Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-21

plains the places OF Interest euroute. Upon
reaching the church Of st. Anne visitors
are turned over to a priest who conducts
them through the basilica and explains the
intel esting objects given by devoted Catho-
lies and left by pilgrims who have received
benefits. Since 1850 thousands Of pilgrims
have visited this place seeking relief from
their maladies Marvellous indeed are the
miracles claimed to be wrought. Two inn
mense piles OF crutches and all kinds Of
SUI gical appliances reach from floor almost
to roof The priest told me frequently
5000 pilgrims are outside waiting for ad-
mission as early as a. m. Thousands
upon thousands OF dollars worth OF iewelry
and precious stones have been and are con-
stantly being left behind by grateful de-
voted pilgrims. When one gazes ON these
gifts and relics the latter piled in tiers
when would reach ten or eleven stones
high, scepticism gives way to wonder To
think that In this twentieth century on
the American continent should be found
such evidences of the apparently miracu-
loLs makes even the scoffer and doubter
pause. SO constant is the stream Of gifts
and so valuable many of the offerings of
gold silver and precious stones that for
some time they have been converting them
into crowns, chalices. etc. Upon leaving
the church I was attracted to a little boy
who was evidently known to the conductor
of our train. The poor little fellow was
badly crippled and very much stuuted in
growth. no larger than a boy of 9 or 10
years old I asked our guide as we walked
to the train IL the boy was a visitor at
the shrine and was informed that he was a
resident. Upon expressing my surprise that
the little lad was not apparently receiving
benefit the conductor remarked "A pro-
phet is not without honor save in his own
country" and added there are no local
cures, but the conductor did not know all
as the sequel will snow. The lad took the
train with us as far as Montmorency falls
on. our return trip. The falls are much
higher than Our Niagara, with, however
a much smaller volume of water running
ever them.
On an Incline ROnd.
The top is reached by an incline road which
is very precipitous. Mrs. Cowell preferred
sitting at the bottom until Mona and my
self made the ascent and returned. Upon
our return 1 found my wife had beeh in
conversation with the little cripple. He
had any power of locomotion. He had
to be wheeled around when he visited the
shrine and prayed to st. Anne for help. This
was seven years ago. When we saw him
he hobbled around quite freely and he told
my wife he expected the cure would be
effectual and permanent on the 26th day
OF July, the good Saints birthday. l hope
the poor lads faith has been justified and
rewarded. Not strange that American
should write after visiting this wonderful
place, Had this Canadian Loretto been
on the Merrimac, we should have St Anne
pills, and porous plasters a la St Anne
hawked over the whole world, and the
grace of God would have been patented
and duly labeled"
On the shore opposite Quebec is Point
Lewis, quite a town with good buildings,
hospital and of course churches. Here II
Ia said was the scene of remarkable
tragedy in 1853 / will not go into the de-
tails except TO state that brutal murder
took place at that time and the murderer
was said 10 be on Indian maid, who was
tried by court martial and executed. Her
body was then placed In an iron cage as
a warning TO evil doors and about 1880 IT
is stated 1t was sold to collector Of re-
lies and deposited In public museum
in Boston. And this reminds me that
forgot to mention that in the chapel at st.
Anne are % steps which are only mounted
by pilgrims who climb on Bonded knees.
In the front of the steps or stairs are
medallions or rather were for some have
been stolen and l am wondering II they
might not be found side by side with the
gruesome relic referred to. ] will try and
remember to look when I visit Boston next
time ROBERT COWELL.
Peveril Hotel. Douglas, 1. o. M, British
Isles.