The Social Cancer, by José Rizal - Home

CHAPTER XXXII 155
of all ages, in clothing of all colors. The yellowish individual became uneasy and with a glance examined his
whole apparatus. A curious countryman followed his glance and watched all his movements; this was Elias,
who had also come to witness the ceremony, but in his salakot and rough attire he was almost unrecognizable.
He had secured a very good position almost at the side of the windlass, on the edge of the excavation. With
the music came the alcalde, the municipal officials, the friars, with the exception of Padre Damaso, and the
Spanish employees. Ibarra was conversing with the alcalde, of whom he had made quite a friend since he had
addressed to him some well-turned compliments over his decorations and ribbons, for aristocratic pretensions
were the weakness of his Honor. Capitan Tiago, the alferez, and some other wealthy personages came in the
gilded cluster of maidens displaying their silken parasols. Padre Salvi followed, silent and thoughtful as ever.
"Count upon my support always in any worthy enterprise," the alcalde was saying to Ibarra. "I will give you
whatever appropriation you need or else see that it is furnished by others."
As they drew nearer the youth felt his heart beat faster. Instinctively he glanced at the strange scaffolding
raised there. He saw the yellowish individual salute him respectfully and gaze at him fixedly for a moment.
With surprise he noticed Elias, who with a significant wink gave him to understand that he should remember
the warning in the church.
The curate put on his sacerdotal robes and commenced the ceremony, while the one-eyed sacristan held the
book and an acolyte the hyssop and jar of holy water. The rest stood about him uncovered, and maintained
such a profound silence that, in spite of his reading in a low tone, it was apparent that Padre Salvi's voice was
trembling.
Meanwhile, there had been placed in the glass case the manuscripts, newspapers, medals, coins, and the like,
and the whole enclosed in the leaden cylinder, which was then hermetically sealed.
"Señor Ibarra, will you put the box in its place? The curate is waiting," murmured the alcalde into the young
man's ear.
"I would with great pleasure," answered the latter, "but that would be usurping the honorable duty of the
escribano. The escribano must make affidavit of the act."
So the escribano gravely took the box, descended the carpeted stairway leading to the bottom of the
excavation and with due solemnity placed it in the hole in the stone. The curate then took the hyssop and
sprinkled the stones with holy water.
Now the moment had arrived for each one to place his trowelful of mortar on the face of the large stone lying
in the trench, in order that the other might be fitted and fastened to it. Ibarra handed the alcalde a mason's
trowel, on the wide silver Made of which was engraved the date. But the alcalde first gave a harangue in
Spanish:
"People of San Diego! We have the honor to preside over a ceremony whose importance you will not
understand unless We tell you of it. A school is being founded, and the school is the basis of society, the
school is the book in which is written the future of the nations! Show us the schools of a people and We will
show you what that people is.
"People of San Diego! Thank God, who has given you holy priests, and the government of the mother
country, which untiringly spreads civilization through these fertile isles, protected beneath her glorious
mantle! Thank God, who has taken pity on you and sent you these humble priests who enlighten you and
teach you the divine word! Thank the government, which has made, is making, and will continue to make, so
many sacrifices for you and your children!