In the first days of Josè's incumbency he found many serious matters to adjust. He had learned from Rosendo that not half the residents of Simití were married to the consorts with whom they lived, and that many of the children who played in the streets did not know who their fathers were. So prevalent was this evil condition that the custom among the men of having their initials embroidered upon the bosoms of their shirts was extended to include the initial of the mother's family name. Josè had questioned Rosendo as to the meaning of the letters R. A. S. upon his shirt. "The S, Padre, is the initial of my mother's family name. I am Rosendo Ariza, son of the daughter of Saurez. My parents were married by a priest. But half the people of Simití have never been really married." Josè sought the cause of this dereliction. Fidel Avila was living with a woman, by whom he had three children. The priest summoned him to the parish house. "Fidel," he questioned sternly, "Jacinta, the woman you live with, is your wife?" "Yes, _Señor Padre_." "And you were married by the Church?" "No, Padre." "But was there a priest here when you began to live with Jacinta?" "Yes, Padre. The _Cura_, Don Diego Polo, was here." "Then why were you not married by him? Do you not know how wicked it is to live as you are doing? Think of your children!" "Yes, Padre, and I asked the _Cura_, Don Diego, to marry us. But he charged twenty _pesos oro_ for doing it; and I could not afford it. I loved Jacinta. And so we decided to live together without the marriage." "But--!" Josè stopped. He knew that the Church recognized no marriage unless it were performed by a priest. The civil magistrate had no jurisdiction in such a case. And a former priest's rapacity had resulted in forcing illegitimacy upon half the children of this benighted hamlet, because of their parents' inability to afford the luxury of a canonical marriage. "Fidel, were your father and mother married?" he asked in kinder tones. "I do not know, Padre. Only a few people in Guamocó can afford to pay to be married. The men and women live together, perhaps for all time, perhaps for only a few months. If a man wishes to leave his woman and live with another, he does so. If there are children, the woman always has to keep and care for them." "And could you leave Jacinta if you wished, and live with another woman?" "Yes, Padre." "And she would have to lake care of your children?" "Yes." "And all because you are not married?" "I think so, Padre." "_Hombre!_ But that will do, Fidel." Oh, the sordid greed of those who abuse their sacred commission! What punishment is mete for such as exploit these lowly folk in the name of religion! Josè strode off to consult the Alcalde. "Don Mario, the men in Simití who are living with women have _got_ to be married to them! It is shameful! I shall make a canvass of the town at once!" The Alcalde laughed. "_Costumbre_, Padre. You can't change it."