New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-11-05
ihe Cathedral of Rouen, France.

There are many memories of antiquity in Rouen,
oil Of deep interest to the Intelligent traveller; but
among them all the Cathedral stan preemlnent.
This celebrated edifce is, by general admission,
one of the noblest structures in France, or even in
Europe. of the wonderful architecture of the vast
pile I shall hardly attempt description; for, al
though some idea may be formed of its magnificent
proportions by verbal account, yet the grandeur
and awe with which it strikes the mind OF the be-
holder can scarcely be conveyed in words:
Reader, for short space allow your imagina-
ton to WELD its potent sway. You stand before
the immense mass The mind is, at first, almost
overwhelmed with its vastness, its grandeur its in
explicable power. The breadth is one hundred
and three feet, while its length is no less than four
hundred and thrty-four teet. Its elaborate and
richly -ornamented front has three fine portals,
over the central of which is square tower, and
beautiful spire of iron work. reaching to the dizzy
height of four hundred and sixty-tour feet and
eight inches-only thirty.eight feet less than that
of the Pyramid of Cheops. This is flanked by two
lofty but dissmilar towers. One of these towers,
being older than even the remainder of the build
ing itself, is in simple and unadorned style; but
the other built at the end of the fifteenth century,
is justly admired for the beauty OF its architecture
As you gaze upon the complicated pile amid the
mazes OF its eXtricableSdetais, your eye is lost
among inches, corners, points and pinnacles, orna-
mented with images of apostles, saints, or more
frequently than either, of the Virgin and the Child.
These, however, are no unmeanng ornaments, but
they as volume OF religious history, con-
veying to the unlettered masses OF humans real
facts of Scriptural history and fix them in the
minds of the people with a vivldness and reality
that could not be secured so wellin nany other way.
Let us enter the gloomy Gothic structure. Your
sensations admit OF no description. 1t is not the
religious sentiment which seizes the mind, only so
far as that feeling is always inspired by the works
of genius; but an indefinite and almost super
natural awe. The vastspace, and the silence that
reigns within-the grandness of the architecture,
the solemnity OF the monuments, the impressive
power of the pictures, and the effect Of all these
objects immensely heightened by the light which
comes streaming in from one hundred and thirty
windows-the glass being stained with every shade
of color, from fiery red to the soft mellow tints
fading into white, until nave, choir and aises
magically illuminated they elevate the SOUL
fill it with vague and profound Impressions. In
deed you leave the church, for the first time, with
an oppressive feeling. The idea is too vast and
| complex to be received into the mind at once.
You reach the sublime, but by degrees, and it is
| only after a number of visits and indefatigabe
studies that the soul is expanded to anything like
| Just comprehension of the vast and magnificent
proportions of the wonderful edifice It's contem-
| platon awakens a new sphere OF ideas. Its inn
| mense vaults within enlarge the thoughts of hu-
man kind, while the sublime works of genius
around lend to it a spiritual glow and fervency,
and the summit, losing itself in the air, seems to
bear the bright image of the soul direct to heaven.
The interior is truly rich in monuments, although
many of these sombre relics have been much
| mutilated by the numerous religious and reyolu-
| tionary wars which have from time to time dis.
| graced the country. You see there the tomb of
| !, NSu;u ue lIloHJ iuuuy bshoo vi 4So
| mandy and seventeen Archbshops of Rouen; also
the fine mausoleum of the two Cardinals D Am.
brose There, too lay the form of Rollo, stretched
out on his magnificent tomb, and as one gazes on
the mouldering urn containing the last ashes of
the stern cheftain, you cannot but recall many a
| striking incident Of his life, indicative of his
indomtabe spirit. 1t was in this very Cathedral.
if | remember rightly, that was performed the
ceremony of the nuptials of Rollo with Gisla, the
| daughter of Charles the Simple. Here, too took
place the ceremony of his profession to Christian.
ity and of feudal homage to the King. In regard
to the remuneration of his own faith, in favor OF
the Christian religion, history informs that little
difficulty was made either by the rude warriors, OF
by his ignorant followers for the dark mythology
OF Scandinavia does not on any occasion appear tC
have entwined itself with much strength around
| the affections of its votaries; but when upor
! formal nvestture with the Duchy he was instruct
ed by the attendant prelaes to kiss the feet of his
ege lord, the indignant spirit of the veteran
| revolted from so humiliating a testimony of sub
lection. "Never, by the great God ~ exclaimed
he, will bend my knee to, or kiss the feet of, s
| brother mani"
| ca. yr