Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-15

as if he had witnessed the miracle himself, he
pointed to another frescoe 'The miser's heart
found in his treasure chest he began
Il am so sorry, must go, will come again..
My small douceur brought angelic smile and
a shower of blessings 1t takes so little to make
a saint, a sinner or even a custodian happy in
Italy In no other country is it possible to have
the comfortable feeling of being benignant spec
ial providence at small cost.
Entering the church at last l passed, without
looking at them, many chapels, tombs pictures
and carvings and stood before the chapel of the
saint. Within the splendid shrine lie his bones.
Beautiful marble pillars the outer two exqu1sitely
carved divide the front of the chapel from the
church. Just beyond are two superb silver can
delabra of great size, supported by kneelng an
gels of white marble. All around the walls are
basreefs, also cut in marble, representing scenes
from the miracles of the saint Silver lamps, the
costly and beautiful gifts of many cities, swing
from the arches and throw mellow light over all.
Many people were kneeling below the steps lead
ing to the shrine their heads bowed IN prayer
Others, chiefly foreigners, red books in hand, were
alternately studying the bas-reliefs and reading
descriptions of them. 1T is so nice to have the
things ought to admire most starred, one or
them remarked naively. l was just turning from
the last lovely relief, by Antonio Lombardo, "St.
Antony giving speech to an infant to enable 1t to
prove it's mothers innocence" when l noticed
young man and his mother Mrs. and Mr.. Maynard,
delightful people, with whom l had formed a
chance acquaintance on my journey from Florence
to Venice. We exchanged greetings and then Mrs.
Maynard said Frank has been here for hours
transating some of the curious inscriptions on
these tablets hung up in honor of the saint, but
/ am quite content with this one translated by
Addison" and she handed me book in which l
read:
"To the thrice holy Antony of Padua, delight
(whiter than the lily of the most holy child of
Bethlehem, highest of seraphs, highest roof OF
sacred wisdom most powerful worker of miracles,
holy dispenser of DEATH wise corrector OF error,
pious deliverer from calamity, powerful curer OF
leprosy, tremendous driver-away of devils most
ready and most trusty preserver or the SICK and
shipwrecked, restorer of limbs, breaker or bonds,
stupendous discover of lost things great and won
derful defender from all dangers, the most plous
next to God and his Virgin Mother) defender
and safeguard.
"What comfort it would be If we could only
believe that" said l. MANY of those people
kneeling there really do, and almost envy them
LET us take those chairs just behind them
said Mrs. Maynard "and watch them for httle
while The people themselves are even more In
teresting to me than all their wonderful statues
and pictures but l can't go away without seeing
that beautiful ffteen-century specimen OF gold
smiths work, The Religuary Which Holds st.
Antony's Tongue"
The kneeling people, alike absorbed in their
devotions, or petitions bore no other resemblance
to each other. They were of many ages condi.
tions and occupations, priests, nuns, Drotners OF
several orders, many children some in rags and
some looking like French dolls in their smart little
gowns, with their picturesque nursery maids pe-
side them, there were peasants from the Iyroi
and from the Italian lakes, fashionable women
and single Italian solder-a clumsy boy Win a
longing, homesick look on his race
"What contrast and what lovely picture
those two girls make-here on my left said Mr..
Maynard to me in whisper.
"One of them seems to be in trouble, just
heard the fair one say pauverina mia (my poor
little one) to the one that is CRYING
I looked and young girl with bare mead
and a black silk shawl, with long fringe drawn
closely about her slender shoulders. Her race was
a delicate oval Tears were trembling on the dark
curved ashes as she raised her eyes, slightly red
dened with weeping, to her companion The sweet
month drooned Diteously Had she been few