, 1886-08-12
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Some Of the Legends About Monte Yer.
gine-The Yearly Pilgrimage.

Some Of the Legends About Monte Yer
gine-The Yearly Pilgrimage.
Monte Nerglne possesses many attrac-
tions. The nights behind the convent
command one of the most extensive and
striking prospects in southern Italy. The
Christian church was founded In 111g on
the ruins of a temple said to have been
dedicated to Cybele in n period earlier than
the very commencement of Roman his
tory. 1t contains the chapel which Man
fred built for his own resting place, and
which, after the battle of Benevento,
Charles presented to one of his followers,
and at once adorned and desecrated with
the lilies of Anjou. The miraculous pict-
ure of the Holy Virgin, the chief boast OF
the sanctuary, was presented by Catha-
r,ne of Nalois; it probably came from the
east, and possesses considerable archmo-
logical, though no great artistic, interest.
In a word, il is n place that repays inspec-
ton better than many that are more fire.
q%uently visited. 1t is not on this, how
ever, hat its celebrity depends; nor is it
for this reason that we call attention to it
to-day.
The yearly pilgrimage to Monte Vergine
Is perhaps the most characteristic, as it is
Ger. ainly the most peculiar, of all the fes-
tivals of Naples and the districts which
Immediately surround 1t. A number of
superstitiOns are connected with the pill
grimage. Most Of the devotees bring their
w provisions with them, n If clouds
gather round the mountain tops and rain
threatens 1t is generally believed that some
one has brought meat up the sacred hill.
The crowd is infuriated. Haversacks have
to be opened and pockets turned inside
out. and If even the remnants of n musty
sausage are found upon any one, he Is
f.ln ,AI Il. ,. $50. nx oil lI. ~ofts,. No. -.
far does this feeling with respect to the
sanctity of the mountain go that girls
carefully wash all the pomatum out of
their hair at Mercogliano before attempt
ing the ascent. Strange tales are told
round the iieid-fres of maidens who, hay
ing neglected to do so, have been struck
by lightning before they could reach the
holy place. There is generally n touch of
humorous incredulity in the way in which
such stories are related, and yet a half
belief in them still survives. Olive and
other vegetable oils are harmless.
Other and more pleasing traditions sur
round the place at this time. The noun
tain and all the uncultivated country near
are covered with broom, which is usually
in blossom at the time OF the festival. If
the wheels of n car or carriage by chance
cut off one of the sprays it is n certain
omen that any manageable girl who is
seated in it will find a husband within the
year. To crush without cutting the
branch is an evil augury. Again, if lovers
are separated by the prudence Of their pa
rents or any other unkind trick of fate,
they endcavor to meet each other amid
the crowd which is constantly ascending
or descending the mountain side, int then
they steal away from the rest, and tie the
branches of two different broom plants to-
gether. This is regarded rs n iii of
VOW; If the difficulties are overcome and
they are united in the course of the year,
t is their duty to return on the next festi-
val and unite the knot. 1t Is sad to see
how many branches thus united remain
unloosened; nay, how many lie whitening
upon the ground. Is there not what once
seemed to the chief personages in these
untold stories a tragedy, or at least an
idyl in enthusiastically Review.