Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-20

which is found the miracle working
image OF the Virgin of Ccpocabana, made
not long after the conquest by divinely
inspired Indian. There is narrow en-
trance stairway on one side Of the little
ROOM and similar exit stairway on the
other side BY mistake, instead of taking
the public stairway we climbed to the
robing room Of the priests, adjacent to
the chapel, and were courteOusy admit
ted to it and through it to the shrine
room. An elaborate service was in
progress. in which the blessing Of the
Virgin was conferred upon a well dressed
and prosperous-looking Bolivian, his wife
and three children who were kneeling be-
fore the altar, in the center Of which ap-
rich in gold. silver and precious stones,
and about it hung festoons and clusters
OF colored artificial flowers. The image
is about three feet high. The face is
very attractive and the vestments are
rich to the point Of gorseousness. We
could not examine the image infinitely
while the service was i'm progress, but
opportunity to do SO was given later.
when it was photographed by our Official
photographer. The image is thus de-
by Marie Robinson Wright:
The bust of the image is Of maguey, SO
compactly made as to appear like wood.
1t is gilded. with the exception of the
cui iously lowered and striped designs
have been applied in rich colOrs to give
the desired effect of an elaborate robe,
a graceful tunic and the customary head
dress. over which Is worn magnificent
crown. The crown of gold and the great
ieweled crescent which embellishes the
robe are the conspicuous emblems Of her
sovereignty and virginity. One hand. COW
cred with rings. clasps the image Of the
Infant Jesus. who also wears a gold
on11o oe nnrle
rings of diamonds, brooches Of rare and
costly gems and rings of great value are
a few OF the more striking adornments, a
large fortune being represented IN the
jewels The entire robe is studded with
precious stones, and from the wrist of
the hand which, holds the image Of the
Infant Jesus hangs a gold staff. the pres
ent of the Conde de Lemos. one OF the
viceroys OF Peru. The altar of the Virgin
is embowered in lilies, and candles burn
constantly in the sacred shrine
The service at the shrine which we
We're fortunate enough to see was more
elaborate in some respects than that de-
scribed as the festival routine Of the
rail were three priests i'll rich vestments.
On one side Of the chapel was a small
choir gallery with an organ. but the mu-
sic at this early service was entirely yo-
cal. The little chapel was crowded with
the twenty-five or thirty persons gath
what we would call blanket Indians. in
many -colorcd ponchos or rebosos, some
with and some without shoes. There
were. however. ten or twelve representa-
tives of the higher class. including the
family kneeling at the altar. who We're
dressed conventionaily all in black There
were also two dogs. wonderfully we'll be-
haved. in the congregation. Most OF the
assembly kneeled through the service on
the door OF the chapel. There were only
few seats in the room back against the
wall The main feature Of the comforting
of the Virgins blessing, as the ceremony
mas been described. consists in spreading
close together at the altar. robe. OF
white satin embroidered with designs in
silver. which was formerly worn by the
image. In the. case of the devotees at
the altar on this occasion the robe was
spread twice over them, enveloping all
five. and in addition they were verbally
blessed twice, sprinkied With what re-
sembled confetti once and touched with
holy water twice.
According to the traditions Copocabana
was a sacred place centuries before the
Spaniards came. the site of a pagan Or
acle of the lncas. and city for the ac-
commodation Of pilgrims. who came an
the sacred Island of Titicaca. close at
hand. and with its great palaces and
temples easily seen from the Copocabana
peninsula. Tie Spanish Catholics wisely
selected as the site of one Of the finest
of their churches the point to which the
Indians had for centuries resorted as
pilgrims for religious purposes. and for
they substituted the miracle working i'm
age Of the Virgin of Copocabapa. And
1t Is said that the tambos or huge hotels
or lodging houses which were built i'll