The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1911-05-26

changes during the history OF
A the country and, to this day,
differ radically from the Gus
toms observed in English-speaking
countries.
Practically all of the aborigines OF
the country were converted to Cathol-
icism during the early years or the
conquest. Previous to 1925, all dead
were buried in the churches, for to be
buried in consecrated ground was
universal desire. The floors and walls
of the churches necessarily soon De-
came honeycombed with excavations
and inches in which the dead had
been placed.
A charge, varying from few dol
lars to thousands, according to the SIT
uation in the church, was collected for
the right of burial. Proximity to the
altar was most desired and the wri-
tings left by the priests tell of fabu-
lous sums paid for certain sections in
the more famous churches. The poor
er classes were buried in the more dis
tant parts of the churches, generally
in a catacomb, which provided sew
eraI hundred inches on each side of
long passageway or tunnel. Certain
catacombs were set aside for paupers,
but for the most part graves were
rented for a certain period of time
or for perpetuity. 1t was a general
practice to pay for term OF hve or
ten years, and on the expiration OF
this time, when no further rental was
forthcoming, the bones were moved to
the charity catacomb, where they
were left with the hundreds of uni
Identified. The grave was then re-
sold.
This custom was practiced for 200
years, and only those familiar with
the great number of churches exist
ing in Mexico can imagine how the
dead were buried in the limited
ground inclosed within the walls OF
the churches. 1t can be said truth
fully that every church in Mexico
marks the burial place of thousands.
Absolute necessity caused the clos
ing of all graves with cement, but
through carelessness this was not al
ways done properly, and early in the
last century many of the epidemics
which were then scourging the coun-
try were traced directly to the custom
of burial in the churches. The mat
ter was called to the attention of the
authorities by the physicians of the
time. and ultimately orders were is
sued throughout the republic prohib-
itine further burials in the churches.
For many years the order could be en-
forced only partially, owing to politi-
cal difficulties within the country and
the refusal of the priests to comply
with the order, as well as the general
desire among the residents to follow
the old custom of being buried in hal
lowed ground. According to their
ideas this hallowed ground could ex-
list only within the space inclosed by
the walls of the church.
Between 1880 and 1885 many por-
tions of Mexico were visited by disas-
trous epidemics of smallpox and
cholera. which caused the authorities
throughout the country to enforce the
orders in regard to the discontinuance
of all burials in churches and to pro-
vide municipal burial grounds in
which to inter all bodies. These mu-
nicipal cemeteries were divided into
four parts, in three Of which the
graves were rented and in the fourth
part burials could be made without
charge. The three parts carried indi-
vidual scales of prices, but the short
est term of rental was for space Of
seven years. Graves could be rented
at a certain rate per each seven years,
or a perpetual right would be sold at
any time Consequently the Weather
people were all buried in one division,
where practically all the rights were
taken for perpetuity, while in the
cheaper divisions many of the rights
would expire at the end of the first
seven years. When the time expired
and 10 payment was made to cover
the subsequent rental, the bones were
exhumed and placed on the bone pile,
which was periodically burned. This
plan is still continued in a few of the
interior places, but since 1860 most
of the larger municipalities have dis
continued the practice of burning the
bones.
The arrangement of the cemetery
of today in Mexico follows the same
plan of division, always providing one
section in which no charge is made
Cor burial. AS the greater part OF the
population is very poor this free di-
vision forms the largest part of the
burial grounds. These different divi-
sions are separated by high walls, as
is the entire cemetery separated from
the surrounding grounds. The en-
trance is arranged in the first or high
est-priced division from which gate.
ways lead to the poorer divisions.
The first division is generally made
into place of great beauty, for in
addition to the decorations on the in
diivdual graves. the municipal author.
tiles expend much time and money on
the upkeep of the entire division.
The prices charged for lots vary
with the town or city. In the larger
cities there are often many divisions
made of the first-class lots according
to the desirability of their location.
In this way the very wealthy may
gain an exclusiveness which is often
not possible in the smaller places. In
some instances In Mexico City lots
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