Leaves from a Madeira Garden 



district. It is headed by a large banner with 

 the curious inscription " S.P.Q.R." There are 

 life-size images of Christ in his agony, and of 

 the Virgin with a dagger in her heart ; and a 

 number of tiny children with angels' wings. 

 Many of the poor little things grow tired with 

 their long tramp, and are carried sleeping by 

 their fathers. A feature of this as of some 

 other processions is a band of female penitents 

 who, closely veiled in black and bare-footed, 

 walk the stony paths in much discomfort. 

 The cortege reaches the steep road at the back 

 of our house at nightfall, the candles and 

 lanterns are lighted, and to the music of a 

 monotonous dirge the long line of lights slowly 

 ascends the hill, affording a very impressive 

 spectacle. 



In this sympathy, in the fullest sense, of 

 Church and people, there is much to give us 

 " emancipated " Northerners pause. To what 

 are we tending with our new-born rejection 

 of ancient conventions, our overthrow of long- 

 accepted ethical standards, our zeal for progress 

 progressing we know not whither ? Politically, 

 we appear to be travelling as fast as we may to 

 a State-organization of the whole community 



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