The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1861-11-06
From The southern Field. and Fine aide.
CATHEDRAL DE NorRE DAME. OF PAR

From the Southern Fisld,and riresids.
CATHEDRAL DE NoTRE DAME. OF PARIS
There are very many religious edifices 10
Paris, all of them more or less instructive
and interesting bat there IS no other. per-
haps, that lmprtsses the mind as strongly
and awakens 20 many and diverse emotions
"a the breast OF tne behuder, as the Church
Of Notre Da,ae. Its antiquity. its immense
slze, the style Of its architecture, its interi.
or decorations, and especially its historical
associations, all combine 10 render it pile
Of thrilling interest. In external appearance
majestic as il is. il does not equal the Cathe.
dral at R0uen bul its decorations, both with,
10 and without, are more curious and elabo-
rate; the former being chiefly paintings
the latter, sculptured ornaments. II would
require volumes to give description Of these
compositions. There is scarcely a promi-
nent person or event in scriptural or eclesl-
astical history. that is not here illustrated,
with many fanciful inventions besides.
Its facade is grand and imposing beyond
expression. A high and deeply-cat arched
doorway, mssslveiy richln sculptured orna.
ments, opens TO the main entrance. On Ell
ther side is 4 smaller door way, and above
this. in solemn grandeur. an elevated and
massive tower. evidently intended for the
bases o. steeples. Inc general architecture
is pure, pointed gothic. and though its effect
il grandig impressive, its beauty is somewhat
marred BY the absence Of steeples, pinnacles,
sc. Ii is 4 crucitorm edifice. Its length
externally Is four hundred and forty two
feet; breadth, one hnndred and sixty-two
feet; length Of transepts. three hundred and
6fty-two. The towers are two hundred and
thirty five feet high.
You reach The summit By stairway Of
three hundred and eighty nine steps, sltuat-
cd in the western tower, from which SPLEEN
did view is spread out TO The eye, display
ing in picturesque beauty the chief points
Of interest 10 The capital, the winding Seine
and theNmagnihc.nt country views with
winch PATS Is surrounded.
In the western tower is the gigantic bell.
whose deep and sonorous tones are only
heard on occasions Of the greatest selemniiy.
Its Dimensions are 30 huge a. 10 require the
utmost eKertions Of sixteen able bodied men
TO give il motion. The yastness and reIi-
Rious gloom Of the interior Of the church i'm
presses strongly. from the first, the mind d
tie behoider. After contemplating the r..
terror q the grand edihce you experience.
on entering il, 10 feeling 81 surprise Or dis
appointment. There i = correspondence
and harmony of effect. which does nj, u.
sfroy nor weaken the irsl emutton. nut Dniy
elesates and strengthens ii. The miud /.
almost staggered with delight, a. The bril-
liant Sanctuary. respondent gildings. custly
marbles and masterpieces Of statuary burst
upon the view. The perspective from the
front entrance to he depth Of the sanctuary
i surprisingly fne, and as you gaze upon
he lofty vaults, the numerous pillars thai
sustain them. the happy disposition Of ihs
masses, the harmony VI the whole. the per
fectign 10 the details. you can hardly real
ise that il is al the work Of three centuries
Upon the identical spot now occupied b,
Nofre Dame, there existed. il j. said. 10 II,
reiga 81 Tiberius. temple dedicated 70 Ju
plter, Vulcan, Castor and Poilux. As earl,
a. "A. ID. 565, alter the Paristans had becom,
Christians. they threw down these idols ans
replaced them BY Christian Church. Thr
edlhre beceming insufficient to aecommo
date The increase Of the population. in li6l
Maurice De sulIy commenced he erection
ol the present noble structure. and Alexsn
der iii placed the FRI stone. III the yea
il6S. Successive additions we're made to il
20 the sixteenth century.
The historical associations u Noire Dam
invest the gloomy pile with intense Interest
Here 10 November 1925. was enacted tha
blasphemoss scene which ast0nlshed I'll Eu
rope--a roartesan, By the name u Maitland
was installed a. he . Goddess N Reason,
upon the high altar of Tie Cathedral. b. Her
bert and his associates, surrounded by IN
msase throngs u infatuated citizens. Her
TOO. in April. 1904. less than nine years Al
forwards, vas celebrated the re.estabiish
meat IT the Catholic religion, With grea
pomp. Bot tie most gorgeous and magnl6
cent ceremony which tie venerable walls .
hotre Dame have ever witaessed. was N
eofoastlon 81 Napoiean and Josephine i
1904, asEmperor and Emprcssof the Frenei
The display u splsndor ard riches On III
occasion. dazxlsd he eyes ~ even the PAR
SLAMS. The Pops came IRON Rome. 70 plac
ths erowa upon the lofty bros 81 Napoleon
Saeh an honor had not been conferred i
sDy moasfch for ten centuries. Charlemagn
was crowned BY lsrmsr Pops, bat the IN
psror u the West had 10 a. IL Rome to- Il
homer. TIE precise spot VI he coronation
indicated BY . star wrought IN the marb
asof. 70 lfsal u the great altar; snd ne rob
wosa On that OCCASION BY the diaerept nj
fsaetienaries. are STILL shows the strange
They afs al splendid. Napelson's sstpa.
ingly 40. bat Il wese useless 10 tar the :
TRACE u bath editor and reader, with is
ger description 81 this notable sdlhes and
nsasress palass VI iaI.fest therefore '
Hose W III the remark. tina, u the obiiglng Z
,tns ~ TIE Field nd F,.ssds deem 4 ,