Washington sentinel., 1853-10-09
Masbington Sentinel.
Correspondence OF the n. Y. Express,
THE CHURCH OF ST. DENIS.
ENGHErN LIE BAISs,
A.. D.. O. - IDE y

ENGHEM LIE BAISs,
| ~ Near Paris September -, 1853.
The abbey church Of St. Denis, although
more than six miles distant, may be seen from
this village. The country around Paris you
must know, is very level, and / think the at
mosphere here is clearer than in our country,
for objects at a great distance are seen very
distinctly, and seen quite near--for instance,
| Montmartre, with its windmills, which You
know is an elevated suburb of Paris, appears
so distinct from the Bath gardens, that you
would swear it is not more than FIVE miles of,
while, by the air line of the unmistakable rail
road, it is more than twelve.
The roof and part of the body of the church
of ST. Denis are visible, although the city at its
base is entirely hid by the intervening fruit
! trees and shrubbery. 1t looks like great
black mass. By the intersections Of the roof il
appears like two churches one twice the length
of the other athwart, cutting each other in the
middle. Attached to the church is the abbey,
perhaps one thousand feet long, now converted
into the "Maison Imperial de la Legion d'Hon-
| neur," for the education of the daughters of the
members of the Legion of Honor
Seen at distance on the railroad lit can
not be seen near by on account Of the high
wall which surrounds and hides it, and in con-
trast with the lofty church, it looks not unlike
long low range of horse-sheds by the side of
country church in New England. Of course,
l must visit st. Denis, s,-but not, assure you,
in he.spirit of sightseeing, or to say, =" have
seen st. Denis" There is voice in these
mausoleums of nations which speaks to the
heart. Could | see but one thing in England,
it should be Westminster Abbey. "
The four ends of the interesting churches
1ool,o 10 tha 81, of
have portals, and sculptured statues, and bas-
relefs, and magnificent rose window of paint
ed glass; but the principal, and only one used
by the public, is that facing to the north. This
has three brazen portals covered with figures,
and the door posts and the receding arches Of
the doors are covered with bas-reGefs of the
day of Judgment, of the sufferings and triumphs
of martyrs, Of the occupations appropriate to
the different months of the year, &c. &C.; and
| above the rose-windows, running across the
FACADE, are the statues of eight of the Kings of
France. The first observation which the visi-
tor Makes on approaching this great national
tomb is, "What shame that shops and com
mon buildings should be permitted to approach
within few feet, and thus obscure and deform
this magnificent monument" The front, which
has no pediment, does not appear so high or
imposing as the front Of Notre Dame or
many OlneT cHurcHeS Ol 1 uTlS. IL IL ~ Ill WHICH
remains Of the noble edifice erected by the
Able Sujer, in the 18th century. Rising square
between the two massive towers (the top of one
of which is now removed for repairs) it looks as
| if it be the mighty gate Of giant cemetery. On
the top of the remaining tower is placed a
dark unsightly traperyium shaped roof, appar-
emily not larger than sentry-box, and over
that, between two uprights, is hung bell,
much much ike settlers tahse--a easihe-a 1i5s pot between
two poles. But we must hurry on, or shall
have no room to give you even bird'seye view
of the majestic interior. To describe it | have
not the most distant idea--it would require
months of study, instead Of flying visit, and
| a book, instead Of letter. Enter them as
did. Place yourself by the main portal in the
centre, between these immense clustered pill
lars, fifteen feet in diameter, which support the
towers-look down the broad nave and away
behind the high altar, you cannot see the end
of the choir-4O0 feet distant, twice the length
of the City Hall,-your sight is lost in a
confusion of paintings, tapestries statues, STAIN
ed glass, chapels, monuments, and arches.
| Look up,-the ground vault narrowed to the
width of the nave, is eighty feet high, sup
ported by two rows of lofty clustered pill
lars, which separate the nave from the side.
aisles and lighted by sunshine, softened and
| Stralneu, uOt lHTOuRH WlHuoNS, tmouSh
whole sides covered with painted glass, instead
of stucco. Beyond the aisles on each side of
the body of the church, till you reach the tran
sept, are little chapels some fifteen feet square,
| flied with monuments of kings, or with affairs,
images, bas-reliefs and paintings, each lighted
with high gothic window on the glass OF
which is painted the sufferings and adventures
\ of the saint or martyr to whom it is dedicated.
The first on the left is the monument of Dago-
bert, the founder Of the abbey and church, and
the first king buried there, wrought in the soft,
coarse, cream -colored stone of the country. 1t
is curious and will repay a moments attention.
Imagine the pedimented end of a atemple--iomc
| columns arise at each corner turreted, and
spire shoots up from the upper corner OF the
pediment. The whole, perhaps, twelve feet by
| twenty, forms the stone frame OF stone PIC
ture A space shaped somewhat like gothc
| window is sunk back from the surface about
foot. At the base, the body of Dagobert-the
crown upon his heads lying in state Above
j him. in three acts, one above the other, Is rep
resented in most quantity carved bas.relief the
dream of the good Bishop Audoald, how the
soul of the pious King is rescued from devils
bv St. Denis. The first act represents the de
parted king in a boat surrounded by hdeous
devils. yelling and dancing as they hurry him
| oyer the internal lake, but the undismayed king,
with clasped hands and untaltering faith, calling
mon St. Martin and st. Denis for help. In the
next act the sturdy saints are come to the res
cue. and are pitching into the devils with holy
zeal. and to escape their fury the howling imps
are humping into the lake iii every direction. In
the third, Dagobert appears rescued and apothe-
osized, surrounded by admiring angels. After
this good service Of St. Denis, Dagobert GER
tainlv owed him one, and in grateful discharge
of his obligations, he converted the humble
chapel Of the saint into an abbey, endowed 1t
with twenty.seven villages, built him church
adjoining, and selected it as his burial place.
Passing FIVE or six chapels, each one of which
would furnish matter for long letter, we come
to the splendid cenotaphs of Louis MI and
Henry III, and their queens, beautifully scufp
tured in white marble But We cannot stop
for the FAR more magnificent monument Q
Francis /, on the opposite side Of the church
demands our attention. 1t is white marble, II