The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1874-03-28


Wlul, and giltg WugIycnund received /,
on chrlltmal morning. ull good pqo'
pie are expected to attend religion i
There would Seem ~ be u"
~ 10 why people go toohIrch'
but concluded ON christmas day that
many went from the same motive ~
myself, and confess that that was not
the impulse that should lead christian
TO visit the temple Of the "Most
HIgh.n went to hear the music, ana
that Is the highest motive thnt l can
find for attending these churches where /
ceremonies, iOrmNlitles and parade are .
called worship.
The daily papers of the 9th instant, !
gave IL programme OF the music 10 he
performed in each church. Each pro-
grammc offered choice selection, and
after considerable delibcration we de-
cided to attend the Minoritc italian
church. The church Is in "the city,
proper, and Is II very tall building
From the Ring strasse its high sloplns
roof and unfinished, octagonal tower
can eseen, overlapping all other build
ings. Taking this for our beacon, we LETT
the Ringand started forit. Ofcourse, we
soon lost sightor it as we wound in and
out among the crowded streets, but
keeping the points Of the compass well
in mind we went onward. At last, at
ter some minutes of tortuous progress,
we came into small open square and
saw the church before us but close
examination revealed no entrance.
The roof lowered up in full view, but
houses clustered so close to, and as ii
were, hanging upon the walls all
around, that the church seemed com
pletely enclosed.
A little more decentralization
brought us to the front of the church,
ald we entered. The interior was, az
one might expect from the exterior,
lofty. Two rows of columns, about SIX
feet in diameter, divided it into three
equal spaces. Between the columns,
and filling, perhaps, two-thrds OF the
space between the door and the altar,
were two rows of seats, the rest of the
church being left free as standing
room. Upon our right hand several
affairs with candles and religious pic
lures, were ranged along the wall, and
OF, ,fiintr opI,in finn
monuments of the dead. The wall to
our left was adorned with Il splendid
mosaic copy of Leonardo di Nincfs
Last Supper We had seen the orig
inal, now faded and deiaced, Oh
the walls of an old monastery
in Milan, Italy, and it was q
delight to see it here, a perfect
copy in pristine beauty and freshness
The four columns next to the altal
were draped with crimson brocade and
velvet for about ten feet high. Inside
of the altar Il brocade screen sheltered
a crimson gold embroidered chair
whereOn sat Il cOrpulent, red-faced
bishop with awhile and gold-embroid'
cred mitre upon his head. This outer
robe was of white silk, and was com.
pletely covered with gol | embroidery
and his slippers were of the same ma
terial and similarly ornamented. His
under robe, which reached to his feet
was of white cambria and finished will
II fall of real lace at least n foot il
width. Over his generous abdomen he
folded Il pair of fat hands encased il
gold-embroided white kid gloves, ant
upon the ring finger of his right hant
sparkled Il magnificent emerald sol
itaire. Altogether he was Il very
gorgeous individual, and his numerous
attendants were only less magniticen
than himself. The seats were all filiet
and much of the standingroom occupied
at the hour appointed for the opening
of service. The congregation was of +;
mixed character. Elegant dressed
ladies sat side by side with rousl
Italian laborers, out of whose pockets
protruded the end of an old black pipe
But the poorest and lowest italian ha'
love for music, and knows rs well whel
to cross himself as his more wealthy
neighbor. The service opened 10y al
organ prelude, and then the bishop
read out of crimsDn-cOvercd, gold
clasped book, which was held for hin
by an attendant, while another one
with Il gold dagger shaped instrument
kept the place for him. At inter
walls another bJo!; was substituted, an,
another attendant took the marker
Now came the opening strains o
MoZart's grand coronation mass, ant
then the voices az the quartette wer,
heard feebly stri' ing to pierce through
the volume nf ,,ojia sent forth by or
gans, hornsnuI rolling drums, and t.
cause the vast body of air to vibratt
with the tones OF the human voice.
The voices were sweet, well trained
and no doubt powerful, but it was at
tempting too much. When the or
chestra was silent. the voices could b,
heard, but amid the roll and peal ant
thunder of the instruments they were
nearly lost. Occasionally they pierced
feebly through, as the light of the sun
NAV sometimes find its way through &
rift in the dense clouds. The most en-.
thusiastic performer was evidently the
man who played the two kettle drums
He was surely no invalid, ano
also, apparently not looking in self
confidence "Some one ought t.
give that fellows head a good beating, y
WHISPERED the doctor. 80, not now,h
said |, in alarm, "the two heads that
he is beating make noise enough, am
sure" And, after all, there was 4
pleasure in hearing the delight he
l.. 4. .,t t,rH mi