The Washington herald., 1906-10-14

Must Go I'D n steep Hill on Foot.
Milwaukee. Wis. Oct. 12-Thousands Of
afflicted pilgrims gathered on Sunday last
at the foot Of Holy Hill. the noted Wis
consin shrine. 10 celebrate the feast Of
the solemnity OF the Holy Rosary. which
occurs on The first Sunday IN october
every year
What Lourdes is 10 the Roman Cath0-
lies Of France and western Germany,
Holy Hill is fast becoming to 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
grimaEe until Of late from $1,000 10 10000
have visited the pace each year
Holy Hil Is a lofty and gTandly pic
turessue place near Hartford. about
thirty miles from Milwaukee The hin
has gained great fame as shrine Of
sacred pilgrimage It's popularity has be-
some 50 great in recent years that its re-
nowp has ~ parallel among The InsTIJu-
lions Of It's kind anywhere IN the United
States.
The history Of Holy Hill Is long
series Of remarkable events. and through
the omniootent power which is deemed 10
pervade its sacred DTeclnts. the lame
walk. The Hind see, the maniac raves no
more. and the af1icted who approach its
shrine with zeal and feTvent supplica-
tons. devoutly Invoking divine aid and
the intsrcession Of Mary. the mother Of
God, arc said TO depart therefrom, IN
many instances, happy over the mi7ac-
uloUs acquicscence of an unseen power
in their pTayerful petitions Strange as
this MAY appear TO those who disbelivve
in the intervention by a divine being In
affairs that are purely worldly to the
scientific eyes, there are scores OF we'll
known. peCp'e in Wisconsin and Illinois
who are willing 70 testify from their own
observation TO marvellous cures effected
at this rlace and there are also many
persons In both States and throughout
the country whose present sound physical
condition. after having been once pro-
uounced incur7ble, Is apparently con
drmaticn Of the wonders said TO have
been enacted at Holy Hill.
On a Lofty Elevation
There are few places in Southern Wis
consin whose beauty tTanscends that Of
Holy Hill and the surrounding country
Il is located about six miles southeast
Of Hartford. and covers tract Of ground
nearly forty acres in extent The hill
upon which the shri1e proper. OF chapel.
IS heated is tall conical-shaped, and
towers high above the surrounding cOun-
try. II rises 10 a height of 80 feet above
It's base. and ST feet above the level OF
L4ake-N icfiEan. With enc exception u at
tains the highest elevation reached by any
OF the rilly ranges OF Wisconsin. Il
Is covered by a dense 5vowth Of natural
forest, preserved IN al its pristine grand
eur. and its beautiful contour and lofty
elevation serves as beacon for the
v,eary-sou.ed wfo seek the sJlace of its
sacred shrine. and who travel there afoot
from many miles around on the days SET
apart for special services. The shTubbeTy
and forest growth CT this unique place
have teen preserved from syOliation at
The hands of visitors by a parOch!al in
juactiCn, which serves as a reminder 20
al that the person is guilty OF a sacri-
lage who proves a vaadal in an Enclosure
sanctioned for holy worship. The couR-
try for several miles around the hills
also covered with dense wooded growth,
broken here a-d there by small cleadngs
dotted with picturesque and old-fashiOned
Labit' ions.
Tradition says that Father Marquette
on one Of his Journeys to or from the
Illinois country, planted on the top OF
lhis Hill q cross.
Nearly all yIe pilgrims start from the
village Of Hartford. On the nine miles
Of road between Hartford and the tor
If the hin one may see such scenes as are
described in Zola's "Lourdes."
scenes Among the Pilgrims
A father carries a crippled child in his
arms. and the patient sufferer strokes
lovingly the bearded face that bends over
him A mother leads a blind daughter, and
an old man YEARLY struggles on, hoping
that he will not have 10 drag paralytic
leg when he 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 distance Of half q mile. In this half
mile there are fifteen stations Of the cross.
and at each one of them the pilgrims stop
and pray. They are small brick snrines
with inches in which are plaster figures
hat tell the story of the crucihXi0n.
Up This half mile Of mountain road
vgomen-sick and manned women-creep
on thir knees It is ptriful 20 see them.
touching to witness the mistaken faith in
which they deDlrt uncured.
"Of course. all cannot he 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 Of the
pilgrim0gcs by the presence of hundreds
Of people who go 10 the hill simply for an
outing and 10 take advantage Of the cheap
excursion rates. Hence It happens thar
one may see q crowd near the foot Of the
hin amusing itself with such sports as
beht a country fair, while past these rev
elers moves the moUrnful procession OF
the afflicted. with prayers on their lips
and hone in their hearts
Rich and Poor on Foot.
Near the summit the activity is most
dih1cuIL Loose stones under foot make
the way Of the pilgrims harder. and they
are in 10 condition. either OF mind or
body. to enjoy the splendid view that
opens here. a panorama that takes in
many miles OF rich. green dairy lands and
grain fields shoTn 10 golden SmoOthness
by the reapers.
TIE people who are UDward-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 specialized, carried up the hill q man
much bigger thaR himself who was a
paralytlc. The best part of the story is
that the little German never saw the
helpless one until he found him at the
foot Of the hill with no visible means OF
getting 10 the top.
The gIlded cross Of the church on the
hilltop. flashing in the sun. can be seen
Tor uanv miles around II is q substan-