Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-15
LGurdes, Its Madonna and Her
WOfshipDer>.

If Pau is the foretaste, Lourde5, the goal OF
the pilgrims, is the first true taste Of Pyrenean
scenery. AS we reached the station. a long pro-
CtScl0n OF pilgrims became visible. approaching
the church built over the grotto OF The Virgin
aid for more than half an hour aftergard This
procession was still winding on beside the rapid
river up to the broad pavement where the Dill
grims kneel and pray. The scene was very
striking one To the south, the great peak OF
the Pic du Midi de Niscos, as 1t Is called, that
towers up above Angeles, and one or two
glacier sprlnkled neighbors, were shining
in the burning SUI. On the east, the
grim Castle OF LouIdes On Its perpendicular
before the discovery OF aTtilIery-the Black
Princes captains held 1t for months against a
large French army.completely dominates the
and grotto Of the virgin, close by the RAJ rapid
Gave, into which, In the middle Of the little
town itself, a large tributary Is poured from the
valley OF AIge.es. Thus the light and beautiful
modern church OF the Virgin and the grin castle
or the feudal ages, each skirted by the river
directly front each other; While rugged noun
tains rise over beth, themselves surmounted
But at LQurdes for time one forgot the NOUN
tains-one cannot forget for an instant that
1roWning castle which, even In this century.
has had an English prisoner. Lord ElgIn having
the great French WARM the multitude OF the
pilgrims. We must have seen near thousand
Imagine, IN the single day we spent there, and
more men than women, though there were at
least two hundred nuns among them. The
church was crowded to the very door. Priests
were celebrating mass at several distinct affairs
and outside tie grotto, where great candeIabra
OF mighty candies burned beneath the image of
the Ma00nna, there was, during the whole time
we were there, crowd OF people, scores of them
on their knees, recitlng litanies TO the Virgin,
Here We're Sick people drawn In bath ch Hrs
evidently going through noyena for the re-
covefy or Their health: there was an epiIeptic
surrounded 10y her friends laughing idioticaliy;
here was a simple-looking gHl, With a large
image or the Madonna. which she could hardy
carry, bringing IL TO be blessed; and then every
half hour or so. hymn would be raised Ia
which all the voices Joined, While the clear
Tushlng or the Gave hl!ed up the m0mentary in
teryals.
Al hight there was great procession OF MI
gflmS to the grotto-two and tWo-each holding
lighted taper; and this went On for hours /
doubt II during single hour of the night the
grotto was deserted. And the little town was
all In keeping. The street leading to the church
Is crowded with booths full of 'ob1ets de piete y
StatuetteS or the Virgin roSarieS OF all sorts and
sizes, medallions, cruciflxes pictures all blessed
oy consecrated hands; the saleswomen, of
entice you to drive hither and thither. Most OF
the shops boosted Of some connection with the
poor girl who first saw the vision of the Virgin
Maria Soublr0us; one was the shop OF her
oTOthef, one or some other relative; all sold pic
lures or her. There was regular bureau for
the sale OF the miraculous water. often you
were stopped by kindly looking nuns begging
you 10 give to their special charity and pronis.
ing to pray for you in return. Even at the
tuOte u h0te Two or three such Populations came
round. Certainly never was plery so elabOr-
ateiy organized. On the whole. we liked the
races or Inc women devOteeS much. They were
pure, and sweet, and earnest. but the men
Inought, often looked more crafty than piouls
whlrl and excitement OF watering place.-COJ
TeSDOndeHce L0ndOs, Spectator