16 TOURING QUEBEC AND THE MARITIMES by a terrific tempest on the broad bosom of the St . Law¬ rence, and when all hope seemingly had fled, they vowed to build a shrine in honour of the patron saint of their dear Brittany, . Anne d'Auray, should she guide them safely through the storm. They landed at last, and on the spot, where now stands the Basilica, they built their little chapel and founded the place now known as " La Bonne Sainte Anne de Beaupre ." In 1922 the Basilica was de¬ stroyed by fire. A temporary wooden church was built, which was burned also in 1926. Serious damage was also caused to the new Basilica under construction. The latter is of huge proportions and presents a wonderful sight in this tiny old village just where the St. Lawrence first spreads out into mighty width. It is a combination of the Roman and Gothic architecture, with capacity for 5,000 persons. The church is filled with gifts lavished upon it during more than two centuries by Roman Catholics from all parts of the world, among the most valuable being a chas¬ uble, made by Anne of Austria, Queen of Louis XIII , and given by her to the shrine, as a thankoffering for the birth of Louis XIV . At the door may be seen the grotesque pyramids of crutches. Beyond the Basilica we saw the Santa Scala or sacred stairway, which the devout ascend upon their knees, offer¬ ing a prayer on every step. We saw a young mother, with two tiny sons, one on each side, ascending the stairway in this fashion. In the Cyclorama building opposite the station, many of the party saw a wonderful oil painting, considered one of the world's masterpieces, of the of Jerus¬ alem. This celebrated picture is 45 feet in height by 360 feet in length, and is not only an object of enthusiastic admiration, but is regarded with peculiar feelings of