SPAIN: Spanish Custom

One broiling Barcelona day last week 30,000 children marshaled by hundreds of priests gathered for an open air prayer festival at which it is a local custom to pray masked. Many and many a child sneaked off the sweltering mask during the long prayer, but all remained devoutly motionless kneeling under a grilling sun. When the prayer ended 28,000 tots rose and prepared to march away but 2,000 continued to kneel as though stupefied or paralyzed in the attitude of adoration. Doctors pronounced them sunstruck. Several hundred had to be rushed to hospitals, all were expected to recover.