34                 HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

    On the day of the feast thousands came.  The farmers brought eatables of all sorts in abundance.  The men "chipped" in to provide beer for themselves and lemonade and candies for the youngsters.  The whole day was spent in play, sports and unadulterated sociability.  The writer had the pleasure to attend several of these feasts, one at Rummelhart and the other at Waterloo.  These feasts gave an excellent opportunity for the people of the different parishes to become better acquainted with each other and to exchange ideas on the various subjects that interested them.  As a means of enjoyment and sociability these feasts were superior to the fall fairs, the circus and Queen's Birthday.  It is a pity that they were not kept up longer.
    One of the delights of Father Eugene was poetry. His productions appeared in the German religious papers, and in a small volume; but his chief effort never got further than into manuscript.  It is a Cycle of Cantoes, somewhat in the style of Dante's great poem, in Honor of the Blessed Sacrament.
    Father Eugene was an excellent preacher and Catechist.  As pastor he laid great stress on frequent Communion.  Wherever he labored Communions were more general and frequent than usual.  This, of course, meant much hard work in the Confessional, where he was assiduous and painstaking.

                                                                                                                     

CHAPTER X.-SECTION 7.-THE REV.  E. FUNCKEN, CONTINUED.  THE FEASTS OF CORPUS CHRISTI.

    One of the grandest and most edifying practices which Father Eugene fostered, if he did not introduce, was the celebration of the Feast of Corpus Christi, with all the pomp and solemnity possible.  To enhance its dignity, he invited the Bishop, who used to come almost every year.  The Bishop was received many miles away by a large cavalcade of young men.  Horses and the riders were gayly dressed.  A scout returned to the village in all haste to announce the coming of the distinguished guest.  Near the church he was received by the members of the parish, young and old, who had assembled in large numbers.  At the Bishop's approach the people dropped on their knees to receive his blessing, while anvils and mortars fired a royal salute.  For the procession the next day great preparations were made. Four altars were erected along the route of the procession.  The route was several miles long, and evergreen trees had been planted along the most part of it.  The Feast was announced next morning with the ringing of the bells and the booming of mortars before sunrise.  At the appointed time a solemn High Mass was celebrated, followed by a rousing sermon on the Blessed Sacrament.  After Mass the procession formed.  Led by the processional cross and acolytes with burning candles, the clergy and altar boys surrounded the Bishop with the Monstrance under the costly Baldachin.  A large number of girls, dressed in white, preceded and surrounded the clergy.  They were provided with baskets filled with plucked flowers, which they strewed along the path of the Saviour.
    A troop of young men, drilled by an old Napoleon veteran for weeks in the manoeuvring as soldiers, armed with guns, acted as guards of the Lord.  Each division of the procession, children, young men and young ladies, men and women, had a leader in praver, who led with stentorian. voice, while the others answered with the same fervor.  The choir near the Blessed Sacrament sang hymns in honor of the Blessed Sacrament most of the way.  The church bells