The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1874-03-24

copy IN pristine beauty and freshness,
Thcfour columns next 10 the altar
were draped with crimson brocade and
velvet forabout ten feet high. Inside
IF the altar II brocade screen sheltered
4 crimson gold embroldered chair,
whoreon sat y corpulent, rcd,laced
bishop with awhile and gold-embroid-
cred mitro upon his head. This outer
robe was OF white silk, and was COM
pletely covered with COL embroidery,
md his slippers were Of the same ma
terlal and similarly ornalnented. His
under robe, which reached TO his feet
was of white cambria aud finished with
u fail of real lace, at least n foot In
width. Over his generous abdomen he
folded pair Of fat hands encased In
gold-embroided white kid gloves, and
upon the ring finger Of his right hand
sparkled II magnificent emerald sol
itaire. Altogether he was II very
individual, aud fhlahumerous
were only less magnificent
than himself The seats we're all filed
and much of the standlhgroom occupied
ut the hour appointed for the opening
ofseryice. The congregation was of II
mixed character. Elegant dressed
ladies Isat side by side with rough
Italian lab0refs, out OF whose pockets
the end ofan old black pipe.
But the poorest and lowest Italian has
love for music, aud knows rs wellwhen
to cross himself as his more wealthy
neighbour The service opened by an
organ prelude, and then the bishop
read out Of crimson-covcred, gold
clasped book, which was held for him
by an attendant, while another one,
with gold dagger shaped instrument,
kept the place for him. At inter-
walls another book was substituted, and
attendant took the marker.
Now came the opening strains of
MOaarts grand coronation mass, and
then the voices of the quartette were
heard feebly striving to pierce through
the volume OF sound sent forth by or
gans, horns and rolling drums, and to
cause the vast body of air to vibrate
with the tones of the human voice.
The voices were, sweet, well trained,
and no doubt powerful, but it was at
too much When the or
chestra was silent. the voices could be
heard, but amid tho roll and peal and
thunder of the instruments they were
nearly lost. Occasionally they pierced
fecbly through, ns the light of the sun
may sometimes find its way through Il
rift In the dense clouds. The most en-
PERFORMER was evidently the
man who played the two kettle drums,
lIe was surely no invalid, and
also, apparently not looking in self
Some one ought to
give that fellows head good beating"
whispered the doctor. 80, not now,n
said |, in alarm, ''the two heads that
he is beating make noise enough, | am
sure And, after all, there was a
pleasure In hearing the delight he
seemed totalle in his part of tire mu-
sic, and | am sure there were no echoes
left undisturbed in the lofty vault of
the Italian church on chri tmas morn
ing. AS an addition to the mass, was.
given an Ave Maria as baritone solo
with violincello accompaniment. Ii
was finely sung and played and as the
last notes died away, general upris-
ing followed, and at least three fourths
of the congregation departed, although
the service was not concluded. 1t was
rs if they had come only to listen to
the music, and now that that was over
theirworship for the day was also past.
We,too, leftour seats, but not the church.
We Joined group of the more
faithful or the more curious, around
e,altar to witness thesconclusion of
the service-l came very near saying
show.
The bishop had taken his stand in
front of the main altar, and one atten-
dant poured out forhim u golden COB
let of wine, while he removed his gloves
and another attendant. removed his
mitre. He took up the goblet and
drank it to the bottom. Then book
was brought and he read a little. After
this along gilt staff was handed him,
and he repeated the apostolic benedic-
ti0n. Then he drank another goblet of
wine, rinsed thegoblet, drank the rims
ings, then wiped the goblet out with
napkin. An attendant now brought
him his mitre and placed It ON his
head, taking especial pains that the
two tales behind should fall ex-
actly in place, p then another
one poured water from silver
pitcher into a silver basin, and the
holy father washed his hands. They
hen removed his mitre, and he CO.
luetishly arranged the scantyfring of
'ilvery hair that trinimedtheoute cir
of his shining pate, drew
IN his white kids, replaced the gorge
,us emerald ring while an attendant
again replaced the mitre,g folded his
lands serenely over his ponderous alb
lomen, and with his rubicund scoun-i
enance arranged into an expression of
stern serenity passed out ofthe church,
'ollowed by his attendants, each with
.lasped hands and downcast eyes. We
Jaw the last glimmer of the golden
)rocade, we heard the last faint football
If the silken slippers, and, then we
passed through the crowd, who were
around us in silent wonder
md alteration, and, no doubt, also in
profound establishment at our irrever-
nee, and were soon winding through
he crooked streets and Z out over
be beautiful Ring strasse now thronged
With gaily dressed erowed of people,
nut to our quiet lodging, where, alas no
amiliar voices greeted us, no roast
turkey awaited u.s. gsIAif .ttt rsi
In the city christmas seemed more
ike Sunday than, Sunday itself. The
hops aud stores were closed. Business
lad vacated the streets. Religion had
'ossession of the morning ho,irs, but |
pleasure ruled the rest of the day, and |
leasure here means going to q restaur-
mt for your dinner and to theater i'm |
he evening. In some of the ttheaters
he reserved list was suspended and |
first come, first served was the rule.
he plays were all of popular cast,
ither comical or ,spectacular and 10 |