Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
THE PICKLED YOUTHS.


Before st. Nicholas had attained middle
age three boys came from distance 10
attend the schools in the town, and as
soon as they arrived went TO an Inn, ana
after supper went to bed. The inn-keeper,
however. had discovered the fact that
they had a little money with them, ana
as soon as they were asleep he quietly
killed them all. Puzzled as TO the pest
disposition to make OF the bodies, ne
finally remembered that there were seNe-
raj barrels of pork in the cellar, SO ne
removed the meat from one, and, cutting
the bodies to pieces packed them INTO
the barrel Before day Nicholas had a
vision In which he was made aware OF
what had been done, and he went to the
inn. taxed the inn-keeper with his crime,
and went down into the cellar. where ne
called on the murdered boys to come
forth. At once the disunted pieces or the
mangled youths reassembled themselves
in the proper connection, the three Dogs
stood up in the barrel, and united IN
HYMN of praise to their dellverer. Az
least, so the tradition says. and, In spite
of reason and historic criticism, the sto-
ries of the endowment OF the three glris
and the resurrection OF the three boys
must be believed by all who wish to re-
tain ST. Nicholas, and the best evidence
that both are true is found In the TACT
that the three purses. or their equivalent.
three golden balls, are the emblems Oh
Nicholas. while his art attributes are the
three murdered youths rising together
from a barrel not quite big enough lot
foot bath.
THE TRAVELS OF ST. NICHOLAS.
Tha stories Of st. Nicholas include ex-
periences among money-lenders, TO whonh'
after his own large fortune was eA-
pended in acts OF charity, ne appheu'
and whose patron saint he also became
as witness the three purses metamof-
phosed into three golden balls, hung be-
fore their doors 10 this day; among
thieves. whom he compelled 10 restore
their ill-gotten gains, and whose pro-
tector he also became. for TO the present
time in Italy the lght-hngered gentry
anneal 10 him for aid when hard pressed
by the iron-hearted minions OF the law
among sailors, who were so much de-
voted TO him, even during his lifetime
that mar S>rs about to undertake long
and especially dangerous voyage would
come and ask his intercessions for safety
to ship and cargo. In course or time
hs died at a good old age and was buried
az Myria. his funeral being attended by
thousands of children, some OF them
travelling many miles in order TO be pres
ent. and a shrine was erected over his
remains. which became a place or pill
erimage Such Il remained till the elev-
enth century, when a number or mer-
chants of Bari. an Italian town on the
Adriatic. got into the cathedral through
a window, broke open the coffin, packed
the bones of the saint into box, ana
incidentlly, as a business matter, 10 de-
fray the expenses of the expedition and
so come even, filled the ten chests with
the vestments. altar ornaments, jewels.
and other movables they found conve-
nient, escaped from the city before day.
and by the time the sun rose were at
sea with the relics OF st. Nicholas and
the ten chests Of valuables. In few days
St Nicholas was duly installed at Bari,
and so we'll pleased was he, apparently.
at the change, that on the day OF his
arrival no less than thirty deaf, dumb,
and crippled persons were miraculously
healed.
THE BARI FESTIVAL.
The great day OF the year at Bari II
not Christmas nor Easter but the 9Th o
December, the Feast Of St Nicholas. A
the festal day approaches thousands o
strangers wend their way into the city
All come on foot, for although they ma!
have travelled In carriages to the suburbs
of the city, they alight there, assume ;
pilgrim garb, carry in their hands a lonl
staff with a water-bottle tied to II, AM
| in a modest fashion make their entry int
| the city. SO they proceed in search o
| health wealth, or special favor. to tn
shrine of st. Nicholas. Each, IL he ask
| 1t, is entitled to a meal at the pilgrim
| door of the monastery attached to tn
| church. and often as many as 1000 loave
| OF bread and portions of meat are dis
| trlbuted on the feast-day among the pill
| grims On entering the church every pill
! grim makes the round Of the shrine on hi
| knees, deposits his offerings, and retires
Early in the morning the sailors Of tn
| city take charge OF the ceremonies. ente
the church In procession, and receive fror
the prior wooden image of the saint
| dressed In the robes OF an Archbishop
| This image they solemnly bear, wit
prayers and chanting, TO a vessel pre-
| pared In the harbor for its reception. sc
sail, and go to sea, remaining In the ofiin
| all day. At night they return. and, wit
| lighted torches. bands playing. and ever
| sign of rejoicing, reconduct the mag
back to its resting place in the origina
| Church OF st. Stephen. Thousands Q