The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home
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CHAPTER XXVIII 138<br />
CHAPTER XXVIII<br />
Correspondence<br />
Cada uno habla de la feria como le va en ella. [82]<br />
As nothing of importance to our characters happened during the first two days, we should gladly pass on to<br />
the third and last, were it not that perhaps some foreign reader may wish to know how the Filipinos celebrate<br />
their fiestas. For this reason we shall faithfully reproduce in this chapter several letters, one of them being that<br />
of the correspondent of a noted Manila newspaper, respected for its grave tone and deep seriousness. Our<br />
readers will correct some natural and trifling slips of the pen. Thus the worthy correspondent of the<br />
respectable newspaper wrote:<br />
"TO THE EDITOR, MY DISTINGUISHED FRIEND,--Never did I witness, nor had I ever expected to see in<br />
the provinces, a religious fiesta so solemn, so splendid, and so impressive as that now being celebrated in this<br />
town <strong>by</strong> the Most Reverend and virtuous Franciscan Fathers.<br />
"Great crowds are in attendance. I have here had the pleasure of greeting nearly all the Spaniards who reside<br />
in this province, three Reverend Augustinian Fathers from the province of Batangas, and two Reverend<br />
Dominican Fathers. One of the latter is the Very Reverend Fray Hernando Si<strong>by</strong>la, who has come to honor this<br />
town with his presence, a distinction which its worthy inhabitants should never forget. I have also seen a great<br />
number of the best people of Cavite and Pampanga, many wealthy persons from Manila, and many bands of<br />
music,--among these the very artistic one of Pagsanhan belonging to the escribano, Don Miguel<br />
Guevara,--swarms of Chinamen and Indians, who, with the curiosity of the former and the piety of the latter,<br />
awaited anxiously the day on which was to be celebrated the comic-mimic-lyric-lightning-change-dramatic<br />
spectacle, for which a large and spacious theater had been erected in the middle of the plaza.<br />
"At nine on the night of the 10th, the eve of the fiesta, after a succulent dinner set before us <strong>by</strong> the hermano<br />
mayor, the attention of all the Spaniards and friars in the convento was attracted <strong>by</strong> strains of music from a<br />
surging multitude which, with the noise of bombs and rockets, preceded <strong>by</strong> the leading citizens of the town,<br />
came to the convento to escort us to the place prepared and arranged for us that we might witness the<br />
spectacle. Such a courteous offer we had to accept, although I should have preferred to rest in the arms of<br />
Morpheus and repose my weary limbs, which were aching, thanks to the joltings of the vehicle furnished us<br />
<strong>by</strong> the gobernadorcillo of B----.<br />
"Accordingly we joined them and proceeded to look for our companions, who were dining in the house,<br />
owned here <strong>by</strong> the pious and wealthy Don Santiago de los Santos. <strong>The</strong> curate of the town, the Very Reverend<br />
Fray Bernardo Salvi, and the Very Reverend Fray Damaso Verdolagas, who is now <strong>by</strong> the special favor of<br />
Heaven recovered from the suffering caused him <strong>by</strong> an impious hand, in company with the Very Reverend<br />
Fray Hernando Si<strong>by</strong>la and the virtuous curate of Tanawan, with other Spaniards, were guests in the house of<br />
the Filipino Croesus. <strong>The</strong>re we had the good fortune of admiring not only the luxury and good taste of the<br />
host, which are not usual among the natives, but also the beauty of the charming and wealthy heiress, who<br />
showed herself to be a polished disciple of St. Cecelia <strong>by</strong> playing on her elegant piano, with a mastery that<br />
recalled Galvez to me, the best German and Italian compositions. It is a matter of regret that such a charming<br />
young lady should be so excessively modest as to hide her talents from a society which has only admiration<br />
for her. Nor should I leave unwritten that in the house of our host there were set before us champagne and fine<br />
liqueurs with the profusion and splendor that characterize the well-known capitalist.<br />
"We attended the spectacle. You already know our artists, Ratia, Carvajal, and Fernandez, whose cleverness<br />
was comprehended <strong>by</strong> us alone, since the uncultured crowd did not understand a jot of it. Chananay and<br />
Balbino were very good, though a little hoarse; the latter made one break, but together, and as regards earnest<br />
effort, they were admirable. <strong>The</strong> Indians were greatly pleased with the Tagalog drama, especially the