The Washington herald., 1906-10-14


the solemnity Of the Holy Rosary which
occurs. on the frs, Sunday IN October
every year
What Lourdes is 10 the Roman Cath0-
lies OF France and western Germany.
Holy Hill is fast becoming 10 the follow
ers OF that faith In this country through
out The. Northwest. Each year sees an in
crease in the number who make the Pill
grimage until OF late from I5,o0) TO 20.O00
have visiIed the pace each year
Holy Hin is a lofty and grandly pic
turesque place near Hartford. about
thirty miles from Milwaukee The hill
has gained great fame as a shrine Of
sacred pilgrimage It's popularity has be-
some 50 great in recent years that its re-
nown has 40 parallel among the institu-
tons Of lis kind anywhere in the United
States
The history Of Holy Hi IS long
series Of remarkable events, and through
the onan5 potent power which is deemed 10
pervade its sacred precints. the lame
walk. the blind see, the maniac raves no
more and the affiicted who approach its
shrine with zeal and ferveat supplca-
lions. devoutly Invoking divine aid and
the intercession OF Mary. the mother OF
many instances, happy over the mi-ac-
ulOUs acuuiesCence OF an unseen power
IN their prayerful petitions. Strange as
this mag appear to those who disbelivve
in the intervention by divine being IN
affairs that are purely worldly 10 the
scientific eyes. there are scores OF we'll
known pecp'e in Wisconsin and Illinois
VINO are willing TO testify from their own
Observable TO marvellous cures effected
.F-
persons IN both States and throughout
the country whose present sound physical
condition, after having been once pro-
uounced incurable, Is apparently con-
drmatiCn Of the wonders said 20 have
been enacted at Holy Hill
On a Lofty Elevation.
There are few places in Southern Wis
c0nsin whose beauty transcends that Of
Holy HUI and the surrounding country
It is located about six miles southeast
Of Hartford, and covers a tract Of ground
nearly forty acres in extent The hill
upon which the shri1e proper. or chapel.
IS I-cated. is tall. conicai-shaped, and
towers high above the surrounding coun-
Try II rises to a height Of 2S9 feet above
its base. and ST feet above the level OF
Lake Michigan. With Cne exception it al
tainS the highest elevation reached by anv
Of the billy ranges Of Wisconsin. Il
IS covered by a dense growth Of natural
Icrest preserved in all its pristine grand
eur. and its beautiful contour and llfJy
elevation serves as q beacon for the
weary SOu.ed wFO seek the s1lace Of its
sacred shrine, and who travel there afort
from many mil 5 around en- the days set
apart for special services. The shrubbeTy
and forest growth CT this unique place
have bee1 preserved from spoliation at
-he hands Of visitors by a parOchiaI in
junction, which serves as a reminder 20
au tkat the person is guilty Of a sacri- |
lege who proves a valdal in an inclosure
sanctioned for holy worship. The coun-
Try for several miles around the hills
also covered with dense wooded growth, |
broken here a-d there by small cleaHngs
dotted with picturesque and Old-fashiOned
Labita ions.
Tradition says that Father Marquette
on O2e Cf his Journeys 10 or from the
Illinois cou-t try. planted on the top Of
lhis hiH a cross.
Nearly all ale pilgrims start from the
village Of Hartford On the nine miles |
Of road between Hartford and the tor
If the hill one may see such scenes as are !
described In Zoll's "Lourdes."
Scenes Among the Pilgrims.
4 father carries a crippled child in his |
arms, and the patient sufferer strokes /
lovingly the bearded face that bends over 1
him. A mother leads a blind daughter, and
an old man YEARLY struggles on, hoping 4
that he will not have to drag parslytic 4
leg when ne comes down the hill again
The road rises all the way from Hart /
ford, but the sharp part Of the ascent /
the road up the hill propeT-is comprised
in q distance Of half a mile. In this half
mile there are fifteen stations Of the cross, !
and at each one Of them the pilgrims stop I
and pray They arc small brick shrines /
with inches In which are plaster figures I
that tell the story OF the crucihxion.
Up this half mile Of mountain road 4
women-sick and mqimed women-creep /
en- thir knees. u is pitiful 70 see them. 7
touching To witness the mistaken faith in /
which they dep9rt Uncureo.
"Of course. all cannot be healed" they
say patiently. 1T is a favor which one
must be worthy to receive from the /
Blessed Virgin"
A singular aspect is lent TO some o? the /
pilgrimages by the presence Of hundreds /
OF people who go TO the hill simply for an 4
outing and 10 take advantage az the cheap /
excursion rates. Hence lt happens thar 4
one may see a crowd near the foot Of the 1
hiH amusing itself with such sports as /
beit a country fair, while past these rev /
the afflicted. with prayers on their lips /
and hope in their hearts.
Rich and Poor on Foot.
Near the summit the activity is most |
difficult Loose stones under foot make /
the way Of the pilgrims harder. and they 1
are IN no condition. either of mind or .
body. 10 enjoy the splendid view that 4
opens here. panorama that takes in F.
many miles Of rich. green dairy lands and /
grain fields shorn 10 golden smOothness /
by the reapers
The people who are Upward-bOund are /
Of all classes the rich and the poor. the
Chicago or Milwaukee mechanic and the
rich merchant who has a child stricken .
from birth. They climb on through the
heat and dust literally bearing one an
others burdens.
Not long ago q little German. bearded
and spectacled, carried up the hill man
much bigger than himself who was 4
paTalytic. The best part of the story is
that the little German never saw the
helpless one UntH he found him at the
foot OF the hin with no visible means OF
getting to the top.
The gi!ded cross of the church on the
hilltop. flashing in the sun, can bs seen
Tor Tanv miles around tt is a substan-
tial building of brick. and is not small.
but on "a day Of pilgrimage it never holds
"A quarter Of the people who come. They
wait for hours to take their turn praying
"a the altar where are piled crutehes and
canes the visible evidences Of miraculous !
cures worked here. Some make the ascent
before dawn IN order 10 he first ct the
chapel door when 1t opened.
grufchps Left NJ Sbrfra