The Portland daily press., 1870-03-14
rms $500 per annua,a, d,, adrance.
are distant. i'S' IL 'heir MONIES

| in the highest state Of cultivation. Tho sa,,
| is either dark rich alluvial mould or ,o,a'
ish-brown soil. In the country varv Co.
fences are seen except a closely-pruned haw.
thorne hedge which encloses the railroad
track. Everything bespeaks a foreign conn
try and keeps up constant interest. As wa
approach the capital of Normandy, the fat.
rolling fields are succeeded by hills, but tho
railroad never turns aside or goes around
them, butpasses straight through, under mas
sive brick arches. Previous to entering these
tunnels lamps are lighted to dispel the gloom,
aud young men and women consequently
have 10 opportunity to transfer pieces OF court
plaster from each Others lips unobserved In
darkness.
After emerging from one of the longest tun-
nels, Rouen with its picturesque blending of
antique and modern structures. its massive
churches and towering steeples burst upon
the sight and fully realize all our previously
formed conceptions. Never before did we real
ize how the sight and contemplation of the
antique aud venerable can impress the mind.
Here, for the first tine, we view city rich In
historical associations. Before the Romans
conquered Gaul, it existed under the name OF
Rotomagness. Gaul, Roman, Frank, Norlh-
men, modern French have left their I'M
press upon it. Here, in the crypt of st. Ger
vais, twenty-five steps below the choir, is an
arch which is said to be genuine relic of the
Roman times. In this deep vault once repos-
ed the mortal remains of st. Mellon, the apos-
tie OF Normandy in the Sd century. At this
church the heart of William the Conqueror
ceased to beat.
Near by, in the ancient convent of st. Mary,
is the Museum of Antiquities where you SEQ
a charter Of the same William signed with a
cross in large, firm lines, civilian le Conquer
er X son mare" This old Norman Duke was
a man of energetic actions, not of letters. He
could not write. To this inability Of no.
bles to write, we owe the origin of seals. He
conquered England, and hence he also made
this mark on his age. You see also grouped
about large collection of antique objects of
various ages and uses, such as old weather.
beaten statues, busts, vessels of bronze and
glass, coins, ornaments, utensils, furniture,
wood carvings and, last but not least, in a
glass box, a few shining particles of whitish
dust all that remains Of the once "puissant
Richard C9ur de Lion"
tits our privilege at Rouen to view and OBJ
tain our first impressions Of famous Eu-
ropean Cathedral. As they all resemble each
other in character only varying in detail, we
will attempt a brief description, sr uno omnes
cognosce, from one know all.
Approaching it by narrow street, its
West front suddenly appears in all its grand
eur, and is very impressive from its vast
width and venerable aspect. Three styles Of
architecture are presented to view, of the
11th century, the old Norma in the north
west tower, the ornate Gothic Of the 14th in
the centre front and the Renaissance OF
the 18th, in the south west tower. Each is
worthy of careful study as good example of
the different styles.
At the foundation of the first, the old bat
tered weather stained stones, indicate an an-
tiquity Of which history makes no mention.
The ornaments of this tower are chasle SIM
| pie, the arches pointed, the numerous statu-
cites grotesque about the portals the statues
in the inches with sharply marked featues,
the figures of animals crawling out from the
corners and sides with open gaping mouths
are very curious. In the centre il a proiu.
sion of statues, pinacles, tracery work formed
Its ample portal has in ito sf,rius.Ir; arcn i've
rows of beautiful statuettes. Its rose windows
| and gable and the whole front between the
towers are ornamented profusely by lines of
| beauty and grace. Each minute point is
wrought with religious fidelity and the COM
~bined effect is magnificent beyond description.
The Vandal hand of the ic3noclast of the
French Revolution. removed from the n iches
some of the numerous images which former
ly almost covered it, and these have not all
been restored. The southwest tower is called
the Tour de Beurre. On inquiring why it is
called the butter tower, we learn it was erect
ed from money obtained by the sale OF indul-
sences to eat butter during Lent by special
permission OF Pope Innocent VIII. Vt is also
a handsome structure blending in itself more
than one style, and more freely ornamepted
than any single order OF architecture
This large church is 450 feet long, 10 wide,
| or about iour-fiflhs as long as Lincoln Park.
Portland, and one-half as wide, and has tall
| spire constructed OF open iron work sprineing
/ up ITuil tuc CeulTe vi us rOOl, SJJ teeC from
the erourd, beng nearly as tall as the great
| pyramid of Egypt. Like other similar edifices
it has a nave and tIansept with aisies, choir,
and chapels. In its circumference 1t has no
less than twenty-five chapels, Ieanng affairs,
confessionals, paintings. stained glass, and
it is lighted by 130 windows, including three
| celebrated rose or wheel windows. The inl-
mense columns like group OF trees send
their tall branches gracefully upward TO sup
port the richly grained and embossed arches.
ninety feet above the floor of the nave. The
long perspective OF nave and aises Is very
imposing and impressive. The open tracery
in solid stone, the beautiful arcades, the mar
BILE screen of the choir, and some OF tho
statues are exquisite, having been wrought
| with the highest artistic taste and skill Its
quaint curious tableaus in bas-relief, its paint
ed windows, its Inscriptions and monuments,
all tell many story in history. 1t will repay
days of study. Any description, however
vivid, can give but slight conception of the
wonders Of this unique structuIe.
Fearing have alread ywearied your patience
I now conclude this long letter, yet have
| not alluded to half the interesting objects in
| spected in this wonderful old town.
| J.C.W W.
| A VESSEL WITH THREE HUNDRED AND