The New York herald., 1872-11-03
A NJ 4 r. A @ l. E .
} Deaf Hear and the
Dumb Speak.
THE PROCESSION TO THE CRoTTO.
The Dumb Girl Of NOis Cared in the Presence
l Of fhsusalds Of Pilgrims.
SISTER ELIZADETHS CHARITY

SISTER ELEABETH'S CHARITY.
An Orphan Asylum 70 Be Built for the Desti-
tute Of Lourdes-The Return to Paris.
N3 LOuRpRs Oct. II, 1872.
The programme given me by the aged father
proved most useful In the course OF the day and
during the two which followed. IL announced for
that Sunday pontincal mass at ten and sermon
by one Of the bishops. This ceremony was to take
place In the Prairie u large meadow about large
as the Champ de Mars). At three in the afternoon
the '.Grande Manifestation de la France,n the
blessing Of the banners and the procession to the
miraculous spring. In the evening procession OF
che pilgrinsby torchlight around the grotto. On
Monday, ct eight O'Clock A. NJ, mass and CON-
nnunion; at ten pontincal mass and sermon; at
three vespers and sermon by the Rev. Father
Didop,
on Tuesday, the appointed day Of departure
from Lourdes, mass at seven A. NJ
with Thanksgiving and the rosary. Masses
were to be celebrated all over the
mountains for those who could not stand in the
crowds at the main celebrations. must here add
that some OF shese affairs plnnks Of wood laid
across two tubs, the whole being covered with
snowy white altar cloths. At one Of these humble
affairs the Bishop OF Agen Officiated and preached
TO handful OF peasantry accidentally coming that
way as they descended from the mou ntalns to sell
their provisions.
Soon after had parted from the good father
turned to look at the magnificent church. which
is almost completed and stands on an eminence
above the grottoes OF Massabielle. It Is reached
by winding path, and is Of the richest architec-
ture 1t occupies elevated position that 1t be
seen for leagues around. Promising myself great
treat when should visit the interior and the crypt
below, was just going to proceed on my way to the
hospice In search Of Sister Elizabeth whenI that
large concourse Of the clergy were gathering on
the terrace which fronts the new edifce and they
slowly descended the mountain side. Invent back
and discovered it the procession Of bishops and
their ecclesastics going to pontincal mass at the
Prairie. The Orpheonistes Of Toulouse, Tarbes and
Lourdes accompanied them. First came the Arch
bishop OF Auch, the Bishop OF Lucon, the Bishop OF
Carcassoune, the Bishops of Mende, OF Agen and OF
Montauban. full band and hne choruses played
and sang the principal parts of high mass, which
was not over till midday, and then breakfast was
the principal excitement. Baskets OF food were
opened all over the place; coffee was boiled over
camp fires made with bits OF wood picked up here
and there's huge loaves Of stale bread cold legs OF
mutton and cakes OF chocolate were the chief in
gradients
A COT IN A CORNER.
Iwended my way to the hospice, where outward
decorp tions were completed. Sister Elizabeth was
surrounded by crowds OF newcomers in distress.
answering their questions in her quick way and
satisfying everybody. On recognizing me she made
a sign that was to follow, and she led me up
flight Of stairs, not stopping until we came to
dormitory containing numerous small COTS with
inviting white calico curtains round each.
"Now, my good Pilgrim" she said, 'heres q
spare corner that has been kept till this hour for
father Of the Church, should such holy man claim
our hospitality; God has provided for them all
elsewhere. A complete bed this, you see, with q
bolster, pillow and blankets, and It's more than
many sinner deserves"
confessed my gratitude and acquiescencc.
"You are not French ~ she asked. .'YOu have
come on some business here besides praying 20
owned had come to find out as much about
Bernadette as could. ~t
There was no way Of escaping the experienced
eye of Sister Elizabeth her scrutiny was unerring
therefore confessed on TO the charge, alleging IN
nor one Of the international.
.'But You write for Protestant countries :"
bowed assent, feeling that my nights rest in
the corner cot was greatly menaced by the turn
OF our conversation.
from head TO foot and hiding her two hands IN the
spacious cuns Of her sleeves. "Wel, you will tell
the truth dare say, nothing but the truth 7"
promised would neither add to nor take from
what truth could ascertain.
"Well, that's fair" cried the Sister, "and there's
with this she departed and after had INDUCED
In q view Of the mOuntain from the hospice win
dow hurried to the central place Of Lourdes,
deputations were gathering. Among the members
OF the Legislative Assembly from Paris were MN.
De FrancIleu, Dumon, Chesfelong. De Belcastel, De
Gavardu, De Benevcnt, De Lagrange, Feligonde,
Vimal, De Resseguier. De Barran, Dufour, BOYsse,
De Salntenac, De la Bouilierie and De Bonald.
THE PROGRESS OF LOURDEs.
While was devouring huge sandwich-bronght
out from restaurant to the hungry by buxom
maid In capulet and short red petticoat-and
also while drinking some mild claret from the neck
Of quart bottle had taken care to secure to my
self as came along. very talkatlve inhabitant Of
out In the period Of an hour. He told me his
name, and the time Of his birth that he had known
that @ H Bernadettes brother was sI professor now
that Bernadette's sister was alive and lived close
to the hospice, where her mill could be heard clap
pering In the stream close by from morning to
night that the cities OF Tarbes and Toulouse
were on very cold footing with Lourdes since the
inhabtsnts q tas latter saa determined that mot
was workman himself, and encouraged the
bricEIayers ana ali the corporations Of slate stone
and brick associations to keep strangers out OF SO
gigantic work as that Of the edifcc, even II they
pile now rose up to the clouds without the help o
outsiders. Did know that the statue Of the Virgin,
all in marble, was twenty-eght metres hlgh and
the completion OF the edince would be cele-
brated by such o fete as no mortal had
ever yet behcld; that Bernadette was to leave her
retirement for one day IN order to be the god
mother OF the bells OF Lourdes; that the new
temple had already cost 100000 francs, con.
nations; that the Benedictine Sisters had bought
land on which to build convent close by; that
eleven years ago there was not such man as an
architect In all the place, and now several had
studied land measuring, could draw out plans and
figure, as If they had been through the schools : /
was not expected to reply TO any OF my volube in
formant's queries, fortunately, and he went on
with his communications, while l did the
same with my sandwich. did not perhaps
know, he suggested, that the Church had not
taken possession Of the Massabelle Rocks before
the year 1864, four years alter Bernadette's first
vision, and such bright day the 4th Of April OF
that year The statue that now fflls the orihce in
uhich the arnarifion atood hefora the child yxaa