The Sunday begins, like all other days here, religiously and secularly. The trumpets of the garrison ring out the first reveille, and the bells of the churches ring out almost immediately their oration, or call to prayer. By five the tintinnabulations play on the tympanum, like a Fourth of July at home, and "sleep no more" is a decree that has to be obeyed. It was a pleasanter sound, certainly, than the music of pleasure bands and factory bells, and I almost forgot myself for a moment, and fancied I was going to have a goodly service on this sacred day. This impression was deepened by an incident which occurred while I was taking my desayuno, or first breakfast, which consists of only a cup of coffee and a small roll. I ask the waiter what his name is. "Trinidad, señor," he replies, respectfully. Shocked at the answer, I repeat it. "Trinidad?" "Si, señor." "La Santissima Trinidad?" "La Santissima Trinidad, señor." So I was talking with the Most Holy Trinity in the form of a poor Aztec boy. I never supposed their baptismal names had reached that pitch of profanity. "Jesus" is as common as John at home; more so: but "La Santissima Trinidad!"
I asked this wonderfully named youth if he went to church. "Yes." "Every day?" "Every eighth day." "What day?" "Sunday." "At what hour?" "Between five and six." So that bell-ringing had taken him to church. I asked him if he could read. "Yes." "Have you a Bible?" "No." "Would you like one?" "Yes." All I had was a Spanish Testament, and that went to La Santissima Trinidad at the risk of disclosing my business, and bringing the kidnapers about my ears. How strange to call a child by the most holy name of God Himself. The priest that baptized such a babe needs himself to be renewed in the spirit of his mind, and the Church that admits it certainly should be reformed.
This utter insensibility to all distinctions as to sacred and divine things was strikingly shown at a dinner-table in Cuernervaca. A company of Americans and English, all Protestant in their training, had a leading Mexican of the section at meat with them. A
