Year: 1873

two Judges among the committee men, which also
numbers tie principal personages OF the depart
ment M. de Montesquieu is president OF one OF
the workmen's clubs at Bordeaux. The Archbishop
oi Grenoble has given his benediction and q sub
scrption OF 1000 francs to the club in that town
he has also obtained for 1t valuable lease from the
brethren Of the Chartreux for o new club house.
The Bishop OF Vannes has published his testimony
to the orderly conduct anu good qualities OF the
wOrkmen's clubs in that CITY, and N. de Brehier. Q
nobleman OF great local Importance, has consented
to act as its honorary secretary.


The great city OF Lille has opened three clubs,
and Colonel de Cherisey and sixty OF the principal
persons in the town have associated themselves
with these establishments. Gymnastics have been
introduced into many OF the principal clubs on the
recommendation OF the Archbishop Of Paris, who
has also connected his name and appreciation with
them. The Marquis de Beaumont is President Of
the Tours club. and the Archbishop has publicly
pronounced y benedictiOn on 1t. NJ. de Bodan,
Deputy for MorDihan to the National Assembly, Is
President OF the Vannes club, which numbers
colonel OF artillery, an engineer, diplomatist and
q major OF cavalry among Its committee. To sum
up, these Catholic workmen's clubs are among


THE GREAT PAcTs OF THE AGE.


Captain de Nun was therefore able to lead down
to the out-Of-the-way town OF Liesse less than
1000 wOrkmen. who ostensiby went there Tor
pious purposes The day was very fine. The Old
medieval city, though much fallen from it's ancient
greatness. was picturesque and interesting. The
streets were alive with animated groups, and the
beautiful church was decked with banners,
Mowers and the painted images OF saints. The
whisper OF prayer and the loud chant Of hymns
came through the open doors by turns and filed
the summer cir with the breath Of incense, going
whitherp


''well," said to milliner's girl and her Jules,
who were standing near the church porch, she
busy with glove button, he sucking the knob of
stick, "well, what do you think OF all this"


ma Jot c'est biesa 0enttue," said the milliner's
girl and her Jules.


1t has been often said and will be said again. for
stupid things must be often SAID, or mankind
would forget them. that the Roman Catholics de-
grade piety into pleasure and that these modern
pilgrimages are, after ALL only made up OF picnic
parties and holiday lovers. 1t is certainly possible
that some Of the pilgrims are not saints, and might
feel indisposed II suddenly required, to become
martyrs. But which, after all, is the worhest
object for the gathering together OF a people
the thought Of heaven, or, say an archery meeting
with some crooked sticks and half a dozen yards
OF string for q subject OF perpetual contemplation
on a summers day?


This ancient Roman Catholic faith though 1t has
been so often despised ana Knocked, has bright
and wondrous life IN II. or course 1t Is not so re-
spectacle as the Reformation, which arose from the
desire OF one man to break an oath which he had
voluntarily taken, and the fixed determination Of
another man to have two wives though he gave his
soul Tor the second. Still, though not up to the
moral standard OF Priest Luther and King Henry,
1t Is lOvable faith, speaking softly and sweetly to
the imaginations even Of the ignorant. Whether
it is the true faith or not Is another question.


was at mass this morning and the Church OF
Liesse was so crowded that there was not room Tor
another STRIPPING in 1t. l looked keenly at the
congregation, and have seldom seen harder faces
or closer looking nsts. Yet the church. was filed
with their offerings, and not one OF them would go
away without leaving part Of that he loved best
on earth, his money, behind him. wonder why they
did 1t. They were not holiday makers. They were


THE ROUGH FARMERS OF CHAMPAGNE,
was going to write. But they are not so rough.
They seem like people who are playing at being
rough. Cockney hermlts would perhaps be just
term to apply to them, and that is indeed what
they really wish to appear. 1t is not a beautiful
IDEAL but they attain to 1t, which is something in
this world OF ours.


Their women were amazing specimens OF the
adverse sex. Their clothes were starched and
stin They looked, when old or cantankerous, like
queer lOI navigating tue 8DOut tO
sail away into space upon broomsticks with their
lat.


DUMPTy BANDy-LEGaED CHILDREN AFTER THEN.


Not at all an imaginative population these Lcsse
country folk. Yet there they were, all praying at
the shrine OF the Virgin, and supplicating the
image, which had appeared in the
prison OF the three crusaders and their jaier's
daughter. l wondered why they did it, and why
the church altar was rich with their gifts till
read again the inscriptions OF the votve tablets
on the church walls; and thought how this mans
mother had been suddenly healed OF an innrmity
as she prayed, or that woman's child had been
restored to her.


is or is II not a good speculation to pray for
nine days and give 100 francs in sacrifice and aims
That Is the question before us at Liesse. The
presence Of these men and women declare that it
is good speculation. Very sharp fellows some
OF them. No chance OF getting fancy or q false
hood, however cunningy managed into their heads.
1t must be admitted, however, that the


THEATRICAL EFFECTS WERE ADMIRABLY cor Up.
And why not Religious ceremonies are the only
artistic amusement of the artistic French people in
many country towns. The ceremony was very
nne The chanting was very impressive. The
tones OF the organ were grand and solemn. The
bell had q silver sound. NJ. lie Cure and the at
tendant priests seemed to lnhabit serene atm0s-
phere and were elevated above the people, They
moved about before the high altar In splendid
robes, amid flowers and lights, while the voices OF
the choristers rose and iell melodiously as the
rise and fall OF waters at o fountain. Above
them, supported by sculptured arch, the gift OF
pious Duke Of Lorraine, was the miraculous image
OF our Lady OF Liesse-a little black image, no big
ger than the vision seen by Armand Wallet at
Batignolles-with all that devout crowd worship
ping 1t, as . work OF faith and love made perfect
There was nothing in It which unskilful hands
might not have carved and which pity might not
have admired.


All over the front OF the church were stuck
number Of painted images Of saints and patriarchs.
Abraham about to sacrifice his son, and Jacob
with his ladder. They were rudely done on wood
or cardboard, and NO better than the images in
childs' picture book They were, dare say, very
funny and trumpery In the sight OF some, for
heard some laughter about them. But what II
h~o~x