St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-10-31

Dear NALEOONIAN'
Here at the foot Of the Pyrenees,
midway between "Rayonne" and
Toulouse" is a little village of
5000 inhabitants which is known
in every hamlet of the Catholic
world. This approach to the
mountains is the finest of all. Here
the railway lands you at their gate
way while at "Tarbes" and "Pau"
and Toulouse" you are too far from
the foothills to gain a hint even of
the charms of that wild wonder
land which marks the boundary line
Of Southern France. Even from the
railway station generally the most
undressing place in ones travels)
and for a mile before you reach it, as
YOU journey from the west, Lourdes
is strikingly picturesque. Directly
in front opens the lovely valley of
Angeles the "Gave de Pau" not
mile away, breaking through the
mountains which rise abruptly on
either side. Between the railway
and this opening on the south, lies
this village and on bold rock in the
center of the town. like that which
rises out of the plain at Salzburg,
stands a gray old castle, over which
floats the French tri-color. This
commanding fortress stands at the
junction of four valleys, in strong
strategic position, and has history
which reaches back to Roman days,
one of Caesars military posts when
France was "Gaul." Lord Elgin was
for while confined here, being taken
a prisoner on his way from Constan-
tinople.
The old town is on the east of the
castle, the new town on the west,
and the river mot quite as large as
the Passumpsic at st. Johnsbury) in
rapid torrent, and crossed by two
stone bridges intersects the valley
on it's way to the Atlantic. Looking
south from the railway station the
skyline brings in the finest portion
OF the Pyrenees, including the snowy
slopes of the Spanish section, and
the high peaks back of the Canterets
and Gavarni. From the square
fronting the station a boulevard,
with electric tram, leads down hill
on the right, and for half mile is
crowded with small hotels, restau'
rants and shops devoted wholly to
the sale of souvenirs of Lourdes'
religious mementos. Crossing the
Gave at the foot OF this narrow and
winding business thoroughfare
the Boulevard turns sharply to the
left, and the river sweeps to the
right, and between the river and the
highway, and directly in front lies g
spacious park with well trimmed
lawns, and shady walks adorned
with statues. Beyond this ornamen
tai square, on a precipitous cliff 1O(
feet above the river stands the beau
tiful Gothic Basilica of granite will
its graceful spire, and in front tn
rotonda.shaped church of the Rosa
rio" its fat roof on a line with til
base of the Basilica forming brOat
terrace out of which it seems t,
spring. On the right and left, broa'
and neutrality-suspicious. supporte
on granite arcades OF crescent shap
connect this terrace with the squar
below. Over the Basilica on the left
as you look down the vista from tn
bridge, is a wooded hill surmounte
by a cross, and reached by path
which command the village, tn
castle and the mountains east an
south. On the right OF the Basllic
and 100 feet below flows the Gave.
A granite parapet borders tt
shady walk which winds along b
tween the river and the famot
"Grotto." Beyond the river there
broad and fertile meadow encir
led by wooded hills and skirted b
the railway running high above tt
valley. have given you sketch
Lourdes with its charming settir
in these hills at the foot of tt
Pyrenees. 1t has physical attra
tons sufficient to make it popul'
resort for pleasure seekers, but /
position in the Catholic religion
world has made it famous.
Whether one believes or not in tt
historic traditions associated Wi
this place, no one could spend te
September days at Lourdes, al
study these pilgrimages from