New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-07-23

"a Spanish cloak over his shoulders an altar dcd-
Gated 10 San Felipe de Jesus, where reposes the
mummy OF that saint exhibited only to the gaze
Of the faithful at long intervals The tomb OF Agls
tin die Iturbdc Emperor sO-cacd OF Mexico, j. al tne
side Of one Of these affairs, with no pretchse an an III
the way OF inscription. Very near II Is the fOunt III
bch was baptized the glorious martyr, san ellpe
dc Jesus native OF this very noble ana loyal cy oi
Mexico" At an adjoining altar the CHASTITY hglIe Oh
dead saint is laid out as upon bed ana uh9tr, !fle
last arch IN egy of the cruciixon Is uprearcd-Iis
sized, yellow, and painful, with protusl0n Of altl-
Cal flowers IN glass cases at the ieet ~ Is qutSl
mixture of tragedy and millinery, eNlhDiUuS tlo
taste Of shop. But beneath this and suffering III
one regard from the proximity, IS shadow paint
ing of the sad nun-ke face of the MadTe ue Dooo''
one of the real treasures of the Cathedral
The right-haud affairs tell much the same stor!.
Painted statues and cruCiiXes are common Dut noI
the dead Christ which at one OF the aI1iis hPpso
in glass case There Is quaint, excellent plcIuio
of the Virgin hooded and vailed, apparently wrought
into tapestry in a style like that OF the 0u Iiia
tions-a genuine sixteenth century reno. III ine
art antiquities in the possession OF tne CatheuIa.
These are immense canvasSes. occupying the enihe
space of the walls to the hight OF ~ OF ~ IeeI hnS
are by Mexican artists OF the sixteenth ana sever
teeuth centuries-Ximines and JuareZ, but primer
pallv Cabrera. One represents the victory, Oh
Michael, celebrated by the angelic powers anot!Gi,
the apotheosis of tho Blessed Virgin; another, inc
reception Of the Holy Lady IN Heaven Inc glslhu-
est canvas of all is a pictorial Homage 10 the rope
and is by Cabrera The successor OF 81 Peter, grave
and gray head, sits on the topmoSt seat oil pOnder
ous car OF triumph, which is pushed by giants Oh the
faith, led by heroes and saints The genius OF MS
tory has n seat in the van, and dlSpoIlng cheruOS
hover ON flank and rear while the aged Pope IS beng
ministeTed to cOunSeled by SAINT, prODauly INC
patriarclal Peter himself. This picture contains
yigOr and variety of form amounting 10 genius
Ccnius not in alliance however. with the best ideals
The pictures and decorations of the last great aIr
are not always i'll keeping with It's IotouS pich-
ground which aSCends to the hlght OF the cllV IL
y mass of braZen shadow Still its mere extent ana
elaboration are inevitably impressive Columns on
ingenious gilt holdings or carvings run up TO we
g.
and knights of the Conquest figure amid TINS eX-
travagaRce of ornament, which runs as Wh9
as vine down to where T ita efiscts
into commonplace. I'm advance OF TINS Is me man
altar of the church tempe-llke structure rising 10
the hight of 80 or GO feet on range OF pOrphyIy
columns alternated with interior marble aIches
Above these is smaller circle OF columns and archeS,
with guard of apostles around 1T similarly 10 the
columns below. ST. Peter is in the middle holding
the world in his hand and fine cloud OF angels sur
mounts the whole There is necessarily far less pc
dizenment at this altar than occurs everywhere else
but the hOurishes of gliding which 1T eXnDllS IS sum
Gent TO make plain the truth that this sort
of gorgeous gTatuity is the death OF chaSe art Inc
grave Oaken shadows OF the coir lhouelalely con
traSted with the gildings of the high organs, over
which appear five dCsi gns OF chcTubS playing on ali
manner of instrument also TESTIFY thdJ the iCuIts'
coors are not the best. The choir-iIom Whch
long Ie OF silver ratings run 10 the mann aital-'
pires from base to roof, and Is finished IN good
taste. With its harmonious ornaments ana lolty
organs, 1t is, especially during any vocal ser
and least Objectionable features OF the church. Inc
chanting of the canons 10y priests and boys Would
sound new TO an auditory az the North Dut mere TINS
kind Of harmony is the best that the churGh allows.
