Show CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO 1 A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL I. I J J. CHRISTMAS celebrations In Mexico o j c c diner differ greatly from flow ours OUIS and usual usual- i i ly Iy last lust for or several se lays Bright l lanterns nt ms suspended d in the air alJ proclaim the glad ti tidings ill s of the holidays and eVery Mexican jacal no matter bow how puts put out It its beacon to light the steps of ot the Saviour should be he per per- chance chalice appear The rhe story of the birth of oj the Redeemer is annually portrayed in all Mexican towns and und ill in a sym I which the tilt most Ignorant Ignorant Ignorant Igno Igno- rant can cau readily understand The performance Is given glnn by fifteen players consisting of or Joseph and aud Mary Iury and anal the Infant Jesus two archangels ers L Lucifer cifer and three of or his minions and anda a number of f shepherds The c costumes are adapted to tu the Ule Mexican conception of or the characters and aud are ure novel In lu the extreme All of or the costumes are got up tastefully and und while a strict conformance con with the requirements of the first century might rob Joseph of ot his sombrero still it Is doubtful If It the lesson lesso which h It is desired I to Instill In Inthe inthe the minds of ot the people would b be as as effective e if tr all the minor r details of ot the early earl Jewish fashions were rl followed Tb The scene of the play pili near Bethlehem where till the shepherds are ure tending their Hocks docks I liy by a 8 host of angels appearing and telling o them thew of the birth birtho o of th tho th Saviour SU and Inviting III them to follow fol toJ low to where he be lies Ups They follow the star which leads them to the tIlt stable In Inthe inthe the manger of or which the Infant rests in the arms of Mary and o Joseph useph While Lucifer armed with two swords appears and attempts to de de- stroy the child hUd Jesus but hilt Ls L repulsed ed b by two nIl angels who ho keep kII watch oter over him Not ot to tu be bl outdone lIt Lucifer sum sum- sum gum moos mon three Ito who fight hr with the angels els for the tbt course oU of f half hall an hour boor r. r resulting In tit the overthrow of toe tLe tv evil evil I one OOt nod Iud his fits emissaries and the placing of tb the t-io teet ot of the angels te s upon their nC necks ks Then the tbt shepherds break out Into while u a portion of them sing fling the r of ot the Ht Redeemer who is ri Is born them fliers Hiers chant In a abar bar strain the goodness and mer meroy of God This fe tl feature accompanied nied by hr music mush or 01 the hn hart ban 11 and violin Is kept up tip until n II Int late Inte hour bour each night until the nr are over On On- must wot the Mexican their dt and Intense ln In In- In tense t rII religion feeing to in fully date n. n how hm f rn jy th the mation of tbt the shepherd affects their minds s r f C L 4 |