The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-05
RARE.-Apuleus, Plato. Petronius. Propertlus.
Juvenal, Longus. Ovid, Suetonius. MARTIAL
PRATT. 18l eth av.
A PILGRIMAGE IN IRELAND.
HOW WESTERN PEASANTRY VISIT
ST. PATRICK'S SHRINE.
Difficult Climb OF Three Hours In Wind
and Rain UP Mountain Path-Iiun.
dreds OF Women Among the Pilgrims
Simple Hearted Religious Ceremony.

dreds OF Women Among the Pilgrims
Simple Hearted Religious Ceremony.
High above Clew Bay, in County Mayo,
rises the great cone OF Croagh Patrick.
Like the sacred mountain Of Japan, 1t stands
conspicuous and almost isolated. looking
over the sea on one side to the mountains OF
Achill and on the other to the wild country
Of Murrisk. Though hardly one-third OF
Fujiyama's height, it IL as sacred to Its
own land, says the London Chronicle, and
for fourteen centuries has been the chosen
scene of pilgrimage.
For -ths Reek," as the Irish call 1t, IL
closely connected with Ireland's missionary
saint. Here he worked many OF his queer
miracles, here he slew the terrible bull OF
Cormack Dhu and brought 1t back 10 life;
here the serpents and other dragons made
their last stand against him and were driven
wrjthing into the water. Here We may
imagine him in reality as a poor wayworn
scholar from the civilized banks OF the
Loire. climbing the height in mist and
wind, that from there he might pray for this
wild and unknown land Of the West on the
very edge OF the mysterious oceans en-
crcling stream. A few comrades were with
him, who had followed their man OF courage
into the realms Of savage heathendom.
Around them were the queens and chieitains,
the warriors and poets Of mingled myth and
history, whose records and arts we now
search after with such eagerness. But
to the wandering teachers OF the young
religion from the East these were only the
indistinguishable heather, part OF those
foredoomed multiturias OF humanity whom
OF 81 tie mountains top he built a rude
chapel The place may still be seen, In
hollow like little crater, close to the very
summit. 1t has been rooted over s,I !a h.1S
down by piles Of rocks, for Mayo 10 poor
county, and has been passing through CEN
turtles OF trouble and hunger and war. But
that corrugated iron marks the most sacred
istie that while the English people used to
make pilgrimages to the rich shrines In
comfortable towns like Canterbury or Bury
in the days when England still had saints,
the Irish psople make their pilgrimage to
desolate mountain peak. swept BY the rain
little Westport, and that many miles away.
The path by which St. Patrick probably
first assembled has been worn by tho feet
and knees Of generations. For some reason,
sought s after BY women Who long for : bless
ing upon their children. That longing has
kept the track well marked, end women
who sought special grace. either OF par
don or hope till lately climbed the steepest
part Of the path on bare knees.
Last Sunday, being the Vigil Of the As
sumption, was the great pilgrims. day.
1t was an ancient custom on that day TO
celebrate the mass in st. Patriok's Chapel.
When the terrible change came over Ire
away with the rest, but last year y came to
life again as part Of that reviying hope
and Intellectual movement which are
rapidly renewing the face Of the country,
From the earliest morning the pilgrims
began to gather round the fos ss @, an. .ns
Athlone, from Galway and the wilde Of
Connemara. They came from Tough Conn
and every part Of Mayo. The red petit
coated women with bare legs came from
came. Was it 5000 or 10000? IT did not
matter. They we're great many, and
by o'clock In the morning the struggling
lines from every quarter began 70 con,
verge upon the main pilgrims, path, III
from foot to summit 1t was ike dark
That was long and difficult climb. II
took nearly three hours, and the wild
weather made 1t more toilsonie, Where
the mountain gave the, path no shelter
from the west, the wind rushed 1 Gown upon
with blows. Storms OF drenching rain
kept sweeping over US, and, as we mounted,
the rain turned to hail and was driven
against our faces In a sharp dust OF Ice.
The track first led up the beds Of streams
and through Doggy earth beaten to slime
; by feet But Il mounted steadily the
whole time, and after about an hour and
| a half each pilgrim in the long, dark line
reached the butt or shoulder OF the noun
black earth to the knee. but happy for
the few yards of fat walking along the
| ridge, with glimpses through the mist
OF green fields far below. and Of white seas,
and OF few lonely tarns, which an OK, oid
Of the serpents. Then began the final
struggle up the cone itself. 1t mounts
| at very steep angle, and where the bare
| rock does not come through 1t is covered
with loose screes or slippery earth, To
rickety ladder, WITH THOUSAND in front
| and thousands upon the rungs behind.
One could see nothing but the neft un,
| certain step, and it felt as though the fall
Of one would bring the whole string o. US
was an Irish crowd, and II one Of us
stumbled or fell, or was blown OF the track
those around him, instead OF growing
Damn your soul!' as an English crowd
would have done, only said God bless
you'll" or God save you, and SEND you SAFE
TO the top!"
At intervals here and there a few bare
legged women had clustered under the
shelter of few stones, and were alrea dy
deep in prayer. some who had shoes and
stockings took them of and clambered
over the loose stones barefoot TO increase
the splendor OF the way Some, with the
same obj ect, struck out wandering route
away from the track or followed the ancient
stations OF the Cross. little tent had
been set up as robing room for the Arch
bishop OF 'Tuam. the Bishop Of Achonry
and other priests. Just before noon they
passed in their vestments into the low
chapel lighted by one or two flick ering
candles, and entirely open to the air but
for that corrugated iron roof. During the
conservation and elevation a violent storm
OF freezing hail and rain fell upon us, and
the gale increased in fury; but not mans