Page:Life in Mexico vol 2.djvu/47

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LETTER THE TWENTY-NINTH.

Virgin of Cavadonga — Santo Domingo — Decorations and music — Daguerreotype — Weekly soirées — An arrival — An earth-quake — Honorable Mr. —— Broken furniture — Dias — Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe — Party to the DesiertoItzcuintepotzotli — Inn of Guajimalco — Ruined convent — Its origin — Déjeuné á la fourchette — Splendid scenery — Vow to the Virgin — Musical mass — Tacuba — Ride with the Prior.

21st.

We received, a few days since, an invitation to attend the sumptuous mass, annually given by the Asturian Brotherhood, in honor of the Virgin of Cavadonga, in the church of Santo Domingo. The invitation being printed on blue satin, with gold lace and tassels, seems worthy of a place in a box of wax figures, which will be sent by the next packet. The church was superbly decorated, and only well-dressed people were admitted. C——n was carried off to a post of honor near the altar, and a padre gave me a velvet chair. The music was beautiful, but too gay for a church. There were violins and wind instruments, and several amateur players. Some pieces from the cheval de bronze were very well played. The sermon, preached by Guerrero, a chanoine who has some reputation as an orator, contained a prudent degree of praise of the Spaniards, and even of a King, could that King be a Pelayo.