Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1875-03-29
LETTER FRom FLORIDA.
ST.. ArarsrINE. Feh. DC


dawned, bright and beautiful without a
cloud for Old Sol to hide his face behind
for a moment of rest; and again | start
out to see the sights in St Augustine
First, | visit the Plaza, which is 4 pub
lie square, longer but not so wide as the
Common at Irasburgh, enclosed with a
neat fence, with seats and walks through
1t. In its center is a large, white mar
bic monument, erected in honor of the
Spanish Liberal Constitution, which
seems like satire for what. except ca
tholicism and cruelty ever endured long
enough in Spanish dominons to deserve
a monument to perpetuato its memory.
AT the end of the Plaza nearest the wa
ter are the markets. which seem like ii
ny shops with all sides open to the wind
and weather. while on the south side
stands a modern hotel and the Old Ca
thedral-the oldest in the United States,
but like most of the buildings here, it
has been touched up by the hand of the
nineteenth century. its belfry alone re-
manning unchanged, and that is quite
unique in its design. 1t is in the form
of bell-shaped pyramid, with its chime
OF four bells, in separate 'niches. and its
clock, together forming cross. climb
ed the steep steps into the belfry to ex-
anime the bells, and found the date on
one of them l6S2-almost two centuries
ago. 1t is, no doubt. the oldest bell in
this country. During this lenten season
they are ringing much of the time,
changing their regular, monotonous
changing, now and then, to the merry
peal they ring when child less than
ten years af age dies, or to the solemn
notes they tell when the soul of q man
or woman takes its departure to the 9TH
er world.
Inside the Cathedral is sweet.toned,
pipe organ which. under the hand of a
skillful player. would give forth rich
harmonies; then, too, there are two we'll
selected statues; one, Mary with the
child Jesus, holding in his hand the
world; the other, Joseph. At one side
of the altar is little throne. on which
the Bishop, in his royal purple velvet
robe and rich lace over garment, sits
during service. To the mass of the wor-
shippers there, the crowning glory of
the Cathedral is its two largest paint
ings on the walls; one, representation
of the death of the righteous. the other,
of the death of the wicked In the first,
a man with happy, hopeful countenance,
is evidently dying. his eyes jOyfully fix
ed upon q cross which the priest is hold
ing near him at his feet kneels sister
of charity, repeating her prayers near
by stand two angels, with large, bright
wings-one. in the garh OF Roman
warrior the other. in shepherds dress,
while under the bed crouches the van.
quished Satan. On the opposite wall is
the sinners death p" Agony and
fear are expressed in every lineament Of
his conntenauce, while he turns in hor.
ror from the cross the priest is urging
him to accept; near him sits 4 woman
in bright blue dress, with long black
hair concealing her face; by the priest
stands an angel with hands meekly fold
ed and eyes closed her dress is deeT
pink, her belt buckle modern. and hel
jewelry plentiful and shining altogeth
er, she is a very fashiOuably dressed an
gel. No sanity nun kneels at this bed
side, but her place is taken by thre,
devils in hideous forms, with gnashin:
teeth, protruding eyes and horrible horns
carrying forks in their hands, ready t.
carry off their prey. On the table nea
the bed is bottle labelled ''Good Whis
key" pack of dice, cards and othe
such things. Heaven forbid that
should make light of subject so seriou
as the one which this picture intends t
represent but l could not help seeini
the ridiculous side OF anything so com
pletely burlesque as is this; and We
these horrible daubs cost this ccngrega
tion over two thousand dollars.
Bishop We Rot of France. is in charg
here, but has two priests to assist him
and from what / saw. conclude the
do all the heavy preaching. teaching an
chanting. while he wears the finest line
and choicest honOrs He is said to be
very learned man. but his face is that {
sensuist and bigOt- In one of my vi
its to the Cathedral, met him. ] foun
him agreeable, with the genteel refn'
ment Of manners that nearly all educate
French men have. and which is veI
prepossessing. His home Is in larl
three story coquina house, original
built for convent. but how set apa
for his use.
From the Cathedral to the convent
a natural step, so we will next pay o.
respects there. The building is old al
fOrlOrn in appearance. but soon they W
remove to the new, substantial one goiI