Text: Edgar Allan Poe (?), Literary, Broadway Journal (New York), June 21, 1845, vol. 1, no. 25, p. ???-???

[page 394, column 2, continued:]

A PILGRIMAGE TO TREVES, through the Valley of the Meuse and the Forest of Ardennes in the year 1844. Harper & Brothers, 1845.

We have here another new book from the pen of an American, and a very modest and entertaininb one it is. The author, a son of the Rev. Dr. Anthon of this city, says that, having determined to “attempt the production of a book,” he took up his residence in Spa to carry on its manufacture, for three sensible reasons; first because it is a pleasant place to live in; secondly because it is a fashionable watering place which being deserted at that time afforded him excellent accommodations; and thirdly because it is in the vicinity of Liege and Brussels, from which cities he could obtain all the books of which he stood in need. We like this manner of producinga book, and we only regret that all authors cannot, like Mr. Anthon, select their cities of refuge when the fit of production comes over them. But there have been many books produced in garrets and prisons and other places very far from being pleasant, which [page 395:] will be read with delight, and have power to make any place pleasant when the “Pilgrimage to Treves” will have been utterly forgotten.

We do not mean to underrate Mr. Anthon's work because it WAS produced under circumstances so exceedingly agreeable. There are but few young gentlemen of his years and opportunities who ever think of producing a book at all, or if they should make the attempt, would succeed as well as he has done.

The author begins his book with Charlemagne and Aix-la-Chapelle and serves up anew several bits of history which do not possess much novelty to recommend them. The “Pilgrimage” is not commenced until we reach the middle of the book, when the interest of the work begins. The author set out from Dinant on the 4th of September to join the pilgrims who were flocking in immense numbers to Treves to witness the exhibition of the sacred robe of Christ which happens to be in possession of the church of that city. Mr. Anthon informs us, however, that he does not himself attach any importance to relics, and very conclusively argues that the chances are a considerable many to nothing that Christ never had the sacred robe of Treves on his back.

In some of his descriptions he is sufficiently exact, but in others he is exceedingly vague and uncertain: for instance, it, speaking of Ilardenne, a seat of the King of the Belgians, he says it is “furnished in a style of simple elegance,” which must he interpreted according to the reader's own ideas of what constitutes simple elegance. Probably some readers if made acquainted with the realities of Hardenne would say that it was furnished in a style of the most superb and thrilling magnificence, for we saw in one of our morning papers, a day or two since, an allusion to a new Broadway Omnibus which was styled “a truly palacial carriage,” and every newspaper reader knows that all the steamboats in our waters are “floating palaces.”

The sacred tunic was presented to Treves by the Empress Helena, she having procured it in Palestine three hundred years after the crucifixion.

“Since the exposition which took place in the year 1512, the Tunic has been publicly displayed nine times, seven times a Treves and twice at Ehrenbreitstein, to which place it had been transported on account of the risk of destruction or plunder to which it was exposed during the war wbith distracted Germany The last exposition occurred in 1810, and lasted 19 days. Tin,.umber of strangers who visited Treves during this time amounted to 227,000. According to the belief of some, miraculous cures were wrought by the sight and touch of the relic. It is said that many paralytics, and other persons so sick or ictiim that they had to be carried before it, afterward walked without as. sistauce.

Those who dread the predominance of the Roman Catholic faith, and look with anxiety on the signs which seem to indicate that she is about to resume much of her ancient dominion, will be struck by the fact that the exposition of the sacred Robe in the year 1844 has attracted a greater host of pilgrims than on any previous occasion. The number of strangers who visited Treves from the 17th of August to the 6th of October amounted to upward of 450,000!”

The sacred robe is deposited in a chamber of the Cathedral, where it is kept except on occasions of exhibition.

“The crowd of pilgrims entering the great portal on the right in regular procession, two and two, reached the central nave where they separated into two files, one on each side of it. Ao vancing in this order, marshalled by officers with scarfs of red and yellow, the colours of Treves, they travelled the whole length of the choir, and arrived at its upper end, where the two files agait. united at the foot of an elevated platform of variegated marble, as cended on each side by a broad flight of steps. and decorated foi the occasion with flowering plants. In the centre of this platform. directly in front of the treasure chamber, from which it had beet taken, was displayed the revered object of their pilgrimage, Treat; out ou a glass case, and decked with white satin and blue drapers trimmed with gold. The people mounted the platform by the right-hand staircase, and passed in front of the relic, where the) were permitted to pause for an instant, while they gave to one at the attending priests some small object, such as a medal, a rosary, or a representation of the Robe, embroidered on silk, or engraved on paper. The priest touched these to the Tunic, and having thus, in the opinion of the orthodox, extracted some of its virtues, restored them to their owners, who then descended the flight of steps on the left, and quitted the Cathedral by a side door. Upon a table were seen the offerings of the pilgrims, an immense pile of copper coins, testifying at once to the multitude of the donors and to their individual poverty.

I am not ashamed to confess that, as I stood upon this elevation, and surveyed the whole scene which was passing, I felt deeply moved. The spectacle which the interior of that venerable edifice then presented might indeed excuse a moment's credulity. On one side the pilgrims were pressing forward with faces of eager expectation, chastened by religious awe, while the solemn melody of the organ conspired to elevate the thoughts all from earth; and as they descended, it was easy to read on their countenances the joy and gratitude with which they were filled.

The Roman Catholics seize eagerly on examples of the emotion which so impressive a ceremony canhardly fail to excite, as proofs of a peculiar and divine influence which the relic exerts on the stubborn hearts of heretics. A chronicler of the exposition relates, for instance, with considerable naivete, that an Israelitish woman, on seeing it, burst into tears, and immediately made an offering of four thalers, which, in his opinion, is a very strong testimony to the authenticity and virtue of the Robe.”

There are a few more pages, but properly, the pilgrimage ends here.