New-York tribune., 1905-08-29
SEEN AT l0URDES.
What VI. Huysmans Describes as
Combination Of Hospital and Fair.
Paris. August 1h

TallS. august 10
N. Huysmsns. that eccentric. impassioned
rriter whose compositions. always imbued with
rigorous individuality. seem 10 be seasoned with
sashes Of the weird imagination of A Poe with
a pinch Of Walt Whitman and with a sprinkling
y Zoia, is putting the finishing touches to
work on Lourdes- The author of La Bas" of
I'm Rebouts." Of En- Route" and Of La
Cathedrale," who has been interviewd by NJ.
Rsoul Aubry. Of The Temps" gives a character
site foTeword concerning the priests. pilgrims.
pietists and pilferers who frequent the miracu-
sus pool Il am not writing novel in the
,ourse Of which imaginary persons are con-
sacted 10 Lourdes, but am completing a series
y critical studies showing that Lourdes is
sort of gigantic ST. Antoine Hospital in the
midst Of a kind Of rough and tumble Neuilly
,sir" says VI. Huysmans Now and then there
are truly miraculous cures at Lourdes; this
srnly believe. But the most striking miracle
>, ell is 10 my mind the fact that the multi
udes that come 10 the place defy with impunity
he laws not only Of medical sciencc. hut Of or
sinarv hygiene. have made three long visits
N Lourdes. and ! constantly saw men reeking
rith sweat plunging after mealtime in almost
ce cold water: I saw children so i'll TO be
scarcely able TO draw their breath dipped into
he chilly pool, I saw delicate women. regardless
= the critical condition of their health. immerse
themselves up 10 their chins in the frigid water.
None of these men. women or children appear
IN suffer the logical consequences Of their acts.
saw good pious. hard working Sisters Of Mercy
and honest. noble minded priests. but hocking
a. out them. like harpies birds Of prey, We're
r'Ie vendors Of trumpery crosses and trash,
which they disposed Of at exorbitant prices TO
,onfding pilgrims. I saw hanging in the grotto
thousands OF discarded crutches. canes ear
koI yx-aI
or the lame, the infrn. the deaf the blind
,ut ! failed 10 see anywhere a single wooden
eg One wooden leg would have been more
.loauent than all these semi-doubtful relics
The Peres de Jourdes are worthy. hard working
and conscientious. I sympathize with them,
,or they defend the last ramparts Of the dignity
- this huge religious popular fair. Emile
gola was brave homme.' but he collected his
iata concerning Lourdes too hastily. Zola was
he victim Of one Of his influential friends, who
excited him against the Lourdes Fathers, because
his trusted adviser had a secret ambition Of be-
ng able 70 induce the government OF the re-
public 10 expe the fathers and priests. and, when
his element was once eliminated. 70 transform
-ourdes into a sort Of stock company, abound
7g in palace hotels clubs. casinos. with baccarat
tnd petits chevaux; sheds and garages for
automobiles. and with American bars dispensing
Manhattan cocktails. whiskeys and sodas and
,ther drinks, while bands Of relocated fddlers
played macabre polkas narrowing cake
Ealks
MOI" continued NJ Huysmans, the Fathers Of
Lourdes are doing a noble, humanitarian work.
md Zola was unjustly prejudiced against them.
The health regulations at Lourdes are abomin-
able. Cosmopolitan crowds OF infirm wretches
bivouac in the open air, uncork their bottles OF
Iour wine. devoUr cold veal, sausages. hard
IL
rreasy newspapers. broken bottles and bits Of
surrid victuals strew the ground. The Holy
Virgin Of Lourdes is certainly a downright good
hearted woman 10 continue to accomplish these
miracles under such revolving circumstances and
amid the mob Of repulsive pilgrims, faithful
u.ferers halfwitted. crackbrained invalids.
-apa cious. shamefaced swindlers and adventur-
rs such as one finds al public fairs or subur-
5er racetracks' c / B.