Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-27

then clothed with forests from which pillars
Of smoke are constantly arising, where the
charcoal burners are busy.
The Chapel on the Summit.
The chapel at Nthe top OF the hill is a
small. rude structure of stone with a dome
supported by irregular arches. 1t looks as
IL it had been built by an amateur, and I
am told that such was actually the case.
The architect and superintendent of con-
structton was a priest and the work was
done by the voluntary labor of unskilled ma
tiVes. The altar is handsomely carved
ard gilded in striking contrast to the rude
centerpiece is a fine picture of the Virgin
of Guadalupe. One side of the chapel is
almost covered by another picture of the
patron saint of Mexico, with a row of mod
ern figures in alteration before it, which,
we are told, are portraits OF eminent d.
vines. The floor, OF hewn planks, was laid
before the days of lumber and saw mills
and a hanging gallery is reached by lad
with vottve offerings and rude pictures
representing miracles wrought by the in
tercession Of Fray Martin and the Virgin OF
Guadalupe.
The lower chapel which covers that good
mans cave is q more pretentious piece OF
architecture. Of octagonal form crowned
with dome, and overshadoWed by a lofty
tower with chime of bells. 1t was built
somewhere between 1850 and $780, shortly
after the miracle of the cross, which oc-
CURED In 1o47. The interior Is now defaced
by gaudy ornaments and decorations arti-
fetal flowers and garlands made OF tissue
paper OF different colors. They were well
meant, the gifts of pious hearts and the
work of loving hands, but, nevertheless,
they ruin the artistic effects and the fes-
toons OF faded calico which hang from the
ceftng are even worse.
Uoffua nfpart,, &b1 WILL
The walls of this chapel, like that at the
summit of the mountain. are covered with
votive offerings and pictures of miracles
wrought by the intercession Of Fray Mar
tin. Adjoining the altar and divided from
it by glass partition is the cave in which
the good man lived and In which his body
lies during the entire Year except in Lent
Attached to the church is a small monastery
formerly occupied by a community of
Dominican monks, but since they were ex-
PEELED from the country 1t has been used as
a retreat for priests from the city Usually
three or four arehere refreshing their souls
by prayer and meditation or doing penance
imposed by their superiors. The seminario
as the house Is called, is kept by a sullen
old peon, who showed us around because
his duty required him to do So but he had
no Information to impart. He was as silent
as the tombstones on the slopes Of the hill,
but two little girls, with one roboza
wrapped around both of their shoulders,
volunteer guides who followed us from the
railway station. told us all about 1t.
The terrace around the chapel and a
considerable portion Of the hillside are
covered with graves Of priests. friars. nuns
ard other pious people who have distin-
guished themselves in the service OF the
church or by large contributions Of money
have secured from the archbishop the priv
uege OF laying their bones In this sacred
soil. It is like burial upon the Mount of
Olives or in the valley Of Jehoshaphat.