Evening star., 1926-11-26
BURNING OF SHRINE
CREATES INTEREST
Ste. Anne's Basilica in Can
ada Founded by Sailors,
Legend Holds.

Burning Of the temporary basilica
at the village of Sainte Anne de Beau
pre-, Quebec, aroused widespread in
terest
'In recent years the Shrine Of Ste
Anne has attracted thousands Of pill.
grims and tourists from all over the
United States and Canada" says 4
bulletin from the headquarters Of the
National Geographic Society describ-
ing the village.
"Sainte Anne was an honored
shrine OF the French Canadians of
Quebec before some of the 13 Ameri-
can colonies We're founded" the bulle-
lin says. but within the last few
years it has become a LourdeS Of
America
THE village of Sainte Anne. on the
Beaupre coast, lies 20 miles down the
river from Quebec. Unfortunately.
the village is not within view from
liners sailing to Montreal and Quebec.
because it lies behind the Isle of Or
leans. The main ship channel Of the
st. Lawrence IS on the opposite side of
the long island.
Guardian OF Sailors.
yet the origin of the Sainte Anne
Shrine is definitely linked with the
ships that sailed the St. Lawrence.
French Canadians cherish the legend
of Il tiny ship, manned by Breton sail
ors, that was tossed about In a bad
St. Lawrence storm. In Brittany they
were accustomed to pray TO their pa
tronesS, Saintc Anne, so now, In dire
peril of shipWreck, they prayed to her
They promised if they We're saved from
the fury OF the storm to build a sane
tuary at tho spot where they should
land. Their boat kept atioat during
the night, and when morning daWned
the sailors reached shore at Petit Can.
True to their vow, they raised the
chapel for which the village is now
named, Sainte Anne de Beaupre.
1.-THE visitor sees that Sainte Anne
IS still regarded as a special protector
Of sailors. Most Of the fiagpoles in
the village are equipped with bOomS
like ships mast.
"a trip along the Cote Beaupre to
: Sainte Anne is like no other in Amer
lea. One leaves upper Quebec, pass
ing through lower Quebec to cross the
St. Charles River where jacques Car
tier anchored his ships in 1885. In
Limoilou. a suburb. is the beginning
Of the Beaupre road. All the way to
Sainte Anne the habitant houses crowd
close to the road. They are steep
rooted cottages on the old Norman
eyes In the roof, give each house q
quality Of intelligence and interest in
all that passes. The houses stand at
the front Of the long, narrow farms,
which are usually $50 to $50 feet wide
and a mile or two in length.
"Sainte Anne itself is fat with hotels.
They .JngeSt the narrow streets. They
crowd in upon the numerous religious
buildings Booths, selling tiny shrines,
lnementos and trinkets. usurp sec
tionS Of the narrow sidewalks. The
main street of Sainte Anne on a warm
sunday Is as difficult to navigate as
Broadway at 5 pm.
New Shrine Under Way.
''The temporary basilica which re-
Gently burned stood beside the main
road over and beyond its modestly
high roof rose the bare skeleton of the
new basilica under construction. The
new basilica has cathedral dimensions.
It may follow Old World designs. but
It is made with New World strength.
Two years ago 1t was steel cathedral,
with the wind using it's beams and