| Show DANCE OF THE epileptics strange rites in a country village the strange dancing procession of epileptics from all parts of europe took place in germany tho ceremony Is an annual one inspired by a belief in the powers of the dones 0 st of echternach ahe healer to bo cured the pilgrims must dance a distance of mile and a quarter the dance is a kind of irregular march in the course pt which each person to the accompaniment of music makes three steps in a forward ard two in a backward direction thus making in all a series of five steps in order to advance a single one echternach a quiet little village at the extremity of the grand duchy on the river sour and close to the ger man frontier was formerly the first religious center of ancient germany A certain bishop abbot of echternach had a marcelous mary elous influence over the inhabitants of this village and after his death towards the end of the eighth century the aid of his spirit was invoked by those suffering from epileptic disease particular has been manifested in the procession this year owing to the transfer of the bones of saint willibror i from the old parish church lo 10 the basilica where his tomb was formerly to be found in the year 1794 this operation was effected re the presence of many notable bishops among whom were the bishop of utrecht the bishop of treves the bishop of la crosse america the bishop others of dacca india and many at 8 in the morning on german territory just beyond the bridge crossing the sour the procession begins the pilgrims approach in row s of five in rank and file formation annd in some hand others holding their handkerchief the aspect of the procession resembles a waving cornfield as the pilgrims execute their curious dance it is a frightful spectacle as these wrecks of humanity this quivering shaking massot epileptics in their approaches agony they cast their lyes heavenwards to have imploring the almighty compassion on them to them from their distress before me is an old woman of eighty the foot poor creature is shaking from head to already her brow is covered with sweat though the trying pilgrimage has only just begun A crowd of i laughing boys has just gone by they seem to be enjoying with agile limbs they spring themselves as and forwards backwards I 1 they are th e substitutes for those who have come to Echternach last as pilgrims but who at the jumping moment throng have refused to join the the spectators who line the I 1 do streets not laugh the sight is too hideous but from time to time ten a hundred a thousand of these motionless onlookers carried away by the sight they witness join the procession to dance the and begin whole street the houses very seem in motion some of the afflicted stagger some fall to the ground only 10 rise again and falter onward I 1 understand the peasant who fiala to me recently they say epilepsy ie cured here but I 1 have seen some leave echternach much worse than they came I 1 must turn my head away or I 1 shall myself join in the universal folly I 1 am thankful to say that there are fewer invalids than usuff this year in fact the proceedings are encouraged only by financially interested persons the bishop of echternach alone must have gained pounds and the church thousands from the money thrown before the altar by the poor peasants london mall |
