The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-06-17
DAILY LEADER.
TRE OATHEDRAL LIBRARY.

II It is now between forty and fifty year,
ago that I obtained leave from the Dean
and Chapter Of WATERBURY Cathedral, x
read for some weeks in their cathedral
library. The editions of the Fathers and
. some important Middle Age writers which
are preserved in that quiet library boast Of
peculiar excellence, and l well remember
the exultstion with which ], then 8 very
young man, received news of the desired
permission to ransack those treasures.
Having secured q small lodging in tbs
Close or cathedral enclosure Iset out for
WATERBURY early in the year 49,.
Through the kindness of one of the canonk.
who seldom had to consult the librarian on
his W account 1 was provided with a key
to the library buildings, and allowed to
. keep undisturbed possession OF it as long as
my vision lasted. This key gave access
: not only 10 the library, but 20 all parts OF
: the cathedral likewise including even the
cloisters so that 1 wis able to let myself
in and out Of the noble edilce at all hours
; Of the day or night, and to rsmble IN
, challenged through the aisle crypt, stalls,
triforium, and orgsn-loft.
have never forgotten, and shall never
forget the day on which 1 first took my
seat in the room which was to be the special
scene of my lsbors. The library lsy on.
the south side of the cathedral, being
lower continuation of the south trsnsept,
and forming one side of the cloistar court.
Il was obviously, therefore, raised above
the height of the ~cloister vaulting, and it
Was reached by q fight of stairs open
ing into the cathedral itself. Narrow
ness ut measured about eighty feet by
thirty, and a certain antique collegiate ar
land smell too, to be perfectly accurately
about the bindi gs of the books and the
coverings Of the chairs, were its chief
characteristics. There YVES q bust of Cicero
st n end, and of Seneca at the other.
Some smaller busts Of the principal Greek
fathers adorned the side shelves, and 8
dingy portrait of the tjudicious" Hooker
abode In q musty frame over the heavy
stone m~sntlepiece. The fender itself was
of stone, or rather the fireplace was not
protected by 8 fender st ali, but by s small
stone wall, about three inches thick, and
six inches high, which afforded blissful re-
pose to the Outstretched foot.
One April evening, shortly after sunset,
when there was still daylight enough tc i
resd the titles on the backs Of the books, 1
walked across the Close In order to fetch
and bring awEy with me 8 couple of vol
umes Of which I stood in need. It was an
hour when the grand old cathedral is &C.
customed to put on Its very best appear
sLce. The. hesven-kissing spire and the
far lower, but beautiful, western
towers are tinted with the faint rose
color which suits old stonework so admirs-
bly, and the deep gloom Of the cloisters,
tempered by the glow from the noble piles
Of masonry overhead, makes it possible and
easy to realize some Of the rspturous visions
of7the recluse. l passed as usual down the
Lave, aud having assembled the little stair
case, let myself into the library, and was
on the point of attacking the necessary
bookshelf when, instead OF placing the key
IN my pocket IS it was my habit to do, l
tossed it carelessly on the sill of an ~sdioin-
ing window. The woodwork of the library
was by nc means in a sound condition, and1
between the inner e1ge of the sill and the
wall there wss a wide chink, opening down
into unseen depths of distance. Into this
chink, impelled by my evil genius, or by
one of the ghostly beings that las l was as
sured by the Verger) haunt the library and
clOisters, down tumbled my unlucky key.
l saw it disappear with q sharp tWinge of
vexstion, principally, however, at the
though of the time and trouble that would
be consumed in bringing it to light again.
Tomorrow, I said 70 myself, I shall be
forced 10 get q carpenter to remove this
sill, and rake up the key from Heaven
knows where; while sinking Mr.. Screens,
the verger, will wstch the whole proceeding,
and insInuste with silent suAvity a doubt
whether l am a fit person to be entrusted
with Canon DOolittle's key. It was not
until I had come down from the short lad
der with the books under my arm, and,
warned by the deepening shades, was about
to leave the library, thai the full effect of
the keys disappearance presented itself to {
my mind. The outer gate and inner door !
of the nave had been carefully shut by me, I
according TO custom, on enlering the csthe-
oral All the gates and doors were fitted
with q springlock, so that without my key
1 was d0uble-locked in the building. Ny
fret thought wac n of amusement and !
l fairly laughed aloud at my own perplex- ]
ity. 1t seemed an impossible and incon.
eeivable thing that one might really have !
to pass the entire night in this situation. 6
Presently I left-the library, the DOOR of
which l had not shut on entering, and l
went down the staircase into the transept
Snd then into the nave. / carefully tried 8
the inner door, but without effect. 1 had &
done my duty IN entering, and it was I
hOpelessly and mercilessly fastened against l
Resolved on maintaining unbroken ]
sef-possession, 1 returned to The library. !
1t was now quite dark, the only light being
that reflected from the shafts of the clois- {
tiers, on which the moonbesms we're now |
beginning to tall. 1 sat down in a large l
arm chair which stood at one end of the !
library table, and thought all over the pos
sible means Of extricatIng myself from an I
unexpected dursnce. Should l go up 10 {
the belfry in the northwestern tower, and J
toll one Of III bells until the Verger should
come to see what was the matter2-but I
even this l could not do without the key, {
which would be required to open the door I
at the entrance Of The tower. Or shcRld /
make my way into the organ loft, and fill {
the bellows quite full, strike a success. !
sion of loud chords uniil-the music might ]
the attention Of some passer-by p Z
this might be- done, but it would be q PERIL !
GUS experiment. Half WATERBURY would !
be seized with the belief that their old {
cathedral was haunted. The organ loft
would be invaded by vergers, besdles and {
oOnstablss-there were no blue coated !
police in those days-And l should move l
about the ancient city ever after with the ]
Of a msdesp on my head. People
would nod knowingly to. one another IS I y
and significantly tap their fore {
heads, By way of limiting that 1 was "a
little touched" Canon Doolittle would re- !
call his key and abstain from inviting me {
70 his hospitsble table. Gradually, there !
fore, 1 gave up the scheme of saving my !
self by means of the organ and the beltry !
being already set aside, no other resource !
but TO stay where l was and !
pass the hours rs best l could until {
Mr.. Screens should open the doors stabout {
half past six in the morning, ready for the {
seven o clock prayers in the Lady Chapel
l was luckily undistuIbed by any fesrs !
from the possible anxiety of my
landlsdy. WATERBURY is near the sea {
and I had on more than n occssion spent ]
the greater part of the night on the cliff,
Watching the glorious moonlit effects upon !
the romantic coast scenery Of that district. !
These, Mrs. J~ollisole wss accustomed 10 {
call my 'eOast-zusrd nights )" and l made !
no doubt that, should 1 fail to appear, the {
old lady would 60 ~contentedly to