The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-21
THE LoURDES OF AMERICA.
THE SHRINE OF LA BONNIE STE.
ANNE AND ITS PILGRIMS.

Receiving Miraculous HeIp-Im-
pressive Scenes 10 BE Witnessed
Within the Church-PyrnmIds of
Cast-OG Clutches.
From the Providence Journal
Away to the north, some twenty miles
from Quebec far a-down in the st. Law
renee, is the shrine OF La Bonnie Ste
Anne, in the centures-old village of ste
Anne de Beaupre. 1t is a pilgrimage, in
America for which no lola has yet arisen,
but any discomfort attendant upon the
Journey is more than repaid by the sights
and scenes Witnessed. The railroad car
rying pilgrims from quebec to Ste. Anne,
is owned by the Canadian government. 1t
has been consecrated and blessed by the
cardinal, as well as the cars and the loco
motives. 1t is no easy matter to reach the
tiny station from the hotel or pension
privee in which you may be stopping in
Quebec. There are plenty of saints in the
nomenclature Of the town, and you pass
through dozens of streets called after
them, feminine and masculine alike down,
down the steepest OF hills passing the
station, from which later on you Will go
to Lake st. John to catch quananiche,
and on to the border OF the st. Charles
river where hourly trains leave for those
who have faith In the intercession OF the
good Ste. Anne. Really there are three
ways to go. First. as a true pilgrim. In
this case the cure of the parish to which
the visitor belongs arranges with the rail-
roads and the priests of Ste. Anne, and
the large body of people are sent by spe-
cial trains. The other ways are to go on
any Of the morning trains, but to make
a choice between first and second class.
AS the premier class is not only double
the cost, but particularly shuts you out
from seeing the people of the country,
very few sensible travellers enter the cars
de luxe. The journey occupies but an hour,
but that hour is crowded with its minutes
of interest. There Is no levity whatever
in the travellers Every one carries a SUBJ
stantial bag filled with food and drink.
When on a true pilgrimage the cars are
crowded with the manned, the lame, the
halt, and the blind.
on ordinary occasions every one I'm three
shows need OF aid in bodily ailment Pos
sibly the most affecting thing is the num-
Der OF crippled children being carried to
Ste Annes shrine by loving hands. Last
year there were 10000 pilgrims; the year
before about 100000. AS the cynic or the
skepuc would Judge It from his point Of
view a superstitious OF deeply spirit
ual age, this year will see probaly 100000
pilgrims at the affairs Of Ste. Anne
To reach the parish IN which the shrine
is located one passes along the st. Charles
river through a country beautiful beyond
description. After It empties into the
St. Lawrence splendid vista is obtained
Of both shores Of the latter, and the great
walls OF Quebec rise TO form a heavy,
massive frame for the picture. When one
has assisted for yenrs the Providence
youth to memorize the fact that the Falls
of Montmorenci are 100 feet higher than
Niagara and that they flow with thunder
Gus roar into the st. Lawrence, It Is no
little satisfaction to have eye and ear cor
roborate dry geographical facts as Mont
morenci Falls burst upon you. The train
slackens speed; there are plenty of "Ohs!'
and "Ahar while the bridge Is slowly
crossed over the great gush Of water
caused by the downfall OF this cataract OF
marvellous beauty.
The train goes on, increases speed, and
passes through the Canadian villages
which nestle at the base and in the re-
cesses Of the Laurentian mountains. 1t
is a bit Of Switzerland In America. The
houses are Just as tiny and as neat. All
have the French windows, which open In
the middle. inward. The roofs are like
curve and slope picturesquely, being built
thus that the snow may the better slide
off quickly in winter. The long rectangu-
lar spaces OF pasture land slope to the
river The cows are ankle deep in clover,
and look sleek and we'll fed. The names
Of the stations l. Ange Sardieu, Chateau
Richer, BEAUFORT, would take the traveller
from times modern 10 those ancient, for
since 1850 pious Canadians have visited
this section TO be cured Of the various Ills
|, that flesh 10 heir 20.
The story OF La Bonnie ste. Anne IS that
early in the seventeenth century some
mariners from Brittany navigating the
lower St. Lawrence, were overtaken by
fearful storm They solemnly vowed to
Ste. Anne, mother OF tho Virgin Mary
that IL delivered from the danger which
surrounded them they would build on
whatever spot they might be able 10 land
sanctuary In her honor. In fulnllment
erected a small wooden chapel still stand
ing. To my mind this Ia even more inter
esting than the present Basilica, which is
an enlargement OF better structure
erected in 1890 The present handsome ed
flee was raised to the dignity Of a Basi-
lica by Pope Plus TX. II is OF pure Corin-
THAN architecture, 1852 feet long, Ga wide,
and cost 5000 II Is considered one of
the finest churches in the provinces, its
interior being full Of decorations Of much
beauty at the hands or great artists. In
the center Of the church is a colossal
statue Of ste. Anne, resting on a column
of white marble. and TO these are at
tached the venerable relics, faith In which
and their touch bringing to pass the mir
aces which have resulted I'm this second
Notre Dame de Lourdes These relics are
n finger bone Of Ste. Anne, procured by
Laval. the first bishop, when this land
was New France, not Canada; a part Of
the saints wrist, sent by Leo VIII, and a
portion of the rock from the grotto in
which Ste. Anne gave birth to the mother
Of Christ.
The great Basllica, with Its statute of
Ste. Anne, which surmounts the twin
towers. the crowds upon crowds of people.
the mere dot OF a station, the aspect of
serenity and age in the medieval town
cuddling itself at the base OF the everlast-
ing hills. upon which hang low the heavy
rain clouds, are simply a picture, never
to be wiped from the memory. Ordinari-
~ an outing. where 80 large body Of