The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-04

through the Interpretation of the secretary
OF the embassy. Mr. Mccreery. and clasp
OF delicate hand given 10 each. Years Of
executive care have left as little mark on
the face OF President Diaz as has the
activity left the imprint Of roughness upon
the long, slim fingers.
FAITHFUL woRsHIPERs.
In Dfaz is placed faith and alteration
second In the Mexican estimation only to
that which has stained the stones of the
road to the sacred shrine of Guadalupe
with blood from the knees of pilgrims who
have travelled the four miles thither from
the city. These piIgrimages are no longer
made except on rare feast days and then
only by the most devout, but the devotion
that prompted them is understood by the
Pullman pilgrim who. even after a street.
car ride 10 Guadalupe. puffs energetically
as he ascends TO the chapel built in ac-
cordance with the legend. sanctioned by
Rome, that the Virgin Mary thrice APP
peared at this spot and commanded
shrine be built there. When the shrine at
the .op of the hill became too small to
accommodate the throngs, another was
built. where thousands worship daily
ually draw water Of saline nature from
a spring bubbIing from a rock. drinking it
with reverence, crossing themselves and
thoughtfully passing out In the new
church Is the blanket of Juan Diego, the
devout Indian. imprinted with the image of
the Virgin as recorded in the legend. Above
II a crown of precious stones, contributed
by Mexican women from their own posses
sions, that cost $4,000 for construction
alone; before 1t and all about it, railing of
solid silver extending clear across the
church. that, melted, would be worth hun
dreds OF thousands. Every 18th of Decem-
Der for over $50 years Indians come by
thousands to worship here. When Hidalgo
started against the Royalists he took for
his banner picture of this Virgins image.
against Spain. The highest decoration
created by the Emperor Iturbide was the
Order of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
Little cakes of tierrita, the mud from
about the holy well, made with water from
the spring. are sold to be eaten near the
chapel. The legend of the tilma or blanket.
is one of the prettiest IN Mexican history.
1t Is that the Virgin first appeared to Juan
Diego Dec Q, 1881, and told him to bid the
bishop erect on the hill where he stood
shrine The bishop distrusted the ignorant
Indians tale, and even when the Indian,
after having seen a similar manifestation
the second day at the same spot, reported,
babe him bring some evidence of its au-
thenticity. On the third day while seek
ing a confessor for his dying uncle Juan
saw the Virgin, who met him on the op-
posite side of the hill. told him his uncle
was cured and commanded him to gather
flowers which sprung from the rocks at his
feet. These he took to the bishop in his
tilma, and when he opened IL there ap
peared beautiful painted picture Of the
Virgin. The bishop thereupon caused the
shrine to be erected, the tilma being pre-
served since its trip to Rome in a glass
case. where all may see il. In recent years
artists. scientists and high church authori-
ties caused the case to be opened to ex-
anime the painting, and all agreed that 1t
was not made by any known process of re-
production. They declared that 1t was not
knit in the tilma, painted or printed there
on. and IL is little wonder. If the scientist
cannot explain the mystery, that the less
learned will continue to invest the painting
on the blanket and the country around the
sacred shrine where 1t is kept with more
than reverent awe. A r. KEESLING.