The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-17
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE
UNDER SUNNY SKIES.
ITALY INVADED BY AN INDIANIAN

ITALY INVADED BY AN INDIANIAN.
THE CITY OF MILAN-TTs GRAND CATHEDRAL
WORKS OF ARIA CHARMING CEMETERY
-vEsTIGEs OF VAIN AMBITION.
Occasional Correspondence OF the Sentinel
MILAN, Oct. 10, 1S75.-Milan, the capital OF
Lsmbsrdy, is grand old city. One of its
most interesting objects is, of course, the far
famed cathedral. 1 have very often been
disappointed with the buildings L have
heard, and read great deal about, before see
ing them. This was the case with st. Peters,
at Rome, and several others. What / saw,
was very much inferior to the building :oi
my Imagination, very often the two pictures,
still remain in my mind, the imaginary and
the real, but as soon as / saw this beautiful
structure, / said this is the cathedral OF Mi
Ian, as have always conceived II, graceful,
beautiful, unique. Filling the eye with sat
isfactiOn and seeming as though nothing
could be added. The city authorities are
increasing its beauty by removing all the
unsightly old buildings from the square in
which it stands. When this is done, and
the splendid buildings surrounding it are
finished, il will be one of the finest squares
In Europe. The noble arcade just being
finished, Is one of the grandest things
ever saw. 1t is an immense block of build
ings, or rather one mammoth building, in
the form of a cross, that reaches from this
great square to one In which stands fine
marble statue of the great painter,
Leonardo De Venci. Through this arcade,
which is paved with variegated marble,
runs wide street, covered with q roof of
glass. In the center, where the streets
cross each other, there rises an immense
glass dome. The sides of these streets are
lined with stones of all kinds, but more
especially stones of hne fancy goods. There
are several large and elegantly furnished
OF aW1G rnfr n anrnF
usually crowded in the evening by persons
of both sexes, either drinking wine or
slipping coffee, with great apparent enjoy
ment. 1t is really an interesting sight,
when the whole scene is brilliantly lighted
with gas, to stand under the center of the
great dome and watch this busy moving
panorama of humanity. This is only one
of the many great buildings that are going
up. A striking proof of the uprising and
the spirit of enterprise that Italian unity has
created in all these old cities. Our hotel
being near, we examined the Cathedral on
all sides, and one fine, clear morning, went
to the top,
MOST WONDERFUL SIGHT.
Among the many interesting things in this
great church, are its relics and treasures.
L had observed several times, when in the
interior, large numbers OF poor people 60
upto an iron railing and there kneeling
COa
to be most devotedly praying to something
within it. This, 1 found to be the
shrine of the great Cardinal Borromeo,
the patron saint of Milan, and more espe-
cially of the poor, paying franc apiece, we
went down into the crypt to see this and
some other curiosities. The shrine is in
rich little chapel in which lamps are con-
stantly kept burning right under the center
of the great dome. The Intelligent priest
who was our cicerone and who spoke good
1rrrr. e~I~4
the chapel and pointing out the many val
liable gifts that had been bestowed by cele-
brated persons, told us that by paying five
francs more we could have a sight of the
saint himself. After receiving the money
he put on robe of greater sanctity and
lighting an extra lamp began to turn a crank
which slowly raised the solid silver shrine
and we saw enclosed in q crystal case grin
ming skeleton. 1t was clothed with a robe
inlaid with gold and upon it's bony finger
was diamond ring of immense value. The
riches of this tomb are estimated at more
than two hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. Among the recent gifts 1 was very
sorry to see a very valuable gold Cross
studded with diamonds, present and an
offering from Cardinal Wiseman. 1 had
always Thought he had too much English
good sense for such folly. Surely the good
man whose ghostly remains are thus exhib-
tied like penny show instead of being al
lowed to rest quietly in the tomb would, IL
alive, look with contempt upon these trap
pings and this miserable farce. He would,
no doubt, ne did when alive, apply
all this useless wealth to active benevolence,
feeding the poor, clothing the naked, min
istering to the sick aud to the necessities OF
the wretcbed objects around him. 1 was
sorry to see large numbers go and worship
st this tomb, like vOtari6s az the shrine OF
a heathsn deity. and Yet could lot belp
being glad to see eminent goodness like
this honored and cOmmemorated. OF course
we went to see the church of st. Ambrose
and the old building in which is all that re-
mains OF Leonardo De Vincie's great
PICrUEE OF THE LAST SUPPER.
Though defaced and almost destroyed by
the abuse that 1t has received, yet the hand