PT
Bellefonte, Pa., March 29, 1929.
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WEIRD EASTER RITES OF THE
PENITENTES.
With the approach of Holy week,
the Penitentes forsake the role of stu-
pid peons and once more take up
their yearly scourging. After the
passing of Easter, because of the
rigors, each brother has accomplished
one more act to be used for his sal-
vation, has taken another step that
should bring him closer to heaven.
All the year around, the Penitentes
are indifferent Mexicans, living in
their adobe huts, which they have
made with their own hands, existing
in a land of manana, sometimes rais-
ing little fields of stunted corn, Or
chili peppers, or Mexican beans;
sometimes tending their few scrawny
chickens or goats. They are never
hurried, never do anything, yet have
little time. If anyone asks them for
something they invariably answer,
“Hay poco tiempo”—*“I have little
time.” Thus theirs is a life of poco-
tiempo, except during Lent.
Rarely at any other time during
the year do the Penitentes become ac-
tive. If they do it is on All Soul's
day, two days after Halloween time.
“Then they make a procession to their
cemetery, whipping their backs as
they go. Occasionally, when one of
their brotherhood has died, they con-
vene at his house to hold prayer,
chanting a strange, litanylike song,
praying late into the night for the
departed soul.
All during Lent, though, they hold
secluded praying, going in small pro-
cessions in the night, indulging in
some self-flaying, but it is Holy Fri-
day which awakens their zeal to the
highest pitch. Raw, blistery winds of
March or April blow, swaying the
blackish-green pinion trees dotting
the region where the Penitentes live;
the land has been picturesquely nam-
ed the Sangre de Cristo range——
blood of Christ—by the Spanish ex-
plorers because of the red-stained
Tocks on the mountainsides, rocks
showing a ferric composition.
On Friday afternoon the Penitente
brotherhood hold the greatest of their
spectacles. They have been flaying
themselves off and on all during Holy
week; their backs are masses of con-
gealed blood and outraged flesh. Nev-
ertheless, they begin again with aug-
mented fervor shortly after noon,
coming out clad only in trousers and
beginning the big procession; the en-
acting of the Crucifixion.
One of the Penitentes is chosen to
take the part of el Cristo and carries
the cross, a heavy, crude symbol
which he usually can hardly drag,
staggering under the weight. Behind
him come the others, the singers and
those who flay themselves with whips
made from the yucca or “soap-weed.”
The plant is common throughout the
Southwest and bears long, fibrous
blades; it is used by the peons to
make crude soap; the tough blades
are also used as twine.
'. Usually, those scourging themselves
take one step forward and then
pause, bringing down the cutting fib-
ers of the whip upon their already
much bleeding backs with a dull
thwack. The rhythm of the chant
aids their regularity of motion. If
any lag in his fervor of laying on
blows or shrinks under them, then a
master in charge will remind him, by
‘bringing down a blacksnake on his
shoulders, of his remissness; the
leather whip cuts the air with a sharp
whistling.
Often these rigors are not enough;
the cholla cactus, one needle of which
has known to drive horses to fury, is
packed about their chests, or yet
again, the Penitentes walk across
these with their bare feet, or fling
the branches of needles on their
backs. The cholla needles are long
and malignant; they stick in the flesh
as if barbed and burn like fire, work-
ing their way inward, where they
cause pustules. Imagine many of
these needles in one’s flesh! And yet
the Penitentes, with zealous cries
continue their way to the place se-
lected as el Calvario, all their pain
subjugated by their religious fanati-
ism.
Amid loud lamentation, the pil-
grimage of the Cross is enacted, the
man staggering under the weight of
the symbol. He precedes the group;
his 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 ropes to
his cross and raised. Indeed, what a
spectacle; ‘the sky lowers like a cloud-
ed opal, and the raw, penetrating
breeze, fans the trousers of the Peni-
tentes. These people believe that bad
weather is synonymous with Holy
week, that the weather must be bad
because it is a time when every one
mourns. And still they worship, ob-
livious of the cold winds, lifting their
cries and chants, whipping vigorous-
ly. El Cristo hangs until he no long-
er shows much sign of life and then
is taken down, wrapped in a cloth
and carried away.
Formerly, nailing the victim to the
cross was quite common; death came
also as often to their ranks. The
corpses were ferreted away and prob-
ably buried. But nothing definitely
has ever been proved against the cult,
in the past, rumors have circulated
about this Penitente or that not be-
ing seen after Holy week; men have
been known to die from the excessive
fanaticism of their ritual. Now, the
“news that one of them has been killed
during the cricifixion spreads, now,
one has died from exhaustion and too
rigorous self-torture, but these stories
are short lived. Should a Penitente
betray his brotherhood, then the pen-
alty is to be buried alive. Conse-
quently, no one has ever talked.
