The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-09
CUSTAvE ECKSTEIN G. co.


that have at some time reposed here are
mentioned A fragment OF the manger
crib Of our Lord, His winding-sheet, the
sponge of His passion, the sainted cross,
stones from His sepulcher and from the
place OF ascension, a piece OF the vest
ments of the Virgin. a small bone of ST.
John the Baptist, two heads of holy inno-
cents, one tooth OF 81. Peter, some hairs
from the head Of st. Paul. bones Of the
apostles Andrew and Thomas, rib OF Laz-
arus, vestments Of Mary Magdalen, and
relics of the grand patriarchs, Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob, and others too numerous
to mention. one OF the most popular Leg
ends Is that of the green candles, A de-
vout maid of the old ages worshipped at
this shrine until her consistency became
proVerbial. Arriving home In the crypts
one morning before o'clock, the mass be-
gan and proceeded with her as the only
attendant. Coming to the next mass, she
met grieved and wondering reproof for her
neglect OF the morning service from the
priests, who, In turn, were amazed by her
assurance that she had attended. Hurt
by their disbelief she told them to look for
her Offering and surely there was a ring
she had left on the altar. But they were
yet only half-convinced until she reminded
them that at the mass green candles had
replaced the usual white ones They again
visited Notre Dame de la Confession, and
lol the candles were all green. And then
they knew that the Black Virgin, about
whom the lights blinked 80 sleepily had
recognized the piety of the earthly virgin
and had caused to be celebrated for her
solely this miraculous mass.
The Black Virgin Is now taken from her
Underground home but one day In the year
the first Of the great "Chandeeur" week
or octave" which affects Marseilles life
80 picturesquely during the early days Of
February. IL Is a medieval time OF cakes
and candles and priests and white robed
virgins with nineteenth century pilgrims
swarming the narrow streets that meet
at the broad earth platform. overlooking
the glorious sea and port and "Old Town,
views, and surrounding the dark walls OF
the sacred fortress with its blocked and
secretly wrought windows, and It's flag
dccked towers, where great black bells
turn and swing In the openings against
the blue sky.
The church entrance, where every spe-
cies OF pitful deformity begs, Is approach
ed through an avenue formed by booths
for the selling of cakes, candles, and SOU
venirs, and presided over by comfortable
white-capped old women or beribboned
young ones. inside, the church Is rapidly
filled with chairs, Of which every conner
receives one, In return for sou, from
more smiling grannies. Forward where
the crowd presses about the Black Virgin
little can be seen but burning tapers and
the white gowns OF the young girls who
that morning bore her from the crypts.
At 4 o'clock In the morning the initial SER
vice OF the Chandelier Is held amid suffo-
eating crowds, and then Is formed the
prestly procession which, accompanying
the Virgin, winds through the subterra-
mean ways and up the staircase to the
church above where all day the people
throng about their lady In solicitation and
alteration, and where services are held az
intervals until 6 o'clock, when the Virgin
Is returned to her chapel.
The services IN the crypts during the
remaining days are most intercsting-the
soft taper lights, the altar richly dressed
IN green. white and gold; the kneelng
multitude. the passing costumes OF va
rious religious orders, 20 the tapping re.
Spouse OF the stone pavement and, above
all, the associations OF saints, monks,
soverelRns ana martyrs imparting a pc
culiar fascination. Amid such scenes the
nineteenth century bOnnets seem incon.
gruous ana emphagze the sweet propriety
Of the peasants native costume. when the
eyes rests on some placid Aries woman
In her folds OF black aud white. or an
Italian girl from the fishers quarters, In
nondescript garb, gracefully resting
against pillar, or a type from the Cata-
lans, some scarfea Spanish contour poised