The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-04-22
foreiqm Correspondents
PARIS, 1912.

churches and molly relics. ihcio az P'SDN'' -
cities in Europe which contain SO many churches
worthy the attention Of the traveller, on account oil
their antiquity their architecture, or the curious re-
lies which they contain. During the middle ages,
Cologne was called the Rome Of the North, name
to which il was well entitled by Its importance as
centre Of ecclesiastical power, and the number and
splendor Of its churches Tbs city had, at that time
it is said many steepes there are days in the
year, but at present. there is hardly tenth part OF
the number remaining. Nearly all of these churches
are from six to hundred years old some OF them
still ancient the traveller, therefore, who Is
a connoisseur in architecture and is curious to study
the different phases of the Gothic STYLE may there
crafty his taste to the full II would be tiresome to
you as to myself if were to attempt description OF
the eight or ten churches which thought j, worth
while to visit shall, therefore, say word only Of
two or three Of the most interesting and OF The curl
Gus relics which they contain.
The Cathedral is the largest and most interesting,
and If it had been completed would have been one oil
the wonders Of the world Ii is four hundred feet IN
length, and its haze been raised to the
height Of five hundred feet, but they, as well as the
greater part of he building far from attaining the
fulflment of this magnificent design. Il has been
said, with truth that his vast unfinished structure
presents an appearance between that OF fragment
and ruin" The parts that have been completed are
patched up with boards and bricks as to render
available for purposes of worship but presents me-
lancholy picture Of mingled magnifcence and mean
The exterior Of one extremity Of the church
only is finished and the noble richness OF Its archi-
lecture dazzles the beholder. The interior OF the
building is filled present with scaffodngs erected
for the purpose of restoring and preserving that which
has been finished, but left to decay for five centuries
rather than Of carrying out the original design, that it
is impossible to get good view of the vast and I'M
posing proportions of the edfce. Among the few
things that complete, several great painted
windows, Of extraordinary brliancy and beauty OF
design. One two remarkable old paintings are
shown, and under in the floor is the heart Of
Mary de Medicis, Queen of Henry Nv Of France
But the great cuIoses Of this church its relics
For fee Of six francs, my companion and myself were
permitted to crafty wondering eyes with gaze at
the treasures of this sacred reperory First the sa-
tristan showed US bone Of ST. Mathew carefully pre-
served in little respendant with gold and jew
els. Then came piece of clay red with the blood OF
some other martyred Saint preserved with equal care
shrine of another Saint in silver, carved with exqu
site decacy; great nufber Of little carvings in ivo-
ry representing different scenes in the life of the Sa-
viour and executed with surprising skill number Of
crucixes crosiers and other accessories of the Caho
lie service, the very names of of which
known to me. All these treasures were rich with gold
and jewels, and thought that my eyes before
opened upon such rich and splendid collection
cepng, perhaps, the crown jewels in the Tower Of
London. The sacristan, however, informed US, in re-
ply to direct question: that the greater part of this
fine jewery merely imitation. At last we were
ushcred, with all due solemnty into chapel contain
ing the shrine wherein deposited the bones OF the
three Mdgi, who from the East at the Nativity,
bearing presents for the infant Saviour This shrine,
coffin is Of silver and gold deliberately carved and
loaded with gems and precious stones of great beauty
and value. Some of the most beautiful of these cost
ly ornaments are canoes representing scenes of the
heather mythology strange juxtaposition The
value Of the jewels, which decorate this dazzling
shrine, is said TO be than million of dollars,
though its former richness has been considerably d.
minished by certain pious distractions. Through
little door, closed by large topaz, shown the
heads Of the Mag, encrced by diadems, and bearing
the names of their traced in rubies Gaspar,
Kings" Their bones, it seems were found in Italy
by the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa and presented by
him as holy relics to the Archbishop of Cologne.
had not ceased wondering at the shrine of the
Magi, before saw in the Church Of st. Ursula
much extensive collection of relics of the same
Sort consisting of the assembled bones of eleven
thousand virgins! The traditions of the church re-
late that somewhere about the fifth century Gf my
memory serves me right young Princess of Britain
called Ursula, in company with eleven thousand vr-
gins OF the same country, having been converted to
Christianity, made pilgrimage to Rome, and on their
return down the Rhine were murdered at Cologne.
Many ages afterwards their bones were discovered
by miracle, "a dove having alghted the spot and
picked the ground with its BILL whilst priest was
praying for such revelation of the hidden rea-
sure,) and church was built upon the spot and con-
secrated to ST. Ursula and the 1000 virgins Their
bones were deposited within its walls, and there they
have remained ever since. They are piled around
the church in glass cases, and, you may well sup
pose they form pretty extensive collection of oseo-
logy That of the Hunterian Museum at London is
small in comparison In the choir of the church is
a numerous series of very quaint pictures, represent
ing the various scenes of the pilgrimage Of the O00
among Others the baptism of the young ladies by the
Pope, they being all /" in nauraLibus') found it
very difficult to preserve my gravity in looking at this
vast collection of human bones thus preserved as an
object of human reverence, and my companion, who
was a Catholic, was as much amused at the sight Of
the superstitious absurdity as myself
In another of the churches is Christ crucifed not
as is usually the case, carving in marble or wood
but most faithful representation, in some skfuly
contrived material Of sunken and wilhered corpse,
with the blood streaming down the side and the ago
MES of death still dstorting the features The image
of death and suffering is shockngly true. In ano-
Their church saw painting by Rubens, of the cruel