The sun., 1916-12-31

mis- overlooking the town naSneS n
bright glow. 1t is discerned by all be-
cause OF its prominence.
1t is in the shape of "A gigantic
cross that stands out from the lofty
crest. a short time later. when the
faint outlines of the mountains fade
into the darkness OF the sky. the
emblem looks like a cross burning in
the heavens. The mass OF people re-
gard il reverent,y.
Except for the lights back over the
town h only other illumination is a
gov In front OF the Grotto. IL is
from the numbers OF tapers ever burn
ing before it.
The great pressing sea OF human
beings rUw thicker and holds one to
n single spot. Far in the.rear others
still press In. The crowd jams more
and pushes ahead inch by inch toward
the Grottc. Half an hour passes and
one finds oneself ten feet advanced.
So great is the crush.
The time for the procession arrives.
Half past eight n far ahead several
Wee lights suddenly sparkle out over
the heads in the darkness. Immedl-
atcly they are followed by other lights
I'm h same place and then by dozens
that flash out all over the mass and
bob mp and down in IL. forming star
clusters.
A few seconds go by and the num-
her OF light specks leap into the thou
sands. they are now everywhere. and
a few minutes later the multitude
seems to have been transformed into
n lake OF fire, Of lnnumerable glowing
bulbs that flash up and down, scintil-
lating in the night. All about are
holding lighted candles aloft. Fastened
to the tops OF them, to protect the
flames from the wind. are little shields
OF pasteboard.
While the myriads OF bobbing lights
make the scene about one Of incan-
descence, suddenly through the air
from the direction OF the Grotto comes
the sound of singing. 1t is very faint.
but in the stiffness it is impressive.
II grows IA volume. and soon
spreads over the whole throng. As il
IL taken up by the thousands of throats
II ecomes a sound that fills every
thing n that rises and falls through
the night In a simple. sweet melody,
Then quickly. while the singing con-
tinues. the crowd divides as priests
make their way along and leave a wide
path through its middle. There ~ a
confusion and q grouping Of clusters
Of lights at the Grotto. There is soon
a frightening ribbon OF lights that
gradually owe down through the
middle OF the crowd.
As they sing the people walk with a
strange gait that seems to keep time
with the peculiar rise and fall Of the
melody. Long before the last OF the
multitude have fallen into line the
head OF the procession has reached
the border OF the town. has turned
back again and In now mounting the
long. high runways that lead up to
the church and wind about II.
So there Is now a %quivering ribbon
of soft light that runs from the Grotto
to the town. back again and up alonG
the great runway, over the high
arches. and down again on the other
side. II is a vast stretch OF many
thousands Of persons gathered from
| all corners OF France, and all are sing
ing. Many soldiers In uniform walk
along. heads uncovered like those OF
the civilians about them, singing from
| the leaflets by the light Of the candles
Frequently comes some, one too
feeble or disabled to walk alone. who
through a supreme effort OF will for
the great occasion, totters along under
| the spell. lost to infirmities. and holds
before him the little star OF light
Face follows face: they seem TO he
endless. and the expressions make an
| impression on the mind that II cannot
shake OF.
Probably there In nothing like II
elsewhere. Every type Of the popula-
ton is represented here. every class
almost. and probably every degree OF
suffering. 1t Is as though the nation
were marching by. Each flame IL
borne along by one who Is seeking
| divine deliverance from some great
sorrow.
Hand stretched out holding his
candle. walking along with a hesltant
mechanical step. Is the blind soldier
who was given up as dead by the Cir
Mt his side, his wife. She leads him
along and from the faces OF both
shine the common look OF exaltation.
In another part OF the line In q
soldier who also walks along by his
wlfe's side. lie had seen a long period
| Of service In the trenches. Then came
the day finally when n grenade sent
over exploded near him and some Of
IL caught him in the face. lie Ia con
valescent now, ri see from both eyes
but his face Ii not pleasant to look at.
From the hospital they had sent heI
! word. and he wal sitting In Q chair