However, at present, the crucifixion
is more guarded and merely takes the
form of tying the victim to the cross
with ropes. Even now, the spectacle
of tying el Cristo is beginning to be
eliminated, or else performed at night,
on Thursday evening. Guards with
| guns are usually posted at the cere-
monies in order to keep away the
overcurious stranger.
proaching too close is duly threat-
ened. Boys have taken hikes into the
mountains, to behold the spectacle of
the Penitentes whipping themselves.
Many have crouched behind a rock or
a bush on a hill, watching the ritual
closely, while expecting any minute
to receive from their rear the shot of
Such hikes provide great thrills for
the youths and also material for a
story which they can recount to their
less fortunate comrades. A person
not having seen the Penitentes is con-
sidered unworldly-wise and a “pinny.”
. Thus does the cult flourish in New
Mexico, southern Colorado, southern
Utah and eastern Arizona. But each
year this sect is becoming less and
less conspicuous, withdrawing more
‘and more into the fastnesses of the
mountains.
Undoubtedly, tourists have beheld
the Penitente miniature crosses erect-
ed along some highways.as they have
ridden over the rough, dirt roads in
the neighborhood of the
Piles of rocks hold these crosses up-
right. They are some three feet high.
But the passing of the Holy week
marks the cessation of their cere-
monies and of their greatest activity.
During the rest of the entiTe year,
they are peaceful people who carry
on their meager farming. As a peo-
ple, they are superstitious, impres-
sionable, and are commonly known as
mestizos; that is, half-breeds of In-
dian-Spanish descent but oftener,
they are of Indian descent alone.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION OF
DEER CONDITIONS.
Deer have been dying of starvation
in such numbers that officials of the
state game commission, the state de-
partment of agriculture, and the na-
tions bureau of the biological survey
at Washington, D. C., have decided
that a special investigation is neces-
sary.
Division Supervisor W. Claire Kel-
ly, of the game commission, has been
discouraged over conditions which
have developed in the deer herd re-
cently. After the attempt made last
season at reducing the number of
animals he had hoped conditions
would materially improve. During the
latter weeks he has been finding dead
deer every day, however, and has en-
countered in the woods animals so
weak they could not possibly run
away. Many of these weak animals
he and his assistants captured with-
out any trouble. Some of them were
sent into Harrisburg for study. So
far no disease is reported by the bu-
reau of animal industry where care-
ful examinations were made. Death
appears to be traceable to insuffi-
ciency of food supply. Both young
and old animals appear to have been
affected. Little can be done for the
animals, it seems, because they do not
eat food put out for them, and they
do not range widely at this season of
the year.
The officials hope, in the course of
their study, to learn why conditions
herd. Dead animals will be examined
and probably shipped to Harrisburg
for further study. Living animals
will be studied in the field, and cap-
tured for further nutritive experi-
ments.
A conference on plans for further
study of the Pennsylvania deer herd
called for March 21st. State and na-
tional officials attended. Since deer
are so numerous in this Common-
wealth it is hoped that much may be
learned within the coming years con-
cerning the life history of this valu-
able game animal.
STATEWIDE DRIVE
ON TAGLESS DOGS.
Approximately 150,000 dog owners
in Pennsylvania delayed taking out
new licenses for their dogs a year
ago until after March 1. It is believ-
ed that fully 100,000 have done the
same thing this year.
As a warning to these owners of
unlicenesd dogs, the State Bureau of
Animal Industry has issued the fol-
lowing notice: ‘The law provides that
all dogs six months old or over must
be licensed on or before January 15
each year. Any person who violates
this provision is subject to a fine.
Therefore, it will be found decidedly
more profitable to have a dog licens-
ed and tagged than to appear before
a magistrate and pay a fine of pos-
sibly several times the cost of the
license.
“License and tags for 1929 have
been in the hands of all county
treasurers since January 15. Owners
therefore, have no valid excuse for
keeping unlicensed dogs about the
premises.”
Real Estate Transfers.
Lloyd Stover, et ux, to Margaret
Everhart, et bar, tract in Howard
Twp.; $1.
Anna T. H. Henszey, et bar, to Etta
W. Fagan, et bar, tract in College
Twp. and State College; $1,250.
Ida Gillen, et al, Exec., to James
McCullough, et al, tract in Walker
Twp.; $650.
Edward L. Orwick, Adm., to Sam-
uel C. McMonigle, tract in Taylor
Twp.; $775.
Robert D. Henry to Edward Smith,
tract in Walker Twp.; $550.
