Graham guardian., 1911-10-13

for the third time the prelate told him that
he must bring some sign When he repeated
this to the Virgin she told him to go to the
top of the hill. which was always barren, and
that he would find the ground covered with
roses. He wa to I'LL his zarape with the fow-
ers and hasten to the bishop with them. Juan
did az he was hidden. and when he spread
out the roses before the bishop there, on the
inside OF his coarse zarape was painted q
beautiful picture, another miracle, OF the Vir-
gin Mary. This was enough; and one of the
finest churches In all Mexico was built at the
foot OF the hill Of Tepeyacac.
This remarkable portrait was placed In a
prominent part Of the edifce, where It may
be seen to this day. enclosed by beautiful
frame. said to be solid gold; and It is known
throughout Mexico as Our Lady Of Guada-
lupe."
On December IL the festival of Our Lady
Of Guadalupe" occurs. and thousands make
the long pilgrimage to her shrine This has
taken place since 1852, In which year the vir>
gin OF Guadalupe was officially recognized.
On the hill Of Tepeyacac is a little chapel
which marks the spot where Juan Diego cut
the roses that he took to the bishop. Just
back Of 1t is the Guadalupe cemetery in
which some of Mexico's most famous men.
among them are Santa Ana. viceroy Bacareli
and Colonel Obergon. are buried
This edifce Is reached by two series Of
long. winding stairways, which go up the
steep hill from opposite sides. About half
way up one of these flights are the mast and
sails Of ship, made Of stone and plastered
with cement How long they have been there
no man can say. There Is legend concern
Ing their origin which is AZ follows: Many.
many long years ago. centuries. perhaps.
ship was in great storm on the Gulf of Mex
leo. The vessel was in danger of sinking, and
so the sailors prayed to the Virgin. and prom
Used her that II she would save them they
would take the mast Of their ship to her
shrine at Guadalupe, and there set It up so
that 1t would remain forever as monument
to her power. The vessel was saved, and
true to their vow. the sailors removed the
heavy mast and carried it upon their shout
ders over the long. weary miles from Vera
Cruz to the City OF Mexico, and thence to
Guadalupe. where they erected 1t, the sails
set. 1t was covered with stone and cement in
order that 1t might be preserved for the bene
fit Of future generations and there It re-
mains to this day, high up on the hin where
all may see.
On the spot where the Virgin is supposed to
have stood when she appeared to Juan Diego
a spring, the waters Of which Are supposed to
cure any Ill. gushes forth. Over this fountain
little chapel. one Of the most beautiful that
/ have ever seen stands Over the altar is a
painting Of Our Lady of Guadalupe" and
every day many go to her shrine to worship.
One of the most pathetic scenes that can be
imagined takes place in front Of the cathedral.
Among the passengers of every street car
that arrives are the lame the halt and the
blind. Some have to be carried. others are
led, while many who are friendless, hobble
and drag themselves to this sacred spring to
obtain drink Of its magic waters
No description Of this interesting land
would be complete without some mention OF
the picturesque city OF Guanajuato. This IA
nous old place was founded by the Spaniards
In 1854. and the attraction which brought
them there was the rich vein Of silver known
as Veta Madre (mother vein), which has been
worked steadily for over three and half
centuries. The great Valenciana mine. To-
Gated near the city. has produced about $780,.
100000. Mining Is carried on In the same
primitive manner as In the days Of the early
Spaniards.
The cemetery and the catacombs are prob
ably. of more interest to the stranger than
any other point In the city. Armed with q
permit which the hotel proprietor gave me
I climbed the steep hillside streets to the city
of the dead, situated upon the summit of one
of the mountains.
This cemetery is rather small. and I won
dered that there were so few graves in It. but
the mystery was soon explained to me- In
the walls that enclosed the place are thou
sands Of vaults, just large enough for a coffin.
These may be rented for stated periods. but
when this time has expired. II the relatives Of
the deceased do not renew the lease, the re,
mains are taken out and thrown on the bone |,
pile beneath. The crypt is then ready tor
occupation again The ground where the
graves are located is sold outright
However, the greatest surprise Of all was
before me, My guide opened a small door |
built In some masonry on top of the ground, |
and flight of narrow. winding stairs was
exposed. These we descended and they
brought us into long. underground passage, |
where Is one OF the most remarkable and |
sights in all Mexico. About half OF I
this chamber is occupied by a number OF
corpses In that dry climate. flesh will not
decay when protected from the weather and
these bodies were so withered and dried UP
that they looked like leather The express
sions on the faces were horrible In the ex.
IRENE.
The other end Of this chamber is piled full
Of bones They are the remains Of the poor
wretches who had once been laid to rest in
he vaults above, and who, after the term for
which their friends had paid rent had
elapsed. had been removed to this place.
These catacombs are indeed horrible and
! poor place for any one inclined to nervous
roubles. for If your nerves are not pretty
strong you will see this terrifying place, with
It's grinning skulls and shriveled mummies,
or many a night afterwards