The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-13

from the grotto In whlch S,e. Aiii'e s''o
birth to the mother OF Christ.
TN, ereat Tasilica. with it, statue OF
Ste. Anne. which surmount5 the TWIN
towers the crowds of people. the mere
dot of n station, the aspect or serenity
and age I'm the medieval town cuddiins
itself at the base OF the everlasting luis,
upon which hang low the heavy ram
clouds. are simply a picture never 70
be wiped from the memory. ordinarily
an outing. where 50 large body OK PEG
pie is embraced. has some aspect or het-
riment, even when Of q religious or semi
religious character. one reads OF bicycle
parades in connection with Christian In
deayOr Conventions. and rejoices az the
same. But for once the twO-wheeled vent
Gle craze Is gone. There Is nothing really
depressing, even with the presence OF
many crpples. many feeble, auaemlc per
sons. IL is the impression or Il supime
faith. belief in a higher power 10 neal
to cure, 10 redress There are boo'hS'
as at a fair. all around, where empieina'
rOsaries. prayer books are sold Cnilir'n
are filling bottles az the tont oil sc.
Anne for this water s. carried 20 those
too IN TO make the pilgrimage themselves
and for whom others come long distances
But these children do not laugh. mere
Is purpose In their acts, and that puI-
pose a spiritual one.
Inside Tie church the scene Is even
more extraordinary and more impressive.
There had been a pilgrimage from dis-
tant section 10 the East, and this was
the second semOn preached that morn
ms. as we entered the Church The Re.
rlsmufOrist Fathers are - charge OF
the church. and "a the shrine IS visited
by people from all parts OF the United
states and Carada the sermons are ut-
sivcred as required fer the audience,
IN German Italian. Dutch, Flemish, span
ish as well as in English and French.
The plea made from the pulpit was IN
French. and was for faith and That alone.
and I'm a divine power 10 heal body ana
soul alike. that a perfected BODY was o,
little worth without soul nedlel alN
cured OF an its imperfections. Al ITS
end Tho service was continued. and after
tho elevation OF the host came tn" most
thrilling part OF the meeting. The Dig
CONGREGATION crowded 20 the altar, "ntFs
each kissed the relic In the priests hanl7'
Those ODD or lame We're lsrl slowly up lhe
thrOng msking way for the moro decrepit
and feeble tenderness and courtesy being
manifest. The believer 10 the want or
the Christian virtues OF patience, gem
teness. and fOrbcarance would 10 Wen
10 sit hand I'm hand with lngersoll as
ciDlcs. and witness these scenes OF daily
occurrence. "l know not about nlracles
wrought" says one writer And / must
reiterate his words. But l DO know thdJ
here ore sees "A remarkable mann tNta-
ton not only Of faith in a geater' hi-h-
or power but "a scene OF tenderness ana
battles description and restores fmth IN
human nature. which a struggle with the
world Is prone 20 destroy. AS evidence
OF what Ste. Anne has done nj the en-
trance of the Basillca are TWO pJranlas
Of cutches abandoned at the shrine.
There arc huge tiers Of sticks and spliuts
and trusses piled up eleven stories higm
which have been Jeff here because no
further use was required OF them on
tho walls are marble tablets innumerable,
given names ana dates OF recoNeiits' at
tributed 10 Ste Anne.
Tho first church built by the hardy
Breton Is a biz OF old-time architect with
"A marvellous old canvas above Us altar.
Just beyond on the mountain side IS the
Scala Sancta, or Holy Stairs. Tho stair
case Is fac-simile in wood OF the IA
nous twenty ght steps Of white marble
at Rome, brought from Jerusalem about
BIG by tho cure Of the Empress 81 He
lena, and placed IN the palace Of tho
Sovereign Pontin, where they ara vene-
rated under the name Of the Scala Sane
IA. 10 - supposed az Jerusalem they
formed tho staircase leading To the pre-
farluni, and were thus six times sanctl-
nei by the footsteps OF the LgiIe Sa-
y.Our As az Rome. so az Ste. Anne,
these steps are assembled on the knees,
the faithful pausing on each stop to
mediate upon the sacrifice Of Christ.
Tho spectacle IS q scene that has no
counterpart in America The view from
the top over the river and villages on tho
ST. BlRreuce Is Incompatible There
arc lateral stLrcases which visitors uso
tn asoerlrc. and the series Of statues 10
H. Doe seen depicting scenes IN rhe life
of Christ are The equal of many objects
y0yagors cross the Atlantic 10 view in
foreign lands. We came back With tho
truo pilgrims. Tho rains descended and
the foods came. ard tho more fraction Of
room ln tho station held only tho au.ns
babies and famed children. But of tho
crowds that waited in the rain rot one
mlrmured. not ono complained. II was
not The f0rbcar noe of habit f-r tho
crowd was one showing prosperity and
fortune. IL was something hard 90 ana
lyzr. bait taught q lesson never TO he
Observation-Disclosures Journal.