Eleanor R. Gettig to Charles A.
Liter et ux, tract in Potter Twp.;
x,
Margaret J. Garbrick, et bar, to
Pleanor R. Gettig, tract in Bellefonte;
Robert Bennison, et ux, to William
W. Schenck, et ux, tract in Howard;
$500.
John A. Yearick, et ux, to Joseph
V. McCulley, tract in Walker Twp.;
$600.
Simon Dugan, Adm. to Levi A.
Miller, tract in Spring Twp.; $1.
Jasper R. Brumgart to St. Peter's
Reformed church, et al, tract in Miles
Twp.; $1.
Any one ap- |
dreaded and doubtful “bacon rind.”
colonies.
should be so unfavorable for the deer |.
WILLOW TREES ARE f
CHEAP PROTECTION. :
'
Planting of willows as a natural
protection against eroding banks and
wave action on the shore lines of
streams, rivers and other bodies of wa-
ter frequently proves a wise move,
State Forester Joseph S. Illick, of the |
Pennsylvania Department of Forests
and Waters said recently. :
The natural location for willows of |
many varieties is along water courses :
and low places abounding with mois-
ture and even submerged at certain
seasons of the year. The wood of all
trees has a certain moisture content,
but the willows appear to have an ex- |
ceptional capacity for drinking up!
| water and converting it into wood tis-
isue. This quality of absorbing water
is so marked that sometimes stands
'of willow in boggy situations may
| actually lower the water level of the
{area. The root systems very frequent-
ly are more extensive than the branch
| work of the crowns. Roots of willows
{have been traced to a depth of more
than 100 feet below the surface.
The early settlers not only resorted
to willow planting to stop erosion
along water courses, but in the
| pioneer days of road building where
cuts were necessary for hillside road
location and boggy foundations were
encountered, they immediately plant-
ed willows from the foot of the bank
to the roadway. As a result, the soil’
was held firmly in place by the bind-
ing mass of roots, and at the same
time drainage water from the roads
favored the development of the trees.
An instance is cited of a hillside
road bed protected for years from
sliding by a number of large willow
trees. The trees were ordered remov- !
ed because they obstructed the view
on this curve, and before long there
was a serious washout. Engineers con-
templated stabilizing the bank with
piling and concrete retaining walls at
an estimated cost in the neighbor:
{hood of $7,000. A special system of !
tree planting was then considered
that met all the requirements at a
cost of only one-seventh of the cost of |
the retaining wall.
: Instead of using seedlings or cut-
tings of willow trees, large poles of
varying lengths and diameters were
along the embankments. The advan-
tage of this method is the fact that
pieces of green willow sprout freely
and the green wood laid in contact
with the ground sends up shoots from
the buds that lie beneath the bark. |
The mere weight of the willow poles |
used very often temporarily prevents |
erosion, while the sprouts are devel- |
oping. The growth of the sprouts is
very rapid and a complete ground cov- |
er is soon secured which develops a |
protective barrier as the trees and |
roots develop. The first seasons’s
growth may form sprouts 3 to 4 feet |
long with roots extending to a depth :
of 15 feet. This system of embank-
ment control is receiving wide atten-
tion in railroad, mining, and con-
struction work.
o ca
THEN AND NOW.
A quarter century ago farm-folks
and townspeople alike welcomed a
snowstorm as enthusiastically as they
now curse it. A heavy snow in those
days meant improved transportation
facilities, even as today it means
blocked roads and delayed traffic.
Then we traveled by wagon in sum-
mer and by sleigh when there was
snow, and the sleigh was much more
comfortable and much more rapid,
for the snow filled ruts smoothed out
rough roads. It added much to the
joy of travel and made for visits to
town and to neighbors miles and
miles away.
That was the time of the fast-step-
per and the clipper-built cutter; of
the two-horse sleigh and the great
bob-sled that held twenty to thirty
laughing, shouting boys and girls and
sometimes some older folks as well.
The sleighing party was an institu-
tion. Young men hailed it with joy
and girls were keen for it. They talk
a lot of the automobile and the pet-
ting party of these degenerate mod-
ern days, but good folks, there are
fathers and mothers in this old State
of ours, looking back on the period of
the sleighing party who, if they
would, could a tale unfold that would
make the present-day indulgences
seem tame by comparison. They
called it “spooning” then; they term
it “petting” now; the difference is
largely in the words. For the girl
who was not thoroughly hugged dur-
ing a sleigh ride felt injured and the
young man who didn’t get his share
was a dud indeed.
