Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1855-08-08
From the Pittsburg Evening Timos.l
Irs. Swisshelm and the Cathedral Deiicati


Hrs. Swisshelm and the Cathedral Dedication.
Mrs. Swisshclm was hoeing new potatoas or
picking some of those glorious strawberries
one Saturday, when she .sgot up a tremendous
thinking" about attending the Cathedral Ded
ication. And she decided to attend, and
did attend. In the last number of the Yiyifor,
we goat over the luscious, rich, rare and racy
three four columns, descriptive, denuncia-
tory, humorous, original and withal true, or
very near 1.-THE fruits of the Sunday spent
in and about the Cathedral. Now, what does
Mrs. Swisshclm say ?-We shall see:
The ceremonies of consecration began at 5
O'Clock. Mrs. S. was pcrched in q window and
SAW ssa little group Of men and boys, about n
dozen, wearing black petticoats, some with
white lace shirts, heavily embroidered, worn
over the back and descending to the feet, with
loose waist OF thick white muslin; one with
short gown of embroidered lace, coming half
way TO the knee, and some with common white
muslin gowns OF the same pattern. Two of
these had trimming of broad lace at the bot
tom, and two had none. Two boys in book
muslin short gowns and black petticoats were
holding unusually long candles in very long
eandicstcks, and one of the men with the lace
skirt ON the muslin polka was holding up
large gilt cross highly ornamented. One had
Il smaller silver cross, another had gilt crook.
In the centre was little fat man in petticoats
with what appeared to be large, SNOWY era
die quilt pinned around his shoulders without
anv folding, the corners all hanging before, land
It drawn tightly across the back. One man at
Il <l,,o ay,H
on his back was a queer kind of square cape.
On his head there was q pasteboard cap run
ming up in the shape of a smoothing iron, and
not far, we judged, from being IL inches high.
Presently man in white gown lifted this off
his head as he stood before small table. In
about half moment he pressed the edges
apart and slipped it over the head again, and
We noticed that from the back part depended
two broad yellow streamers, which hung quite
down to the waist Of the wearer. He carried
q gilt ball, the size OF a large apple, fastened
on one end of round stick, and the other end
he held in his hand. Some of the men carried
books from which they appeared to be reading
and we could hear the murmur of voices as
thev passed around the house,-the two can
tlIcS anu CTOSScS III iloht; eiiS 'AA - ''A~ SSR
making passes with the gilt ball towards the
walls of the house, and at each pass the ball
emitted little shower like watering pot"
After watching their priestly maneuvres a.
while, Mrs. S. got tired and went back to bed.
SIN halt an hour we were called up. The
procession was at the front door again, with an
addition of three bishops in purple silk petit
coats, with Whit lace tHpics and sleeves, with
scarlet undersleeves, and capes of purple silk,
something the shape of a fireman's cape. They
also wore smoothing-iron caps with long
streamers, like that of the Archbishop, but
somewhat different in color. -Four priests had
little table with handles like those of bier,
and somethig on it covered with table cloth.
-Four men carried a crimson canopy over it,
SIN the last procession, boy went
before, carrying something that looked like
one of those brass lamps which used to hang
in nearly all churches. This he kept most In
dustriousy swinging back and forth, as school
girl swings satchel. A priest carried anoth-
er behind the host, and we supposed they were
eensers, but the wind and rain would let nei-
ther these nor the candles burn. Bishop o.
Conner wss the. finest looking man in the
group, and priest in black petticost sndla