The Washington bee., 1893-12-30

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There are many coultries in the world
where the celebrada Aef New Years
Day almost entirely slr1prsedes that of
Christmas. and amGs fhese countries
France may be said tosstand first and
foremost. Beyond abundance at mid
night mass on Decenlber a and an
elaborate supper takarl5 on returning
therefrom, Christmas are is hardly OBJ
served by the French loEer and middle
classes, and all POM and ceremony
are reserved for the lit of the same
month, or, as they all it there, the
Vigil of st. Sylvestg'
The "Jeur de Pan" is fhe great festi-
val all over France; it iSa public hoIi-
day; all the stores and Dlaces of bust
ness being closed, and the entire popu-
lation abandons itself 10 merry making
of the most elaborate lind. A general
interchange Of preselts takes place,
and i'm many well-todo families the
traditional Christmas ree is lighted on
st. Sylvester's night instead of Christ
mas Eve, as is done IL England or
Germany.
The most poetical cac1fnony that ]
have ever witnessed vfztes Marquise
de Kergoet, is the sOGlled Messe des
Animaux, or Animals Mass," which
takes place every year 81 New Years
Eve I'm the French Deps sktment of the
Cevennes or the "Biat& Espinouze.
The scenery of these SuIafb mountains,
which in itself is extrenldy romantic,
lends peculiar charm to this simple
and truly pastoral festival, given in
honor of the herds of cattle which con-
stitute the greatest riches Of the inhabi.
tants.
/ shall never forget the impression
created on my mind by I'd scene which
presented itself to my nAptured eyes
on the New Years Eve when, having
accompanied some friends, who possess
a hunting lodge In the Eslinouz, to the
Animals Mass, stood under the por-
tico Of the tiny little gray Btone church
and watched with keen interest f1ocks
being led up the steep Incline towards
the plateau whereon the modest edifice
| is built.
The church was but Door, little,
tumble-down place, with Hchen- grown
walls and a square, ungaceful steeple,
the cracked bell Of which vas tolling
frantically. The inner decorations,
thoroughly in keeping with fhe outside
of this mountain chapel oonsisted of
crude, almost primitive pintings, and
of a set Of high wooden candle-sticks
and some earthen vases hlIed with
pine branches which stood on the altar.
The edifice was crowded with stalwart
mountaineers clad in their festive at
tire, each Of them holding "a lighted
candle Of coarse yellow Eax glimmer.
ing like tiny stars, and every man and
woman singing the old CeTenol hymn
beginning with these words:
''Nei pus belo que Ion chourH
Night more beautiful than dsy).
In the meantime column alter column
of cattle advanced towards the church,
and, marshalled by their drivers, took
their place in long files on the frozen
turf in front of the wide open portico.
They approached slowly, ponderously
and solemnly, with quasi Dewildered
expression at being turned cut of their
warm stables to face the bitter cold.
ness of the bleak December night The
oxen came first, followed by the cows,
sheep and goats, in a continuous
stream, and the rays Of the ful moon,
which glittered high above US over the
dark slopes of the mountains shone
on the long polished horns and tawny
hides Of this strange conTegahon.
Mass was celebrated with tip custo-
mary pomp by the cure, vhfe haired
and very venerable man who appeared
almost majestic in his heavy Tocaded
yestments, which must have Deen sew
eral hundred years old.
When he at last had spoken Up usual
sta niessa est" indicating Tat the
sacred ceremony is over, insteaA of re-
firing to the vestry, he once nlece lift
ed the host from the altar, and, FOLLOW
ed by the entire congregaQpn, ne
marched towards the portals cnantlng
the "Magnifcat" as he went upon
reaching the steps of the chuHh the
old priest halted, and, holding ne sa-
cred host high above his hea9 pro
nounced some words of benedlcQon In
a low. but emphatic voice. The driv-
ers and shepherds all fell upon their
knees, and, with bowed headsN muir
INJURED the responses, whilst an afoiyte,
armed with holy-water splPkler,
walked through the ranks Of I'M now
believing cattle, aspersing them with
the holy fluid. Whether the Hmals
realized the solemnity of the oceaslon
- ~,a+ oil fhaso which had uElGrtO