Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-06-21

~ slopes upward gradually, green Alp
rising above green Alp, until they
Isl reach the skyline, while to the
~ east and south the ground falls
A-O away, giving a magnificent view
III of the beautiful valley beyond
wv which rises the solemn splendor OF the
IN Schlern. The church of Santa Maria
IN Saar stands alone in the midst of this
w serious loneliness No Gottesacker sur
VI rounds it; no hamlet nestles under its
l<k shadow no priests house is near It, On its
mn green hillside in the midst of the hills, 1t
WV seems like visible prayer put there to
Xk answer that need of the soul so often felt
KIN among the strong mountains-the need to
<fN bend the knee and thank God for the beauty
lfSN which soothes and uplifts the weary spirit.
DIN Mass Is said only on Sundays and fete days
wv In Santa Maria Saar. 1t is in no sense
Nv parish church, but no wayfarer ever passes
" 1t without prayer. The low stone benches
Nv at the base of the windows are worn al
lM ready and century hence, II the stream of
YIN life flows on as in that tranquil noun
w tain spot it will be easy to distinguish the
M indentations worn by the knees of the wor-
w shippers who pause there on their way up
IN and down the mountain-side Within, 1t is
IN like most other churches in the Tyrol, ex-
W quisitely clean and orderly, and arranged
~ with a reverential care which amounts to
fN taste. There is an abundance of gliding,
w some pictures and silken banners, but moth
N ing rare or curious except the sanctuary
w lamp, which is of highly wrought brass. Mid
w way down the church, in the western tran
NA sept, stands tall crucifx. 1t is rudely but
Nv the beautiful custom of the Tyrol, humble
EY offerings of gratitude are hung upon 1t. I
(1M remember seeing a bunch of grapes hanging
wa there sometimes few ears of corn, and so
1lN on. But there is one offering which is always
M there: the base of the cruciix is enclosed in
~ Il glass; and underneath the glass are to be
c% seen the long coils of a woman's golden hair.
Wonderful hair 1t is, twined round and round
the base of the crucix In heavy intricate braids,
and cleaning and glossy still, though 1t has been
there for more than twenty years. Engraved on
the glass is this inscription:
LIsEL-DoNADIo
Dec grdtius
1859
II you ask the parish priest the history of this
strange Offering he will answer that it is the hair
of Seppels Lisel the hunters daughter that she
was a wild, hayward girl, and In her short life
caused and suffered great pain and trouble The
peasants will tell you that Seppeps Lisel was
once the beauty of the Rttner, and If pressed will
pour out willingly enough her short sad story.
She was an only child, and differed from the
average Tyrolese maiden in being beautiful as an
angel and vain idle, and coquettish, whereas Tyr
olese women are as rule plain in person, and
serious Industrious and devout in character.
Lisel was a comfort to no one, not even her par
ents; and she trouble to many, for there
was not a manageable man on the R1ttner VINO
was not in love with her and she delighted In the
bros and quarrels which her beauty provoked.
At the time my story begins 1t was generally
believed that she would choose among her suit
ors either the miller's Framed, serious, steady,
welltodo man of forty, of whose suit her parents
highly approved; Franz Staffler, of the Gasthaus,
who was the richest the bandsomest and the gay
est man on the Rittner; or Donadio Dannheim.
Donadio though we'll known and highly esteemed
on the Rttner, from Cartina, in the Ampezzo
Thai and had Italian blood In his veins. He was
short slight and somewhat lame; but there was
Something sngularly attractive in his pale dark