Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-17
respontence Of The Star.

Epteal Correspondence OF Inc star.
ROME, Italy, June I. 1917.
E1 HIS is a story of the faith that
moved mountains 1t is cry
for peace echoing through the
q wild Abruzzi.
peasant girl of Tore del Passeri
tTower OF the Sparrows) has had Wis
lon and the vision is Of peace. which
will drive war from the face of the suf-
fering world.
The title of visionary has been be-
slowed upon many a peace advocate.
but the vision of Donata MieIe, girl of
the" rugged. torrent-swept Italian
mountains. has thrilled the shepherds,
the goatherds, the contadini into action
which reflected with pathetic clearness
the faith and hope of these picturesque
mddhtaineers- For the cry for peace
comes from the very heart of the peo-.
rts;-
This is Donata's vision: To the girl
ef'the people the mother of God ap-
peared. She came in the likeness of the
holy virgin of the rosary. whose image
k.adored by the peasants of Rocca
Aiofice and Tore del Passeri. Thus,
nays Donata. the virgin spoke:
AN image Of mine is buried at Rocca
Moriee in the province of Chieti Go
and md 1t. and when you have done so,
bvnd an altar TO me on this spot which
snail be known az the Church of the
Holy Virgin of Peace. When the image
~ eteund there will be an earthquake
Sof-ohe hour. but afterWard peace will
descend upon the world. But not until
YOU have done this Will the world war
end. Go at once"
No sooner had Donata's vision been
whispered by her excited mother TO her
nearest neighbcr than IL had spread
ike forest fire up into the most dis
t,nt hamlsts of the mountains Tele-
phonvs and telegraph are unknown
means OF communication for these SIM
pAc'people who live the lives their
fathers and mothers have lived for
HsNny"centuries past.
s'Thsre was no doubt in the hearts of
the Abruzzi peasants as to the appear
sRce of the virgin to Donata, for was
not Joan or Arc peasant girl, and did
not the Divine One appear to her in the
dark hours of war;"
The Abruzzi peasants are mysties
The shepherds live for months with
their focks. in that beautiful Italian
mountain region. alone with the sun.
tAe .noon and the stars and the voices
q the forests and streams. In this un-
frfNuented country, where the strong.
straight sons have marched OFF to the
battlefield. and where desoiation marks
the faces of the most picturesque of
Of despair which can be quenched only
BY peace. Where from the hills Beppo
and Gino were wont to descend at
ntghtfall with their fioeks. or stagger-
ing Beneath great loads OF wood, to-
day the bent and twisted old men creep
homeward. or tiny boys and girls take
the places OF the absent ones who will
never.return. For IL Is in the country
places one sees how ruthlessly youth
has been stripped from life. one may
seek many long day and not find a
strong young man.
$50 the appearance of the Virgin to
one Of their own people brought excited
devout ones rushing to the Miehie cot
lages where Donata. girl with strange
psychic eyes, sat repeating her story.
The Virgin looked just like our lady
aere'dn the Church of the Rosary She
sml3d at me she gave har message
and was gone"
-iAa.mountain felix listened. then they
set1forth to obey the mother of God
they were ready with pick and shovel
n follow the dreamer of dreams to the
asish:s.
The very next morning a long lire Of