The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-09-08
For the National Era.
LETTER FROM MRS. STOWE.
FRIBoURG


We got into Fribourg about half past twelve,
and stopped, as per guide book, at the hotel
where the hearing of the celebrated Fribourg
organ is one of the accessions of the entertain
ment Like dutiful travellers, we had careful.
ly studied our guide book on the road, and Of
course, came into town wonderfully enlivened
in our expectations of an organ that had sixty
stops and seven thousand pipes, one thirty feet
long &c, &c The first question, on alighting
at the hotel with some barbarous name, was,
when can we hear the organ? ~ "Ah, mon
s'eur you are come Just in time--the organ is
to play immediately How fortunate We
were ready to rush immediately for the cathe-
dra5 but were cOurteousIy invited to wait
Little, TIL the other strangers at the hotel are
ready when the nasfre will cicerone US all to-
gether. SO up we 60 and out on to a back
Verandah and there truly most charming
view burst upon our sight.
We were high in air, overlooking rocky
gorge, ornamented at oil proper points with
most picturesque old towers, Across the gorge
was thrown graceful wire bridge, and another
still, of marvellous length and workmanship,
spanned another ravine in another direction.
In quarter of an hour we were informed
that the organ was about to play, and started
Tor the cathedral. The said building is an odd
looking thing, having gothic tower, with ever
10 many little spirets on one end, and an at
tengated figure on the other, which looked like
New England steeple in consumption The
arch oil the door was soulptured in brown
sauuStOne with representation OF the last
judgment On the left hand, among other
agreeable images, was large kettle full OF
people, with creature with hogs head on
sl'her side, stirring them up, and another Of
Tue same graceful species blowing with bellows
underneath. However, in we went into a
great cathedral, much like cathedrals in gen.
eral and Catholic ones in particular Apropos
70 my discussion on the advantage OF church
PICTURES thought would take q look at these
Dul came to the conclusion, in view of all the
circumstances Of the case, that If could not
choose my own pictures, and if people will
make such dismal hobgoblin saints and such
lat virgins, and such registering, blsckgusrd
angels, would much rather have none There
was crucifx high up in the nave, enough To
MAKE one SICK to look Mt it and on one side OF
aaurgln, with gridiron on her head, and on
me ~. other very fat saint 10 yellow pettiooats
There were one or two very pretty pictures
oIeSl lovely young girl looking up to heaven
u,. ..sn Ia S0ikcurc utccC 10 pOiuttuR
e pNatds' There was also tho usual amount Of
cav oak What ever possessed people ia
yout sue such odd figures in churches One de.
me n s,'nn, with an especially snub nose, struck
ala pa5ru,cuarly. This was q medieval idea
svnt ine griffin doubtless was emblematical
t er b. OF disgust 1t sin, OF some such mat.
ree,oI 10 certainly seemed 10 have heaven -di.
- nose Meanwhile our party we're ali
Cu'iy seascd In some hard oakeu stalls. NV
ca' iriend gazing rapturously up ct the
san, as II IL were craven image' calculated
mats the thing" says he "thats the true
way 10 make an organ--pipcs all xlncp
looked up, and said, AAh!o There were abou,
Wehty people 10 the company, all sitting n
sstrIeetation. Upon reflection, I thought ths,
! was going 70 get into "a. state Of mind,n /,
was perhaps best not to nit with the company
went went to one of the side aislss, estabiished
st y,eh bya great cluster Of pillars leaned back
os S. my eyes, and prepared my mind. go'
d dp"e composed, and somewhat cool; for thess
ts; nI among their other grsces can Ger.
Dry BOAST great refrigerative powers. Still nc
hosSAa hark! there il Ia. No; that is some
AZ. Tueak'ng the iron door, and coming 10
inSas there! Another squeak for there are
tbssa 'e Quantities Of odd noises hid up IN
san, rumoling old csthedraIs. Maybe III
ova. somebody's homes rattIins A. he turn,
get , ns conn but the organ is coquettiah
puoeh a'ed Of thinking-s stone projection
by thu my shoulder, and get up, 20 and 81
lttlsa la. party Another solsmn pauss-shen /
hspr.n sui ana moving-aomething is gong h
'he sexton comes up and speaks low