II was not a month ago that the Bishop Oh vera Cruz
issued his mandate against the singing OF women ~
churches, Us being symptom Oh fIoteslahiiSm ana
one other portion of the Cathedral remains TO be
noticed. This the chapel Wing, OF lar more recent
construction than the rest, and dedicated TO Gar
Lady Of Sorrows. Here, too, noble space Is meas
uIably spoiled 10y pTOfusneeSS OF ornanent-lt heed
not be- recounted in what manner It's principal atar
is a gllttempe, with columns lhlIty lctt IHgh. An
angel with cross crowns II, and higher overhead
is Splendidly rayed apOtheOsls Of the virgin, VINO
is going to heaven III a cherubiC clond. John lHe
BAPTIST and Moses either side OF the columns,
two painted statues of good size. At an inferior
altar behold again the Virgin, with crown upon her
head lady-ike beauty in wax. dressed III the most
fashionable white and dalntlly holding babe III lcI
arms. st. Joseph figures at nelghbOring aItaI'
green-rObed and yellow -manued, ana with crown
upon his head To compensate for these unTeason-
able shows are several objects containing the true
sentiment of worship. One Is a painting OF Chrlst;
after he was bound and scourged. lie Is weary ana
teruplation his head bound with thorns An Apostle
looks up to MIN in tears. The elements OF the PAINT
ingare gloom and pathos set III Murilohke SHADOWS
Another painting, az an ,auJolhIh8 aItdl'
has the same theme and inspires the same reverence
In q noble mood the painter concelyes the leaning
orieynp Christ still sitting down and contemplating
The gilt neTies of the altar relieved by TINS pray
erful picture, and the two chaste statues OF flali
the sculptor of Moreos-twIn angels OF beauty ana
grief one of whom holds the spear with the cemtur-
ons sponge and the other the crown OF thOrs There
! is an altar dedicated to the Trinity in which the
heads of three ChrStS appear IN one pctuTe Dut the
cuTiOsities and treasures named are the best the
church Affords -, q,
temptation to enter the open door OF the petty Ca
pilla de la Nuestra Sonora de la SOledad-Our Lady
of Solitude This counts, among other relies, rude
picture OF three sinners IN the fames VINO pray :;
Friends and brothers, for pity of our misery sup
plicate to Maria Santssima for our souls But the
strangest part of the chapes show is collection OF
blessed toys each hung by ribbon against the wall
They seem to be portable images OF the Virgin, which
on some occasion other, have done good to the
bearer for right at hand Is painted testimony TO the
efficacy of calling upon Our Lady OF Solitude IN
hours of trouble. 1t is rude picture setting forth
the facts given Immediately below To these are
added several similar facts copied from pictures on
the walls of the Church of Santa Teresa, for the
purpose of illustrating popular faith.
"On the 9TH Of May, 1916, coming to Tezcuco, the
Leutena1t Of the ROYAL Corps OF AT d lion
/ persons were wrecked. They prayed to Our Lady OF
/ Soledad who mercifully saved them.
nina Teresa, being sick of saranpeon dropesia
invoked the intercessOn of Our Holy Sonora Santa
Teresa and was cured This picture she dedcates to
the Saint
tai danger from a wild horse. lie invoked the SAINT
an the wear 1851 Dona Justina Lopez LogrO, being
sick of violent eTyslpclaS, was, through prayer 10
I'm November 1857. between II and 70, a lady was
attacked in her house by robbers but calling upon
the Saint she came Ivlsbly OF lnNsbiy) ana saved
her petitioner.
ION the 18th July, 1910, at H. while Guadalupe
Echagivai and her servant were in bed the roofing
above their heads fell through BY quick prayer 10
/ Santa Teresa they were saved from sudden death"
Scoresof other such instances, dated and autheni-
Gated, can be gathered from the walls OF the
! churches like so much fruit of faith. Other Chris
ans attribute to the providence of God all escapes
and delivcrances and by parity of reasoning, many
disasters even when, in reverence OF the lncomDre-
hensible Almg htiness, it would be prudent to hold
| ones tongue. The Mexican carries this idea into
| detail He is not only at liberty to thank God, but
he can specify his saints He thus maniests ms CON
/ e L.. Dal ID