The Express.
London, England, 1857-08-28 00:00:00

THE BOULOGNE PILGRIMAGES.

(71011 OtR OWN CORlNgsrv....
We want a modern Chaucer in Boulogne. Who
else shall sing the frolics and the quaint appear-
ance, the theatrical effects and queer combinations,
of our pilgrims? Aye, pilgnms; some, pretty
dainty ladies, with peach-coloured parasols; othen,
stern Paceioniste, with bare, dusty. feet, and the heart
and cross embroidered upon their coarse garments.
From the Porte de Calais to the lighthouse at the
end of the pier; from the heights of Outreau to the
Emperor's column, the great population of this sea-
port and bathing-place is astir, and, we are assured,
in a high state of religious fervour. Behind those
dismal blank walls, in the sombre by-streets, girls
with hectic flushes upon their cheeks are ernbroideneg
the sacred mysteries upon white silk banners; while in
another quarter nimble fingers elaborate the standard
of the Immaculate Conception. Cheerily sing the
pretty dapper blanthisseuses, in their neat shops,
as
they starch and iron the ample skirts of the maiden'
who are to bear through the decorated streets the
dead hand in a casket. Anxiously, mothers o
families count the family linen to kiow how many
sheets can be hung from the windows, and bound
with blue, in honour of our Lady, of Boulogne. A
priest enters yonder milliner's shop. Addressing one
of the young workwomcn, he says :
" Will mademoiselle take part in the procession of
the Immaculate Conception ?
Mademoiselle is of course highly honoured. Thu
follow the details :—Mademoiselle must have an
embroidered scarf, an elaborate wreath ; more, made-
moiselle must subscribe to the expenses of the banner.
In short, it will cost mademoiselle forty freq.
Forty francs, to be paid by a poor girl who nob
one franc a day as a washerwoman ! The priest
counts cunningly, however. The poor thing may
be exalted by the idea of appearing in a public pro-
cession, by wearing a white dress, and being girded
by a golden scarf, and crowned with a burnished
wreath. She will parade her native town in the
face of hundreds of friends. The temptation is
strong, and if she has saved a few franca she will
probably yield to the arguments of vanity supported
by those of her religion. In the case which cams
under my notice, and which I have here faith-
fully set before the reader for his candid appro.
elation, the girl declined the honour, and as she
told the story of the application and her refusal,
, bade ns believe that she was a catholic, bat
not a bigot. Still the maidens have been
found to sport white muslin, and wear sashes,
and bear aloft, in the face of day, aye,
within sight of Dover, the banner of the
Immaculate Conception ! The fishwomen an
arranging new scarlet petticoats; the fishermen am
ordering new suits of blue—and all in honour of oar
Lady of Boulogne. There is a massive bell in yonder
white cathedral that stands boldly into the blue sky
beyond the grey ramparts. To-morrow that ball
will be christened the Immaculate Conception!
Bishops, archbishops, and a cardinal are to sweets
the air of the Boulonnais with their presence. Mon
pilgrims arc streaming hither from London. They
step ashore, opposite the Custom-house. and are is
ceived with tender words, by nailing priests.
Englishwomen will parade these streets on Sunday
next before tens of thousands of staring stranger
in token of their deep humility. And who is the
patron of all this street piety ? the reader may ask,
The said reader may remember that about this
time last year the attention of Englishmen
was drawn, in the columns of the Express, to t
disgraceful attempt made by a conspicuous membe
of the Ultramontane church party of France to feu
the chiefs of schools within his diocese either to cot.
stet or dismiss protestant scholars. There was ens
a threat that schoolmasters or schoolmistresses who
harboured little heretics should not receive the
sacrament. The hero of this little—this very little
—crusade, was my lord bishop, Pierre LOIN" 01
Arras, Boulogne, and St. Omer. He is better knows
for his daring bigotry as M. Parisis. And now lbeg
to present the portly figure of my lord to tie
English reader, as the chief and patron of the pil-
grimages and processions of which this little ear
port is now the scene. It is he who has set the
schools to work, to embroider banners, and embluas
standards. From behind the dull walls d
these countless pensinnnals will come forth
on Sunday next crowds of girls, all marshalled
to their colours, and proudly bearing alai
the mysterious work of their hands. Ils
programme of the procession lies before me. Ands
curious document it is to read in these times, whet
we are weaving Atlantic cables and lamenting the
power of the Brahmin's mysterious rite.. It informs
us that in the procession will be found Sisters of the
Christian Retreat, in white robes, with golden lasi
and crowns, chanting in honour of the Holy Virgill
others, walking under the banner of the ImmuuMl
Conception, will carry flowers, and will he followed
by " girls of the Association of the Immaculate
Conception" in white dresses with green sea&
Then will follow members of the Perpetual Adam
tion in black, bearing upon their breasts a atm
suspended by a pink riband, and before the's
crown of thorns will be borne upon a cushier.
Three sailors will bear along a Byzantine cram
taken from the ltussians. The banner of the
Virgin will be escorted by thirty-five girls
white, with blue or yellow scarfs ; and sixty voids
with totettes upon their arms. Then forty rhildres
with white crowns, will appear around a corbel* d
flowers, and will scatter them around. Thee the
children of Mary will appear, surrounding a bean
of the Immaculate Conception. Sixteen fishnet'
from l'ortcl will bear the banner representieg ths
Purification of the Virgin. like Immaculate Camp
lion Orphan Asylum will he represented, Burro:lo4W
by the orphans. And then will appear pupils horn
the schonis of Mdlle. Bosun, and Millie. Fenn*
the former bearing the banner of the sacred heart d
Mary; the latter will be children of Mary. beerill
their own banners. The pupils of Mdlle. Vailleat
will also appear in the streets of Boulogne,
ryboli"_,
iug the banner of our T.ady of the Rosa. An.
then will follow the Happy Mysteries—emblasisli
and borne by pupils of Boulogne schools, and in t 1
same way the glorious and dolorous mysteries
be presented to the crowd. After the mysteries tit
Harmonic Society of Calais will oblige the noted,
ushering English ladies, u pilgrim.. carrying
banner ; and then will come the Pans 0016
Comfortable pilgrims enough they will be, t under
may be assured. The Folkestone boat has biiti
them snugly hither ; the South Eastern Rail's via
conveyed them from London to the steamer. "0"7
have possibly a return ticket in the pocket of thee
very fresh dresses!
But way, there, for the Bishop of Arras; 1,57 air„
the hand of the miraculous statue, borne yr"
golden carriage ; way for the holy crowns and ilia
burners of incense ; way for the bishops, the aim
bishop, the cardinal! And now, gendarmes, close
proceseion! teat
In this praetorian, which, to our vulgar rot
eyes, has not merely a faint tint of the blespheeto
in it, let the reader observe that there site NWT
schoolmistresses who advertise, in London. louder
take the education of English children. To chide"
brought up in the preeence and knowledge of Pr_
gnmages like this, with which Boulogne ie to
enlivened on Sunday next, it is an easy matt°