The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-07
Russlrs SACRED SHRINE.

IL As o'clock i'm the afternoon In
Moscow. june IA. Russian time tJune
Is everywhere else. but Russia's sun Is
more than two hours high and VIII
peep over the horizon tomorrow morn
ing before O'Clock. We are standing
i'm the broadest street OF the city near
the incompatible Kremlin and oppo-
site a giganuic gateway. under when
nestles little chapel OF colored mar
bles with blue pyramidal roof fiecked
with golden stars, says writer. IN
Zion's Herald. Every passer-by races
the chapel. uncovers himself, and sol
emnly makes the Sign ,of the cross
several times. Even the passengers
on the crowded double -decked horse
cars so through this strange cere-
mony Here comes gang of ousty
laborers. Every one of them stops,
and. bowling low toward the chapel,
crosses himself again and again. Thefe
are some long haired, long gowned
priests OF the Russian church. very IN
telligent, good-looking men, too. Win
clear complexions and kindly eyes
kneeiing on the marble seeps with their
faces pressed against the hard pave
ment Every cab driver in his vadded
robe, which makes him fill the front
seat entirely, finds time 10 remove MS
squatty hat and touches his forehead,
chest and right and left shoulders Just
over there a splendid carriage with
prancing black stations is hating, and
a wealthy lady with a maid. steps our
10 kneel before the sacred shrine. Here
close 20 us are merchants, coming from
their pretty shops in the matchless
glass arcade near by. They, too. with
out exception. pay homage and make
the sacred sign, and the poor peasants
from afar. with black bread and onions
in cloth. with coarse clothing ana
straw shoes and stout walking STICK
which has helped them over "A hundred
versts-thev of course. are filled with
rapture and PROSTATE themselves nat
upon the pavement. kissing everything
in reach i'm passionate alteration.
What is the meaning OF all this "
we ask. and as we search eagerly. but
i'm vain. i'm the throng for some one
who looks as though he could speak
word of some other language than
Russian our eyes rest on a royal car
rlage which we had overlooked. 1t was
drawn by beautiful black horses. with
liverfed. bare headed attendants who
are taking from the carriage a black
ened picture of the Blessed Virgin.
This. then. must be the wonder-work :
ing Mother or Gou, the nlOsl SdNItu
picture In all Russia, before Which the
Car prostrates himself before entering
the Kremlin. We open our German
Baedeker and read that the picture IL
$50 years old. was brought from Mount
Athos, and is covered With pearls ana
precious stones. II is taken in a royal
carriage every day TO the homes OF the
sick where * works miracles and re
ceives great sums Of money IL has a
cash I'm one cheek made hing ago by
"A Tartar sword; but millions would
now gladly give their lives to save the
idol from such indignlty
We enter the chapel when the pic
ture has been set in place again and
buy tiny candle. which We place
3 alongside a hundred others. filling the
room with A sFining odor This. how
-exar, Is reaHt+@rfttrrrr compared 10 The
orthodox A. distinct smells OF Moscow
We will not kneel. and We cannot stand
with n score kneelinR behind US en-
deavoring 70 see the sacred ikon. So We
back out into the air. feeling the scorn
reflected from half hundred faces.