The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-25

in width by 172 yards in length, the church occr-
pying the central ard principal facade. There
are four parts-the chambers of the abbot. the
apartments of the monks, the college and the
library. The objects OF most interest were tho
cells of the monks, the chapels. the portraits OF
Emrerors, and Queens, and Popes who have
honored tho monastery, the theater where the
boys in the gymnasium bring out four or five
plays annually, and especially the fine stud, for
Einsiedeln is famous for it's horses and COWS.
The church is thoroughly Italian in style and
rather gaudily decorated. Suspended from the
central dome is a colossal corona or chandelier
given by the Emperor Napoleon in 1865, in mem
DRY or the pilgrimage thither of his mother,
Queen Hortense. IL is made of copper gilt On
a band Is inscribed words taken from a letter
written by the Queen to the abbott desire to
place myself and my children under the prptec-
ton of the Blessed Virgin" In the interior of the
corona is an imperial crown with the inscription
Given by Napoleon, the Emperor of the
French, 1868" The chapel of the Virgin, about
which all the interest ~centers, is q small
structure of stone rising near the western end OF
the church. 1t contains the image of the Virgin
and the Christ, clothed in magnificent cloth of
gold. The image is of wood. and has turned
black for reasons unknown. 1t is really very
old, and dates from st. Meinrad, or at least the
year LOCO. Before this shrine kneel crowds of
people all day long, duplicating for themselves
and relatives the favor of the mother of Christ.
The Penltentiary, as it is called, is much fire.
1N~Hs~Ns wiz ~ bNOhty nlilO COnltcSlOHolS L
often filled from morning until late at night with
pilgrims of all nationalities.
1t will be impossible in the compass of this
letter to do justice to the celebration which has
just closed. AT half past 3 in the morning the
thunder of cannon brought the crowds forth into
the starlight, and the scene was an animated one
as the worshIpers hurried from all quarters,
each with has fickering candle. At 4 the large
church was crowded. The chandelier. which is
lighted on only two occasions in the year, was
lowered and lighted. The abbot in full attire
passed down through the crowd to the chapel of
the Virgin. and the mass began. The organ
was assisted by a trained band of monks whose
musical taste is studiously developed from year
to year The fine voices of the choir-boys
resounded through the building as the throng
listened with bated breath. At 8 o'clock there
was a sermon in German, and this was followed
by high mass at 8. At 3 in the afternoon came
vespers, after which the monks came down in a
body and entered the chapel of the Virgin. where
they chanted in sonorous voices a service which
has come down from the oldest times, and always
been sung In just this manner. In the meantime
the pilgrims, wh0 had purchased little presents
for their friends at the large number of shops
that fill the arcade in front of the church,
crowded around a chapel near at hand to have
their gifts and mementoes blessed by a priest,
One of the most interesting sights of the day
was to glance into the bundles as they were un-
rolled with trembling hands and held up to the
priest.
All through the day the crowds kept pouring
into the village. They made their way straight
to the church to pray before the shrine of the
Virgin, then came out to the fountain in front
with its fourteen Jets and went around it, drink
ing at every jet, mumbling prayers as they went.
All the costumes of central Europe were dis
played in the dress of the pilgrims; the huge
bows on the head from the Black Forest were
seen at every turn, and scarlet dresses and
many-colored handkerchief contrasted with the
sober robes of priests and capuchins. As the
evening advanced, a busy company of artisans
began to illuminate the church front and tempo
rary throne erected opposite across the square.
Soon every house-front blaZed with light. At 8
o'clock the chandelier in the church was again
lighted, and, after preliminary services by the
choir, the great procession, with the abbot at its
head, marched down the nave and
across the square TO the brilliant altar.
Armed soldiers guarded the way, and a
was hushed, as the open-air service began. At
the climaxes the cannon were fired in perfect
time with the music. The loud chant of the
deep-throated monks came up in a massive wave
of sound. At length the thousands dropped on
their knees to receive the benediction. After
this the train marched back to the church, head
ed this time by a troop of young girls profusely
decorated with flowers In the church the serv-
ice of the day was completed. But a small por-
ton of the crowd could get in. At 8 o'clock all
was over, and the assembled multitude retired to
their quarters for the night. At noon the next
Gay the town was emptied and the usual quiet
rested down upon Einsiedeln.
Einsiedeln is rarely visited by the tourist, but
it is one of the most interesting places in Swift
zerland at any time, and especially on one OF the
great feast days. Ignorance and bigotry crop
out continually, but there is a spirit of devotion
displayed which checks the laugh, and which
adds and old-time glamour to the scene. Indeed,
one sees at Einsiedeln a crystalized bit of the
Middle Ages. WOODWARD.