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Show iff T1 j) r ; r aaop , III VHVX " . &- n N -ns v,; - x-v NfV SNN " N- v s v t x v . x i Weird (&Sfk caster JiSffCk of the Penitents- Wish the approach of Hnly ne-fc tlie.l'enitcntes forsake the role of stupid stu-pid peons and once more take up their yearly scourging. Aftei the passing of Easter, because of 'ne rigors, each brother lias accomplished one more act to he used for his sal vation. has taken another step that should bring him closer to heaen. All the year around, the I'enitentes are indifferent Mexicans, living in their ndohe huts, which they have made with their own hands, existing In a land of manana. sometimes raising rais-ing little fields of stunted corn, or chill peppers, or Mexican beans: sometimes tending their few scrawny chickens or gnats. They are never hurried, never do anything, yet havp little time, f anyone asks them for something they invariably answer. "Hay poro tiempo" "I have Ibile time." Thus theirs Is a life of poco tiempo. except during Lent. Rarely at any other time during the year do the I'enitentes become cctlve If they do. It is on All Souls' ri:iv. two days after Hallow pen time. Then they make a procession to their reine tery, whipping t heir hacks as t hey l'u Occasionally, when one of I heir broth erhood has rlied. they convene Hi his house to hold prayer, chanllng strange, litanylike song, praying late Into the night for the departed soul Lenten Observances. All during Lent, tjnnigli. lhe hold secluded praying, eoing In small pro cessions In the nlglil. Indulging In some self-Having, hut It Is Holy Krl day which nwiikens their zeal to the highest pitch. Raw, hlistery winds of March or April blow, swaying Hie blackish-green pinion trees dotting the region where the Penitentes live; the land has been picturesquely mimed the Sangre de Cristo range blood o( Christ by the Spanish explorers be cause ot the red-stained rocks on the mountainsyles. rocks showing n ferric composition. On Friday afternoon the renllctile brotherhood hold the greulesl of theli spectacles. They have been ihiylng themselves off mid on nil during llolj week; their backs are masses ol con gealed blood and outraged Mesh Nov erlheless. they bein again with aug inented fervor shortly after noon cemini; out clad only In troijseis and beginning the big procession; the en acting of the Crucilixlon Grewsome Ceremonies. One o the I'eiillonles Is chosen to take the part of el Crlslo and cnrrh the cross. heavy, crude symbol which he usually can hardly drag, xluggerlng under the weight, liehhul him come the ol hers, the singers and those who May themselves with whips made from the yucca or ''soup weed The plant Is common throughout the Kouthwesl and bears long ti In r us blades; II Is used by the peons ti make crude soap; the lougli blade? are also used as twine. Usually, those scourging themselves take one sle forward and then pause, bringing down the culling libers of the whip upon theli already much bleeding backs with a dull ihwack. The rliylhm of the chant aids their regit Inrlty of motion. If any lag In his fervor of laying on blows or shrink tinder them, then a mauler In chirge will remind Mm, by brlugjng d. wn a blacksnake on his shoulders, of his remissness; the leather whip cuts the air with a sharp whistling. No Limit to Self-Torturo. Often these rigors are not enough : the cliolla cactus, one needle of which has known to drive horses to fury. Is packed about their chests, or yet again, the fenltentejyijr0r these w-Uhjrhelf-hTn feet- or fling tne 'rjli1TVrf:3of needles on their backs. "The cliolla needles are long and malignant; ma-lignant; they stick In the Hesh as If barbed and burn like fire, working their way inward, where they cause pustules. Imagine many of these needles In one's flesh I And yet the I'enitentes, with zealous cries con tinue their way to the place selected as el Calvario, all their pain suhju gated by their religious fanaticism. Amid loud lamentation, the pilgrim age of the Cross Is enacted, the man staggering under the weight ot the symbol. He precedes the group; hl back Is now bleeding, now clotted When he reels, showing signs of being about to fall, one of the elder broth ers in rank helps him. Once attain Ing the spot chosen as Calvary el Cristo Is usually tied with rojies to his cross and raised Indeed, what s spectacle; the sky lowers like a cloud ed opal, and the raw. penetrntlne breeze fans the trousers of the I'enl tentes. These people believe that ban weather is synonymous nlth Holy week, that the weattier must he Dad because It Is a time when every on mourns. And still they worship. or livious ot the cold winds, lifting theli cries and chants, whipping vigorous ly. El Cristo hangs until he no longct shows much sign of lite and then Is taken down, wrapper In n cloth and carried away. Deaths Not Uncommon. Formerly, nailing the victim to the cross was ipiite common; death came also as often to their ranks. The corpses were ferreted uway and proh ably hinied. r.ut nothing definitely has ever been proved agalnsl the cult: In the past, rumors have circulated about this I'enltenie or that not he ing seen after Holy week; men have been known to die from the excessive fanaticism of theli rllual Now. the news that one of them has been killed during the crucifixion spreads now one has died fro.n exhaustion ami tot rigorous self torlnre. but these stories are short lived Should n I'eiilleute belray his brotherhood then the pen alty Is to lie hurled alive t'one iptently. no one has ever talked However, at present, the cruHtlxbu. Is more guarded ami merely lakes the form of lying Hie vlclim to the crosy with ropes. Even now, Hie spectacli a , of tying el Cristo Ji beginning to be eliminated, or els'performed at night on Thursday evening. Guards with guns are usually posted at the cere monies In order to keep away the overcurious fttranger. Any one ap prottchinffbo close is duly threat etuliiroys have taken hikes Into the Tnountains, to behold the spectacle ot the I'enitentes whipping themselves Many have crouched behind a rock or a busb on a hill, watching ttie rltuai closely, while expecting any mlnut to receive from their rear the shot ot " dreaded and doubtful "bacon rind.' Such hikes provide great thrills fot the youths and also material for a story which tlicy can recount to theli less fortunate comrades. A person not having seen the I'enitentes Is considered con-sidered unworldly-wlse and a "ninny." Cult Is Dwindling. Thus does the cult flourish In New Mexico, southern Colorado, souttiern Utah and eastern Arizona Rut each year this sect Is becoming less iind less conspicuous, withdrawing more and more Into the fastnesses of the mountains. Undoubtedly, tourists have beheld the I'eiiltetite miniature crosses erect ed along some highways as they have ridden over Hie rough, dirt roads In the neighborhood of the colonies I'lles of rocks hold these crosses np right They are some three feet high Rut the passing of the Holy week marks the cessation of their cere monies and of Ibelr greatest activity I luring the rest of the entire year they are peaceful people ho carry on their meager fanning. As a poo pie, they are superstitious. Impres slonable. and are commonly known n mestizos; that Is half breeds of In dian Spanish descent but oftener. they are of Indian descent nlone. |