The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29

rui Figure Wa. Seen by Peasant Girl
Her story Was Not Believed Mt First
hut In limo Crowds Assembled When
She Prayed at the misunderstanding a
stream That Ha, Flowed Ever Since
Wonderful Cures Rccorded-Piigrimage.
from All Parts OF the vvorid-Thorough
Investigations which Prove the Real,t,
of the Miracles Witnessed There.
This narrative Of tho eighteen appearances
OF tho Blessed Virgin at Lourdes in 1853 and
tho miraculous cures there and elsewhere
since Is from charmlngly written book OF the
distinguished French littcratour Henri La
serre. which has been translated into twenty
two languages and has run through as many
editions as the most popular works Of our day
also from q recent work Of DIR. Boissarie. a
French physician. entitled "Lourdes Historic
MGdicale." which has IN to this time run
through eleven editions A long notice Of the
last-named book was published In the March
number Of the Catholic World Henri Lascrre
has written another book entitled Episodes
do Lourdes." which has boon translated into
English
Lourdes. small. very old town in the de-
close to the right bank of the river Gave. n
rapid stream. which, receiving its wators from
tho torrents and moltinis SHOWS Of the ad mt
mountains. flows over pebbly bed and falls
into tho Adour. Tho houses OF tho town are
grouped around Il picturesque fortress on n
high rock. which was considered impregnable
during the Middle Ages and was tho key Of
tho pyrcnees. Every road to tho mineral
springs OF tho pyronces passes by Lourdes
The citizens Of tho town are generally honest.
religious. and avcrso to change and they have
many guilds OF iahorcrs and craftsmen for mu-
tual assistance that were founded as far back
as the Middle Ages. At short distance from
tho town arc high rocks called les roches mas
Isabelle. and ut the foot Of these is IL grotto
with three slngularly shaped rccesses.
the largest OF which 10 on Il level with the
ground. and is from forty to fifty feet in height
and depth. or the two smaller recesses on tho
right OF tho entrance. ono above tho other. ono
Is about tho sizo of a window. or n niche in a
church. communicating with tho interior OF
tho grotto. Tho other. smaller. communicates
with the outside and gives light inside. The
grotto was usual place OF refuge for working
people caught by n shower. and. except in that
part exposed to tho west wind. was always
perfectly dry.
Francois Soubirous. n very poor man OF
Lourdes. earned his livelihood and that of his
wife and family by his daily labor. Ho had
four children. two daughters and two sons.
Tho eldest daughter. Bernadettc. having in
her babyhood boen put out to nurse was in
1858. at tho age Of IA years. fral dolicatc
and subject to attacks Of asthma. Her foster
parents. PEASANTS had become very much
attached to her. and when she was old enough
to return home they asked to be allowed to
keep her. and they put her to herding a
Annx nj Shn th,r
WRITE nor even speak French. She could
talk only a Pyrenean patois; she had never
been taught her catechism, and her religious
knowledge was confined to knowing how to
recite her rosary. She was n pure. simple
minded. truthful child. OF sweet disposition.
About two weeks before the events to DO
described she had returned home to BIO pre-
pared for her first communion. Her mother
on account Of her delicate health. would not
allow her to go about with bare feet in her
wooden shoes. as usual among the young pco-
pie OF her class in T.ourdes. She was provided
with woollen stockings to wear. and kept in
the house the best Part OF the time.
THE FIRST APPEARANCE
At II A. M. on Thursday Feb IL. 1853. the
festival OF st. Genevieve. tho Soubirous family
had no flrewood to cook their scanty dinner
with. Mrs. Soubrous told her second daugh-
ter. Marie. to goand pick up some wood on tho
banks OF the Gave or elsewhere in tho conf
mune where the poor were allowed to gather
It Bernadette asked to be allowed to accom-
pany her sister. Her mother refused at first.
but Jeanne Abadie. neghbors daughter. who
had been sent on n similar errand. having
dropped in. she consented. telling Bernadette
to wear her cdDutet to protect herself from
taking cold. When Marie and Jeanne. who
were ahead. had reached tho end OF littleisl-
and formed by mill stream. they waded across
to tho grotto and called to Bernadetto to take
of her stockings and do the same She had
asked them to lay stepping stones for her in
the water. but she concluded to do as they
suggested She had nearly taken off one
stocking when she heard n high gust OF
wind that arose seemingly in tho meadow.
She looked in that direction. and was sur
prised by seeing that tho branches of the pop
lars In sight were not stirred She then con-
tinued to take of her stockings. and second
time she heard distinctly tho gust OF wind.
She looked toward the grotto and was speech
less at the sight.
In tho niche of the grotto. before which her
COMPANIONS were gathering bits OF wood.
stood woman OF incomparaby splendid ap-
pearance, environed by brilliant but not
dazzling supernatural light. She appeared
to be of medium height. having all
the grace and charm Of youth III her
features. and wearing long. pure
white robe. and on each Of her bare feet
was mystic roso OF the color of gold. Around
her waist she wore pale blue sash. its ends
hanging down almost to her feet On her
shoulders. and covering the upper part of her
arms. was a white veil. depending from her
head and reaching almost to tho skirt of her
robe. In her clasped hands she hold rosary
OF white beads strung on what looked like
gold. Hor eyes We're turned on Bernadette.
who. greatly overcome. had sunk down on her
knees. and. holding her rosary in hcr hand
tried to make the sign Of the cross. The
figure. with grave and sweet gesture. made
tho sign OF tho cross. and Bernadette. who by
that time had come to her senses. did the
same. After rubbing her eyes to make sure
she was not dreaming. she began to recite
the five decades Of tho rosary which tool a
quarter OF an hour. and after she had uttered
the last Glory be to the Father. Son. and tho
Holy Ghost" tho figure disappeared.
BEAUTIFUL BEYOND DESCRIPTION.
d. IAtt.