Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-05-01
AHumer0us Description of "A Fashionable


A Humorous Description of "A Fashionable
Church.
The New York Evening Post recently published
series of letters purpOrng to have been written BY
Turkish nobleman who visited this country as the
agent Of his government TO witness the workings of
our institutions The satire of the following extract
from one Of these letters is exquisite. The writer
describes visit to fashionable church in New York
IS follows:
On a sunny morning of the FIRST day of the second
week of nv sojourn here 1 requested my young
fellow lodger of the St Nicholas to conduct me to
one Of the numerous sanctuaries. He proposed that
we should visit the Church of the Shining K9leid-
saope and We proceeded thther. Ga our entering
the sacred edifce, the sexton received quite cool
" as if TO saw " What business have you in this
establishment" But when my companion opened
his coat and displayed diamond breat>pin of in
ordinate size the face of the official blossomed with
smiles and he conducted us to an excellent pew in
the central aisle
NV attention was first attracted by the decorations
of the walls and ceiling The principalcolors used
/ the work of adornment we're light blue, bright
yellow and deep red each endeavoring to display it.
self to the best advantage Their effect when com
bined with all the other tints Of the rainbow, shed
through the stained glass windows, was somewhat
remarkable; and observed that portly lady Just
behind me had. as the result of play Of light, a
green forehead, blue nose yellow lips purple chin,
orange hair snd q patch of deep violet over the
left eye Ipdeed had observed no such style of
ornamentation anywhere except in the brilliant res
taursnt Of Mr.. Taylor, Broadway. Wonderful, o
my Lybisn lion, is the power Of assOcistfon-fOr
such was the influence of this paint upon my
imagination, that came near asking the usher who
was promenading the aisle, to bring me lamb stuff
ed with pistSchiO nuts, aud of iced sherbet.
The services commenced presently, by reading on
the part OF person who occupied room in the
rear of the building and responses from portion
of the congregation. The reader pitched his voice
SO that it seemed 10 issue from his toes, and you
may Judge therefore that his intouaiOns hard
ly natural (sinee he Gid not stand on his head but
as it his office to deal with the supernatural It
may I'D presumed that such se2ulohrsl uttersnees
were appropriate to the occasion.
Next came song Of praise by four persons IN the
orgsn left How beautifully they wsr5led I was
carried straight back TO tho opera, with its pride
aDd pomp of scenic illusion, intoxicating sounds,
brilliant eyes, dazzling toilets, immaculate kids.
The soprano led off with splendid staccato pas
sage in which the high notes danced and capered
like lambs hillside.
Then she ceased and the tenortook up her strain,
and prolonged it with clear trumpet tones; then he
stopped, aud the cORiraito sang few sweet notes ;
and lastly the bssso added his voice Il the others
and the whole party commenced terrific struggle
for the supremscy in the final fugue. The contest
was exciting, and the result doubtful for few
ments, but a, last the soprano victorious, end
ing with q tremendous thrill, which entirely sienced
her antagonists. lifted my hands to applaud, but
was checked by my friend, who informed me that,
however delighted might be with the performances,
must not express my graf fcston iu the same way
that would st the Academy Of Music. Though this
distinction seemed to be rather nicely drawn, ], Of
course, yielded TO the suggestions Of his expert
ence.