The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1873-07-26
OUR VIENNA CORRESPONDENTS.
NUMBER THIRTEEN.
CORPUS CHRISTI DAY.

.. CORPUS CHRISTI DAY.
VIENNA, Austria, June IL, 1878.
1t is astonishing how many holidays
these Catholic people have in year
enough to prove serious annoyance
! to one who has no interest In them,
and whose pursuits are interrupted
thereby. 1t would seem rs though at
least one-third of the days We're holi-
days; but that may he exaggeration,
for have not kept strict account. All
last week was the Whltsuntide, during
which the children were confirmed in
the Cathedral, and what was of more
Importance to them, received presents
from godparents and friends new
dresses, ripgs and prayerbooks whose
chief charm lay in the elegance of the
binding. te''''.
To-day is 'Frohn Leichnam's Tag
Corpus Christi day, and early this
morning, at O'Clock, began the grand
procession in the city, though long be-
fore that hour the waiting crowd had
assembled as spectators. The court
usually participates in this solemnity,
that is, the Emperor and attendants
always, the Empress and court ladies
sometimes.
Every one thought she would GER
tninly appear this year, out of regard
for the strangers in the city; but unfor-
tunately she had an indispostion that
Is apt to sieze her at this time of year,
and 50 the gay appearance of the pro-
ccssion was much lessened.
All I a. NJ. the people assembled in
st. Stephens Cathedral and after u
preliminary service, the procession was
formed. Tho street through which it
was to pass had been strcwn with
grass and flowers, and boughs Of trees
were placed close together OIL the pave
mcnts, leaning against the house, thus
giving u fresh and gala-lilSe appear
anae. At four different places affairs
were erected in the streets. Floors
were laid and covered with carpets. a
building formed. the back Of the altar
and the sides of boards, perhaps fifteen
feet high, inclosed II space of twenty
feet square, and was covered with ta-
pestry. f..
/ The affairs were covered with crimson
velvet decorated with pictures, flowers
and wax candles. a railing enclosed
the fourth side, next the street, and
prevented the eager crowd from tres
passing ON the holy ground. These
affairs were generally erected in aPlatz
ormarket, and stands were built around
from which people, by paying from
| twenty-five cents to two dollars could
obtain a good view of the procession
and of the services. From the steps OF
ladder in the Neuer Market We saw
the solemnities of theoccasion, togeth-
er with its parade and glitter. Atroop
of over 200 veterans from the army led
the van, dressed in plain uniform with
their orders on their breasts, and car
rying under their left arms their cooked
hats, decorated with green plumes.
Two hundred boys, from twelve TO
sixteen years Of age, dressed in black,
followed, and behind them a band OF
music playing. Then came more boys,
some elderly men and monks, singing.
A long train of black robcd priests,
=.
theological Students, monks, different
societies bearing banners, gold and sill
yer crosses, pictures 9fMadonnas then
passed by, the priests in the center and
those bearing the bauners on each. .sille.
The priests were reading from their
books and the rest responding in a
sing song tone. ~ i'''ie ,r = ..'iiit
Now came the servants of the court,
their gay livery glittering with gold
lace contrasting strongly with the SOM
bre garb of those who preceded them.
The court singers came chanting, and
after Them the court officers and foreign.
officials, making also brilliant APP
pearance, the Minister from the Court
Of England and his secretary being
dressed in scarlet throughout. si, a.s
-Under a canopy carried by anumber
Of men walked the Archbishop, in a
robe covered almost entirely with gold
embroidery, and immediately behind
him came the Emperor and Archdukes,
some eight' in number, and all bare
headed, and the Emperor's bald head
shone in the sun as If silver plated.
The Imperial party were surrounded
BY a double guard The X. X, that is
kingly and Imperial guard, in gorgeous
uniforms with leopard and skin mani
ties thrown ocer their shoulders, and
I outside Of these, the court guard, car
rying their green hats which bore
! long white Flumcs. The rear was COW
cred with a double row of mounted
puard. A canopy was erected near
each altar. under which the Imperial
narfv took shelter during the serSicc.
Inc Emperor sitting in q large arm
chair, the rest remaining standing.
Before this chair stvod a footsioo
and praying stand, at which His Royal
/ Majesty knelt during theservice. How
ever lie said his prayers quicker thar
the Bishop, and coming off his knee:
with bounce, looked around him viii
an expression that seemed 20 eay
"fhfolfuli with ore thank fef iine
lets get m 70 the neyt oEe a. qiiiel