The Washington times., 1903-03-15

/ FAINT a few weeks old. Beside her stood |
young man wearing a gold embroid- /
| cred robe. and leaning on a heavy stan, /
while an OK a donkey and four sheep /
/ were quietly munching corn from
! couple Of managers. Ii was an ideal |
! scene especially when seen from ;he I
dimly lighted church.
In tho South OF France, in certain
parts OF Provence Christmas continues
TO be celebrated to this day by the
/ famous Feast OF Asses OF medieval
ages. tho ceremony comprising pro-
/ eessIon OF various Biblical personages
up the central aisle OF the church one
OF the principal figures in the process
sion being BALKAN. who rides up the
! aisle on a heavily caparisonod ass.
/ when about haIC way up the church a
young man with flowing yellow hair
and dressed all in white. springs into
his path and waves q cleaning sword
I in tho air. wkercuHon the donkey stops
short. the rider then begins 20 beat il
vigorously. \ child. who has meanwhile
crept under the voluminous trappings
of the animal. now cries out in n Piteous
voice: Why do YOU hurt me sor" The
/ scene as described in the Bible then
follows. after which the angel goes his
way with q parting admonition TO Ba-
lam TO have no dealings with Balak.
Mass for the Hounds
Most OF the readers of The Times VIII
have either seen paintings or prints
of the mass celebrated in all Catholic
countries Of Europe on 81. Hubert's Day
for the benefit OF the hounds. The bay
ing packs are held in leash at the church
door. and az d given moment during he
mass the ceIcbrant priest. attended by
his acoIytes and choristers. and follow
ed by the entire congregation. proceeds
10 the entrance. and after sprinkling The
dogs with holy water. soIemnly invoices
the blessing Of Providence upon their
heads. Nowhere is this ceremony ceie-
brated each year with greater magnifi-
cence than at Bonneilles. the country
} sent Of the dowager Duchess OF Uzes, in
France. where the blessing is usually
. administered by some dignitary OF ,he
church.
8 At ,hc ancient church OF St. Michael.
At Schwatz. in the Tyrol. the sacred
edince is invariably kept securely closed
: on the evening before every great festi-
val. and the simple peasantry OF the
district are convinced that on these oc-
D casions when one is present an i'm
mense toad comes crawling before the
altar. where it kneels and pTays. weep
E ing bitterly. No one ever hurts toad
p in the Tyrol For the population are i'm
bued with the belief that tOads are for
the most part good Christians. who
p, have made vows TO 20 on pilgrimages,
q and who have died without fulfilling their
e pledges So the poor creatures go hop
z ping about astray bewildered and per
a picked striving 10 find their way TO
y shrines which have, perchance. long
S ceased 10 exist There are some who may
be tempted TO laugh at this queer idea.
but 10 nv mind II is one Of much pathos
and productive OF good. since II prevents
\ cruelty TO the poor. despised toad. II
!. is almost as pretty a belief as that cur
= rent among the European peasantry. 10
!, the effect that the robins are indebted
for their red breasts to their efforts
. to pluck the nails from the hands and
feet and thorns from the brow Of the
crucifed Christ.
: Canonization of Animals.
n II is scarcely necessary for me 20 dC
e more than merely refer TO the existence
e Of a regularly canonized st. Wolff and
e st Partridge" in France and OF a 81
IS Fox in the Claddagh district OF ireland
P. TO demonstrate that our forefathers were
e far from regarding the intelligence. tn,
h faculties and the status OF the brut,
creation with the sublime contempt G
II modern times They held with St
q Thomas that brutes have souls. a doc
n trine voiced in the Bible. since we -ea,
ie in the twelfth chapter OF Proverbs; tn,
% Just man knoweth the soul OF his beast
d but the heart Of the wicked is cruel.
l. The Bible. too, insists that beasts, Tx,
p mon. should have a day OF rest provide,
Sc for them. Indeed. all through the Scrip
l. ture kindness and consideration for an
T. mails is taught. while in that benedicite
d which is used in the liturgy OF n
~ Church OF England. the following yers
al occurs. % ye whales and all that NOV
In in the waters. bless yet the Lord: o 81
al 20 fowls OF the air. o all ye beasts an
P cattle. bless yet the Lord"
p In Scotland l have sometimes see
I'd shepherds dogs accompany their mas
is ters 10 church on Sundays. though
be have never had an opportunity OF in
Of quiring Of the masters whether they Do
B. Hevcd mat the dogs understood the ii
stories, however, are told. for the frut
d. OF which } cannot youch, tending 4
show that The canine listeners wer
O. able 20 appreciate the character OF n
an sermon. and Jhat II the discourse d.
On pleased them they would leave h
vo church with a sort Of tired and Jis
e. satisfied expression on their faces. /
of this connection. however. I may be pei
Sa mitted 20 mention personal experienc
70 which occurred 20 me up IL Scot Ian
he where the pastor Of country churci
an who was one OF my friends. bad asko
lie me. owing 70 an attack OF intens
Cd hoarscness. 10 deliver an address In ~
In place OF his Sunday sermon.
he Sermon Intercepted by Ram.
ne got on pretty well until an age
but by no means veneTable-lookiB
he ram STROBE IN through the open door al
Ot nm the aisle 10 the base Of the pulp