The New York herald., 1873-10-20
It, They had the habits Of solitary men, those rev.
erend fathers but they came out well as

It, They had the habits Of solitary men, those rev
erend fathers, but they came out well as
MUSCULAR CHRISTIANS.
and some OF the young Wears gambolled up and
down the mountain side like wild colts
1t was very poor country-poor as Ireland han
century ago; poor as the Scotch highlands be-
fore the late Duke OF Sutherand's time. But the
land Ii good and productive, and the mountaineers
hardy and parsmonious. ! gave cigar to one OF
them, and he wrapped 1t In his handkerchief, say
ing that he would smoke it as treat next Sunday.
inquired into his condition, and found that no
was q farmer who cultivated his own land. There
Il little
GoTTRE AT LA sALETTK,
but great deal OF that fearful disease In the
neighboring villages, where there are many mus
trees leave 1t to physicians to decide whether
there is any sympathy between nuts and g0itre.
merely record the fact above mentioned.
After nearly three hours ride we saw process
sion wind round the summit OF the mountain and
heard distant singing. Presently the sound OF
bells came softly through the air. The weather
was extraordinarily fine, and again thought, as
l had often thought before, how pretty is this
piety which finds It's symbols upon mountain tops
and In grottoes and fountains haowed by angels
footsteps. Beneath us lay scene OF marvellous
beauty. Cataracts dashed and rivulets playeds
torrents sparkled and forests waved round tne
dox publication, "Murrays Handbook" calls an
impOsture.
An imposture2 How do we know 1t is an I'M
postures And then In the next breath declare
that we know nothing OF the invisible world Is II
more reasonable to believe that Heaven has aban
doned us than to think that the Almighty can
manifest mercy and His power We are such poor
worms that 1t Is but natural we should hail with
Joy and hope anything which seems at least ia
assure us Of . life beyond the grave; and surely
the results OF an imposture are seldom so benef
cent as those which have followed the alleged
apparition OF the Virgin at La Salette.
dismounted at the house OF Maximin Giraud,
the boy (now man) who saw the vision. He SELF
pilgrims staves and other things. Was not one
OF the apostles q tent maker, and did he not sup
port himself by the fair prices he got
for his goods2 There has been great 0utcry
among British shopkeepers because friend
Maximin keeps q shop also. ! see no
reason for 1t. The man does not sell poison, 81
English brewer baronets do; he does not sell
shoddy, like of the Yorkshire lords he is mot
q usurer, like the peers OF Mr.. Pitt and the rienda
OF Mr.. Gladstone. Why should he not turn Dennyt
he does not pretend to be rich man. He was
q cowherd, nothing more; and Is not worth today
at more than forty years OF age, f20.
This Maximn Giraud who saw the Virgin Mary
told me his story word for word, as have already
related 1t to the readers OF the NEW YORK HERALD.
l have rather wide experience OF rogues, having
had much to do with Foreign once agents and
other cunning persons who had sharp eyes los
their own interests, and am sure that this MAXI
min Giraud Is not rogue. Honesty Is written III
his face as plainly as ever saw 1t traced on
human features. He is q stout, unpretendlng man.
with trustful eyes, very simple and direct ID nN
speech, and makes visible effort to be scrupu-
lously correct In his narrative. nave always
been Of opinion however. that
sHREwD WOMAN OF TIE WORLD
is the best Judge OF a mans character, where her
affections are not engaged. SO would not trust
my own first Impressions Of Maximin Graud, bue
went In search OF an old friend OF mine who had
once been an ambassadress.
sDuchess, - said to her, II want you to give me
your candid opinion OF new acquaintance" ands
laughing at my GOODNESS, but not displeased-ior
She too had just arrived and did not know what 70
do with herself and sister till high mass-she 40
companied me to Maximin Giraud's shop. He was
standing in the doorway looking out quietly az the
crowd.
.sThat is the man." whispered, and again en-.
tered into conversation with him, while thu
Duchess listened with half-closed eyes, and saw
that she scanned him keenly and weighed every
word he said. Then she talked to him herself, and
her sister talked, and neither OF them had the
slightest idea OF his name or business In this world.
..wellsn said, as Her Grace made slight move
ment with her fan, as though she were hoisting
fairy sail and knew that she was going.
.Eh bienn she replied, raising her dark eye
brows, which were once incomparably lovely and
are still SO full Of grace and wit-"En oten, c'est un
bon hOn17ae ~
set votya tout?" asked.
"Et votla toutn remarked Her Grace, alter
voopart,o aAaction-
..Pas asn peu-',sats un petit pew-zaccnanti Mem
teur, par ereTapte ?"
"Coynnae,at! Get honn,e Ia? Pas ye n,otndre du
monde. Je ne H crotrdt Jdndas." returned Her
Grace decidedly.
Then told her we had talked to Maximin GL
raud the man who saw the Virgin, and she
crossed herself imperceptbly, saying "Aon Dteuf
cest done bten urai,n with the most charming
Partisan accent.
AT eleven O'Clock the Bishop Of Grenoble
preached to
-FOUR THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED PILGRIMS
in the open air, as few days before he had
preached to 5000 pilgrims, standing upon the spot
where the Virgin was first seen surrounded BY q
halo of light and weeping as women weep. for
the sins of the world. He stood upon splendid
dais; with banners all OF silk and gold waving to
the right and left OF him. His sermon was nobie
effort OF oratory; his voice full, harmonious and
impressive. Before him was magnificent pano-
rama, with snow-cad mountains in the back
ground. Among the congregation were troops Of
white-clothed nuns, SWISS peasants, fashionably
dressed ladies and some OF the first gentlemen in
France They were very hushed and attentive as
they sat at the prelates feet, and mis- awful words
pealed out ike thunder. He said that there were
TWO FRENCH PEOPLES.
Christian and pagan people. He foretold that
the one would save the other and then he uttered
passionate prayer for Asace.Lorraine.
There was loud capping OF hands when thd
sermon closed, and as those who knelt for his
benediction rose up there was clatter OF the
chaplets which the pilgrims wore, like the rafting
OF some sanity armor. There was also
AN AsToNIsHED DONKEY,
- ...,., .ars .,anning ont nrominently on a