The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-04-14
WESTMINSTER, Md THURSDAY MORNING, APRIL ID, 1870

1924 feet, aud the width at this poiut
is 81, and the extreme widths, iu
cludiDg the side aisles, is 1871 fsst.-
The extreme l3ngtb Of the TRANSCRIPTS is
4IG4 feet. The circumference Of the
four pillars which support the dome is
253 feet; the diameter Of the cupola,
including the outer walls, is 1861 feet
of the interiqr, l39 feet, and the entire
height from the pavement to the top of
the cross which surmounts the dome is
AS feet
There was found after his death. in
the portfolio of Horace Binney Wallace,
mass of unpublished manuscripts,
among them this fragment, which We
consider altogether the best description
Of the effect which the interior OF St.
Peters produces upon refined and
cultivated mind, that has ever found its
way into print; What a world within
liie's open world is the interior Of st.
Peters "a world of soitness, bright.
ness, richness, fuiing the sentiment
into refined rapture Of tranquility,
gratifying the imagination with splen-
dors more various, expansive aud ex-
haustless than tho natural universe from
which VIC pass, typical Of that sphere of
spiritual Consciousness which, before he
inward working energies of faith, arches
itself out within mans mortal being
When you push aside the heavy curtain
which wells the sanctuary from the YES
tibule without, what shower of high
and solemn pleasure is thrown upon
your spirit! A glory of beauty fills all
the tabernacle The majesty Of a per.
feetion that seems fragrant Of delight
iulness fills it like a presence. Gran
dcur, strength, solidity, suggestive of u
fixed infinite, float upsphered within
these vaulted spaces the clouds of lustre.
The immensity of the size, he unlinit.
able richness of the treasure that has
been layished upon its decorations by
the enthusiastic prodigality Of the
Catholic world through successive cen.
turles, dwaris man and the present, and
leaves the soul open to sentiment of
God aud eternity.
The eye, as it glanccs along column
aud archway, meets nothing but varie.
gated marble and gold Among the
ornaments of the obscure parts Of the
wall and piers are multitude of pic.
lures, vast in magnitude, transccndeut
il merit, the masterpieces of the world,
the communion Of st. Jerome, the
Burial Of ST. Petronilla, the transfgura.
tion OF the Saviour-not of perishable
canvass aud oils, but wrou hit in IN sale
and fit to endure till time itself shall
perish. 1t is the san .tuary of space and
silence No throng can crowd these
aisles no sound Of voice or of organ
eau displace the venerable quiet that
broods here. The Pope, who fills the
world with all his pompous retinue,
fills not St. Peters, and the roar Of his
choired singers, mingling with the
sonorous chant of host OF priests and
bishops, struggling for an instant against
this ocean of silence and then is absorb
ed into it like faint echo. The
mightiest ceremonies Of human worship
celebrated by the earth's chief pontiff,
sweeping along in the magnifcencc of
the most imposing array that the exist.
ing world can exhibit, seem dwindled
into insignifcance within this structure.
They do not explain to our feelings the
uses of the building. As you stand
within the gorgeous celestial dwelling
framed out for mans abode--the holy
silence, the mysterious fragrance, the
light of ever-burniug lamps, suggest to
you that it is the home of invisible
spirits, an outer court of Heaven, visit
cd, perchancc, in the deeper hours of
night that is never dark within its
walls by the all sacred Awe itself.
When you enter St. Peterss, religion
as local reality and a separate life
seems revealed to you. Far up the wide
nave, the enormous baldachino of jetty
bronze, with twisted columns and tent.
like canopy, and hundred brazcn lamps
whose unextiuguished fame keeps the
watch Of light around the entrance to
the crypt where lie the martyred re-
mains of the Apostle, the rock of the
church, give an oriental aspect to the
central altar which seems to typify the
origin of the faith which reared this
fame. Holiest of the holy is that altar.
No step less sacred than Pope's may
ascend TO minister before il; only ou
days the most august in the calendar
may even the hand which is consecrated
by tie ring of the Fisherman be stretch
ed forth to touch the vessels which rest
upon it. At every hour, over some
part Of the floor, worshippers may be
seen kneeling, wrapped in solitary pen.
ance or alteration.
Ell DoRADo.-Mapy years ago there
was supposed to be kingdom some
where in South America called "El
Dorado" or the ''glldcd," which was
thus described: "The king was every
day covered with powdered gold, SO that
he looked like a golden image. The
palace of this glittering monarch was
built Of brilliant marble, as white as