El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-12

grave while the bridegroom stood on
the other. Standing thus the marriage
vows were exchanged. Two more ceme-
terry weddings are planned, but 1t is
difficult to get willing couples, as such
marriages are supposed to be disaS-
trous. Nevertheless, the charm seems
TO be working. The wind has changed
since the first ceremony occurred. and
1t may rain by and by.
SuperstitiOus Pilgrims.
Not only the natives, but also the
pilgrims, who come here by the TO-
900 a year, are superstitious. The most
of them believe that every spot pointed
out by the monks is the actual locality
of the event alleged to have occurred
there. The pilgrims come from the
borders Of Siberia and from all parts
Of western Asia and Africa, as well as
from Greece and the islands of the
Mediterranean sea. They walk over
the Holy Land with staffs in their
hands, and kneel down and kiss the
place where they believe Jesus trod.
They even kiss the stones of the
streets here, not knowing, or forget
ting that there have been three or four
Jerusalems buried below the site of
the present one
1 have seen these pilgrims crawling
on their knees through the Church cf
the Holy Sepulchre. They creep into
the vestibule and kiss the stone Of
JUNCTION upon which it is claimed the
body of Christ was anointed for burial.
The stone is set in the floor and much
of its surface has been worn away by
the kissing. Not few of the pilgrims
from Russia bring linen clothes with
them just large enough to make a
shroud. They lay these on the stone
and think them blessed by the coh-
tact. They will carry the cloth back
home and be buried in it, believing
that such a shroud will be a sure pass
port to heaven.
Near the stone Of JUNCTION is the spo.
on which it is said the Virgin Mary
stood while Christ was on the cross
IL is also worn away by kissing. GoifsS
on into the great rotunda and turning
to the right we reach a church be
longing to the Greeks, at the front of
which stands marble column as his1
as chair and about as big around as
a four gallon crock. This is the CEN
ter OF the world, and is honored as
such 1 saw Russian peasant girls
kissing it, and further on observed
them kissing holy place after hoy
place until it seemed to me their lips
must wear out. Kisses are pressed
upon these spots by thousands OF
O'CAS uoy, anu IL every I'D
leaves it's microbes all the diseases
of the world must be in the bacteris
here.
Covered With Diamonds.
1t is hard to eStima te the value II
the offerings which the pilgrims 10y
on these shrines. Those who come are
of all classes, and some bring the saw
ings of years. The poor lay their per,
mics in the hands Of the priests and
drop them in the slot boxes which may
be seen at almost every corner. There
is much gold and precious stones. A
life sized image of the Virgin Mary
which L saw in the Greek church was
covered with diamonds. The dmage
was made of wax, and was dressed in
sStins and silks. Its face was painted.
An oval pearl as big as the end of my
thumb hung on the forehead, while the
waxen fingers held a score or mora
rings. Some of the rings were set with
diamondS some with sapphires and
rubfes, and others with opals. Opais in
Palestine are looked upon as the sign
of good luck and not bad as with us.
The most of the rings were costly,
and each was presented to the virgin
as love offering. On the silken Ian
OF the image lay a great golden heart
as thick as my fist and about six inch
'es in width. 1t was studded with en-
eralds and diamonds. This heart is
present from Franz Joseph, the en-
peror Of Austria, who has made many
costly gifts to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. In the grotto of the Church