The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-03-17

OTtednS-oOdD OF hfc-NtyHt-Ttde IN dtLt-
0ence-Lyons-Ca Cathedral Music- Cwiosities
Observatory hill and a reuerie-A day on
the Neutrality-suspicious. Of the Popes
and ancient Church.
CONCLUDED
Lyons is busy, enterprisng city, but not
particularly attractive to the traveller
Among the interesting objects is Cathedral
in the Gothic style of the Middle Ages, re-
paired aud modified in the time of Louis XIV.
There are also various antiquities of the time
of the Romans, such as sepulchral monuments
with the inscriptions perfect, bas-reliefs,
sculptured tablets and the like; good col
lection of which are preserved in the Museum.
among which are two by Rubens, one or two
by Mignard, one by Guido REM, and others
by celebrated Masters. About sunset we
mounted to the Observatory, on hill affordns
a complete and admirable view of the entire
city and the surrounding region; the Saone
and the Rhone winding gracefully along
through the picture, till at little distance
below the city, they unite. The whole
neighborhood about the Observatory is COM
posed of Converts and their appendages; in
the midst of which was a church or chapel,
within whose ancient walls, covered literally
all over with pictures, Reverend Fathers,
Sisters of Charity. children, male and female,
and various other persons, were just assembled
at the vesper service. We went in and pressed
along up into the centre of the church. The
soft shadows of the gathering twilight added
to the effect of the dim old asles, and increased
the impressiveness of the scene. They were
singing, the male and female voices respon-
sively, with great sweetness and richness of
tone and leaned against column and listen
ed. 1t was hymn to the Virgin the men,
singing the leading strain, and the women
closing each stanza with the Ora pro nobis,
warbled out in long drawn melody,s sweetly
and pensively that it quite entranced me. l
noticed nothing, thought of nothing for some
time, but was filled to overlooking with that
vague romantic, intox ication which doubt Is too
often mistaken for religious feeling. AT length
was reused from my reverie by pressure from be-
hind me; and to my dismay discovered on looking
around that whole procession OF children of both
sexes had the meanwhile been led in and had
kneeled all around me in a solid phalanx and my
companions, who had made good their retreat in sea-
SON. where standing back towards the door aud
amusing themselves at the awkwardness of my
predcanlent. However, by perseverance succeeded
in etfecting my escape with no worse accident than
having trodden the toes of some of my fair young
friends over whom was obliged to walk for which
| of course was truly sorry. On our way back we
| examined some OF the remains of an old Roman
aaueduct, and SO ended researches at Lyons.
| The next day day on the Rhone-something
to be remembered certainly and we haxe every
reason TO remember it with pleasure. We left Lyons
lust at that rich hour when, Shakespeare has it,
Nights candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops
At half past three O'Clock in the morning, in simple
prose just as one of the brightest of days-I am get
ting poetical again alreadywas serenely breaking,
our steamer left the Quai, and directly we were
shooting down with great speed on the rapid current
The distance to Avignon is sixty leagues and we
| reached that ancient city, so renowned as monu-
ment of Papal unity, at about three O'Clock in the
afternoon. should like to write long chapter, II
had time, on this days sail upon this classic RIVER
The scenery lie various, and full of beauty and IN
| ,erest Tine towns are none of them deserving
narticular notice. But o the glorious hills, now for
miles terraced Is the top, and covered with uxuriant
vineyards, and presenting peaks OF ragged rock,
with here and there an old castle frowning in ruins
presenting an outline bold and picturesque against the
sky! And the the valleys, SO qniet, so lef'ie' So
lovely the windings of the river, the occasional
islands, the endless variety Of the beautiful ana the
erand,-to describe the objects which deight the
yoyager on such day and at such "a season OF the
year. is out of the question. was really eAhaus'eu
| with long continued exharation. tlougM OF
Cesar and the old Gaus of the feudal nopes Oh 'ile
.x.Ia Auas ,ho dwell in those ruined castles IKE