It was the practice of those in
charge of the party to arrange for
entertainment and a big supper at
a roadhouse or hospitable home some-
ten or twelve miles away, which was
the destination, to start out shortly
after the evening meal and get back
somewhere near daylight the next
day. ;
And now, we of the cities, certain-
ly, and all motor-owning farmers,
perhaps as well, frown when the snow
begins to fall and cuss the State
Highway Department if the roads
are not cleared and ready for unin-
terrupted motor traffic before the
last flake has fallen.
Verily, verily, the coming of the
motor-driven vehicle has wrought a
great change in our lives. But it has
not changed human nature.—From
the Harrisburg Telegraph.
WOULD WAR ON SKUNKS.
Two measurese, both of which have
appeared on Pennsylvania Legisla-
tive calendars in the past, have made
their appearance in the 1929 session.
One bill provides that there be no
closed season on the killing of skunks.
This bill has the support of Repre-
sentative Aston, Luzerne.
Pennsylvania would have a state
flower under the terms of & Musman-
no bill which would authorize the
Governor to name a legislative com-
mission of three members to study
the matter and report to the 1931 ses-
sion.
cut from the living trees and laid -
—Subscribe for the Watchman.
Call Bellefonte 432
oD Oh, Yes!
LU ivi B E a £ W.R. Shope Lumber Co.
n-16-t2 : Lumber, Sash, Doors, Millwork and Roofing
GOOD FRIDAY BELIEFS
IN PARTS OF ENGLAND.
How good Friday got its name is a
matter that is often discussed. The
word Friday is really the strangest
part of the name of so solemn a date
in the Christmas calendar. Few real-
ize that in saying Friday they are
commemorating a pagan deity,
Freya, the Scandinavian Venus.
In France Good Friday is called
Passion Friday; in Germany, Quiet
Ney; and in Italy, the Blessed Fri-
ay.
Good Friday in former days ena-
bled the careful citizen to save his
fire insurance policy, for it was be-
lieved that an egg laid on that day
would extinguish any fire on which it
was thrown. ’
Bread baked on Good Friday was
supposed to have its protectve value
for it was belived that three loaves
put in a heap of corn would prevent
the latter from being devoured by
rats and mice. An infant born on Good
Friday was supposed to possess the
power of curing fevers.
There are some things to be avoid-
ed on Good Friday. West-country
people consider it a sin to wash any
clothes on that day. They declare
that should you do so you are likely
to lose your most valued possession
before the year is out.
TELETYPESETTER ONE OF
THE LATEST INVENTIONS.
The “teletypesetter,” now makes it
possible for an operator in one city te
strike the keys which will simultane-
ously operate linotype machines in
many different cities. Electrical im-
pulses speeding over wires punch
out a perforated tape which in turn
is fed through a machine which op-
erates the linotype key.
Fifty-Fifty.
Pat Murphy was taking his first
flight in an airplane. When up
about 3,000 feet, the plane suddenly
went into a nose-dive.
“Ha, ha!” laughed the pilot, shout-
ing to Pat. “Fifty per cent. of the
people down there thought we were
falling.”
“Begorra,” admitted Pat, “and 50
per cent. of the people up here thought
so, too.”—Stratford Beacon Herald.
—Subsecribe for the Watchman.
KEYSTONE STATE LEADS
IN MANY FARM CROPS.
Reference was recently made in
these columns to the fact that Penn-
sylvania led all other States in out-
put of minerals. Now comes the re-
port printed elsewhere which shows
that the State leads all in the East
as an agricultural principality.
Indeed Pennsylvania is well up the
list in the whole nation in producing
agricultural products. In value of
products hay leads with corn next
and potatoes and wheat following.
As the years go by Pennsylvania
is likely to outstrip many States:
now given over almost wholly to
agriculture because of its strategic
position with reference to population
which consumes vast quantities of
food products. By another decade,
or we miss our guess, Pennsylvania's |
output in value of milk, eggs poul-
try and vegetables, will put it in first
place as an agricultural State.
The reason we make this predic-
tion is that we have the soil and the
farm ability to produce and being so
close to the center of population, we
shall be able to beat all other States
except possibly New York on quick
delivery of dairy products, eggs, poul-
try and vegetables and with the abil-
ity to make this delivery the day of
production. Everything edible that
can be grown in the State will take
high rank and be in great demand.—
Lansacter Intelligencer.
— The Sanitary Water Board
promises to keep the 8000 miles of
100 per cent. pure streams free from
contamination. Nobody ever suspect-
ed there is that much pure water in
the State.
Two Girls Live on
i
| Hot Water and Rice
Due to stomach trouble, Miss A. H.
and sister lived on hot water and
rice. Now they eat anything and
feel fine, they say, since taking Ad-
lerika.
