Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1940-08-01
An OLD MEXICAN CUSTOM

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Just few days after we came TO
Los Angeles we saw an interesting
bit of Mexican life. Several thou
sand witnessed the strange sight. II
is called "The Blessing of the AMI
mails" (Benedicion de los Ami
males). 1t is an old custom, eel
ebrated by Mexicans from time i'm
memorial. They believe the ser
vices of the church are available
for other than human beings, name
Iy animals Animals may be given
health and fertility through the of
fees of the priest.
Before the ceremony the animals
were assembled at Olvera Street.
This is the oldest and best known
street in the city. 1t is worthy the
attention of anyone who is interest
ed in the Mexican people. The
street dates back to 1881, when
Felipe de Neve colonized here. It
is a purely Mexican market place,
where many wares of old Mexico
are sold. Before your eyes craftsmen
make shoes, sandals, pottery, can
dies, iron and leather work You
see on sale pinyon nuts, cactus can
dy, games, masks, broad straw hats
(sombreros) woven leather shoes
and jumping beans. There are for
tune tellers, harpists, music, dane
ing children. oXcarts, pets.
The oldest house OF the city is
here. Don Francis Avila built ar
or daIn in, Tr =,
headquarters of the American army
when the city surrendered to Ere.
mont. 1t is now a queer old mu
scum of things ancient to Mexico
and the American occupation Ollas
(jars), Metates (meal-mills) and
baskets abound.
In this little Mexico the brute
servants of man, and the animal
pets were brought together. Horses,
cows and calf, chickens. doves. tur-
ties, every kind of dog and cat, and
pets of all sorts congregated. Then
the procession formed, and the pa
rade started. In addition to gar
landed horses and cattle wreathed
in flowers, came something like a
hundred dogs and cats, white doves
les. There was a singing marmoset
(monkey guinea-pig size), twitter-
ing like a sparrow Her name was
Porquita, and she came from Bra
zil There were guinea pigs, a jet
black squirrel from Vera Cruz, and
black goats with white ribbons. A
little Mexican girl carried new
born kid, which first saw light of
day that morning Two fine ST. Ber-
nard dogs were named Fritz and
Diamond Bunnies were there \
kindly old Chinaman, and what
Chinaman was ever unkindly,
brought duck. The duck escaped,
and the two little girls who went
with us helped him to rescue it.
In the big vine-covered patio CT
the Plaza Church, Padre Esteban
Emalda mounted platform. He
was clad in white lace robes. He
was a veritable picture of kindli
ness. With smiling face he sprinkled
With holy water from bowl which
he held in his left hand Dogs howl!
ed little when the water was ap
pied He read in Latin from his
book Of ritual, at the beginning of
the aerepony Now he waved his,
hand in blessing over the crowded
patfA The gates opened and the
strange procession moved away.
Animals and people enjoyed a
buffet luncheon when back again in
Olvera street. There was alfalfa
for cows and horses, seeds for
birds, delicacies for cats, and dogs,
and all the regulation foods for the
Mexican palate. Girls in Chinas
Poblanas, that is bright colored
Spanish dresses, handsome, swarthy
men in big, wide sombreros were
there. There were many brilliant
serapes (blankets) and gaily en-
broidered suits. They waited on the
hungry amalgamation of children,
grownups and four-footed things.
The program was staged by win
some Christine Sterling, mother cf
Olvera street" By the way a free
clinic for animals was opened here
lately.
And now the meaning for all this
Man from time immemorial has low
ed his dumb friends, and they IN
turn have had a more faithful love
for him. How many milleniums
back was it, when the first wolf be-
came the useful dog? Or the first
horse became a trained and patient
friend? Or the first sheep yielded
his warm coat? Then there is
mans childlike trust in the Unseen
Power. There is blind hope that
the existent church of whatever
name might mediate that Power to
animals as we'll as men. What man
has been divorced entirely from
superstition, separated from legend,
freed from traditions. Here are the
rudiments of rugged and more no.
BILE faith. Faith is as normal and
natural as breathing. We walk by
faith and not by sight.-Howard H.
Scott, Los Angeles, Calf.