
The cathedral contains excellent copies
Of Raphael and Murillo. and a tomb in
the chancel is alleged 10 hold the much
mooted remains OF Christopher Column
bus Oh, how odd. curious. the mass OF
white and black worshipers, completely
filling the vast cathedral and promiscu-
ously kneeling together on its marble
floor, What an InCOnE-uOus assemblage
il is,
Some devotees appearing a hundred or
more years old hold babes in swaddling
clothes in their arms. The worshipers
are generous; the rich freely drop their
gold and silver in the boxes for the poor.
and the peasants and humble classes
give their mites cheerfully. Why don't
they have pews in the Cuban churches,
we wonder. instead OF budding the
kneeiing and sQuatting thrOng on the
damp stone foOr2 Now see how piOus
the black-eyed, olive-skiuneq, comely Sc
ncritas appear. and what sad contrast
their peasant sisters present,
Wa eaA q roor1v nOurfehad ernorttrn IN
faded calico gown and dingy old domes-
tic-spun red and yellow shawl over her
head. She seems penitent and devout az
with dOwncast face and muttering lips
she pathetically follows the service. Her
tear-stained face is raised, big brown
glistenlng eyes and coarse hair forming
dark, shiny mass over her shapely
shoulders, is unique picture. Simply a
typical Cuban peasant lass in her annual
worship IN La capital"
Next TO her IS an unusually fair-heired
rosy type senorita, probably from the
Basque province of Spain. An artistic
Partisan modiste has made her beautiful
black satin gown. Her jewels are varied;
long pearl pendant ear rings, diamond
necklace encircling well-formed neck.
and fingers OF each hand seemingly COW
cred with all the stones chrOnicled IN
the Book of Revelations. Black and gold
slippers with huge gilt buckles and high
French heels are the gear Of her dainty
feet. She coquetishly glances from her
silver and ivory prayer book. We catch
furtive momentary look - plump,
round figure. rouge and powder are ar
tistically blended on her Gimpled cheeks;
she quickly bows her head, renewing her
devotion. She is a fair. though unfre-
quent. type OF Spanish-Cubana who
would attract our American beaux and
Incur the envy of our American bellies.
Next this fair creature is apparently an
old gambling roue. and about him are the
grotesque mulatto women and thin lip.
sharp-featured black negroes. There Is
a preponderance of female worshipers
and a pleasing variance IN their gro
tesque attires. The men and boys at the
Easter Sunday service present a uniform
simplicity OF black clothes. The wealth
Ter worshipers kneel upon their private
cushions, small squares Of carpet. and SIT
upon camp stools: but the large majority
present a curious appearance by their
sGuatting, kneeling. and rising frequent
ly during the service.
The Cubans are democratic in their re-
ligious worship. Rich and poor black
and white. high and low, young and old
alike are upon equal footing In these
ceremonies No distinction is paid So
cial rank or Official position. There is no