Even the FIRST spoonful of Ad-
lerika relieves gas on the stomach
and removes astonishing amounts of |
old waste matter from the system.
Makes you enjoy your meals and
sleep better. No matter what you
| have tried for your stomach and
| bowels, Adlerika will surprise you.—
Zellers Drug Store.
Ween you
Out of town rates are
low; out of town calls
those youngsters away at
school are getting along..
TELEPHONE
. «. and Find Out!
wonder how
Baney’s Shoe Store
WILBUR H. BANEY, Proprietor
30 years in
the Business
BUSH ARCADE BLOCK
BELLEFONTE, PA.
P. L. Beezer Estate.....Meat Market
PREPARING A MEAL 5
IS A PLEASURE
when you know that your efforts
in the kitchen are going to be
crowned with success. And they
will be crowned with success ev-
ery time, at least so far as the
meat course is concerned, if you
order your meats from us. For
though our prices are no higher,
our meats are the kind that make
every meal a feast.
Telephone 667
Market on the Diamond
Bellefonte, Penna.
ATTORNEYS-AT-LAW
KLINE WOODRING.—Attorney-at
Law, Bellefonte, Pa. Practices im
all courts. Office, room 18 Crider’s
Exchange. b1-1y
KENNEDY JOHNSTON.—Attorney-ate
Law, Bellefonte, Pa. Prompt at
tention given all legal business em=
trusteed to hiis care.
High street.
Offices—No. 5, Hast
67-44
J M. KEICHLINE. — Attorney-at-Law
and Justice of the Peace. All pre=
| fessional business will receive
| prompt attention. Offices on second floor
of Temple Court. 49-5-1y
G. RUNKLE.—Attorney-at-Law, Com-
sultation in English and German.
Office in Crider’s Exchange, Belle-
fonte, Pa. 58-8
PHYSICIANS
R. R. L. CAPERS.
OSTEOPATH.
Bellefonte State College
Crider’'s Ex. 66-11 Holmes Bldg.
8. GLENN, M. D. Physician aad
Surgeon, State College, Centre
county, Pa. Office at his fesld sues.
| D. CASEBEER, Optometrist.—Regis-
i tered and licensed by the State.
| Eyes examined, glasses fitted. Sat-
‘ isfaction guaranteed. Frames replaced
' and leases matched. Casebeer Bldg., High
St., Bellefonte, Pa.
VA B. ROAN, Optometrist, Licensed by
the State Board. State College,
every day except Saturday,
Bellefonte, in the Garbrick building op-
posite the Court House, Wednesday after-
noons from 2 to 8 p. m. and Saturdays 9
| a. m. to 4.30 p. m. Bell Phone
i
i
FEEDS!
We have taken on the line of
Purina Feeds
We also carry the line of
Wayne Feeds
| Purina Cow Chow, 34%, $3.30 per H.
Purina Cow Chow, 24% 8.00 per H.
Purina Calf Meal - 5.50 per H.
Wayne Dairy, 329% - 2.90 per H.
Wayne Dairy, 249, - 2.0per H.
Wayne Egg Mash - 3.25 per H.
Wayne Calf Meal - 4.25 per H.
Wayne All mash starter 4.00 per H.
Wayne All mash grower 3.60 per H.
Wagner’s Pig Meal - 2.80 per H.
Wagner's Egg mash - 2.80 per H.
Wagner’s egg mash with
buttermilk - - 3.00 per H.
Wagner's Dairy, 22% 2.50 per HL.
Oil Meal - - - 8.30 per H.
Cotton seed meal - 2.80 per H.
Flax Meal - - 2.40 per H.
Gluten feed - - 2.70 per H.
Alfalfa - - 2.25 per H.
Meat meal - - 4.00 per H.
Tankage, 60% - - 4.25 per H.
Fine Stock Salt - 1.20 per H.
We have a full line of poultry and
stock feeds on hand at all times at
the right prices.
Let us grind your corn and oats
and sell you the high protein feeds
and make up your own mixtures. We
charge nothing for mixing.
We deliver at a charge of $1.00 per
ton extra.
If You Want Good Bread or Pastry
TRY
“OUR BEST”
OR
| “GOLD COIN” FLOUR
C.Y. Wagner & Co.
g6-11-1yr. BELLEFONTE, PA.
Caldwell & Son
Bellefonte, Pa.
Plumbing
and Heating
PE
Vapor....Steam
By Hot Water
Pipeless Furnaces
NERA MOANA ATES
Full Line of Pipe and Fit-
tings and Mill Supplies
All Sizes of Terra Cotta
Pipe and Fittings
ESTIMATES
Cheerfully ana Promptly Furnished