The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1876-04-09
MORNING STAR AND CATROC MESSENGER Sunday APRIL 1915

of the gable, when finished, 10 to be sur
mounted by a grand foliated final, now
being executed on the grounds. 1t repre-
sents passion leaf and flower, from which
springs . cross, bearing in its centre the
trees is decorated with deliberately carved
inches for statues Of the apostles. Below
the apex Of the main gable is q large rose
window, the tracery of which is wrought
with much elaboration. The lower arc of
the circumference of this grand window
touches the arched heads of the millions,
which are in the varied form of fOils. Un-
der these mullions lie a row of sculptured
inches running the whole length of the
main porch. The pedimepts of the gable
are ornamented with crockets representing
morning glories and grape vines. The
portals on either side of the main entrance
are deliberately adorned with sculptured
work of natural foliage. From them spring
the two towers, which are to be capped with
spires three hundred and thirty-fou feet
high. The towers are thirty-two feet
square at the base, exclusive of the mas,
sive buttresses. At the height of one hun
dred and thirty-six feet, they will change
to an octagonal form, which will be main
tanned for fifty-four feet, sitter which the
spires will taper gracefully to the cap
stones and crosses which will surmount
them. The towers are now a hundred and
twelve feet from the ground, and it is ex-
pected they will reach the height of hun.
dred and fifty feet this summer.
On the side the buttresses rise in Sc
ries of terraced gradations high above the
coping of the aisle roof, and terminate in
pinDacles also. The coping is surmounted
by battlements of rich tracery, in designs
of foil forms. The walls of the clear story
the windows. Flying buttresses will COM
plete portion of the elevation of the
transepts. There lie another line of traced
and pierced battlements at the base of the
painted roof, lighter but not less beautiful
than the line below. The thanking but
hundred and fifty feet, and are pierced and
panelled and surmounted by pinnacles,
the central apex of the gable ending in q
beautiful foliated cross. Below the caves
line is row of inches for statutes, and
there are also inches in the centre of the
buttresses on each side of the central body
of the transept. The central part of the
transept, with the cross, will be 1856 feet
high.
The altar piece of the cathedral will be
most elaborate work. 1t is being made
partly in Paris and partly in Rome. Most
Of tie stained glass is being made in
France. Some of the windows have been
lying in the Custom House for many
months. Nearly all the windows are do
nations. That of the north transept will be
the gift of the diocese of Albany. 1t will
represent scenes in the life of the Virgin
Mary. The south transept window, which
will represent scenes in the life of st.
Patrick, will be put in by the parish.
There is q general impression that the
site of the cathedral is gift from the city.
This is not so. The block in Fifth avenue,
from Fifty first to Fifty streets on
which the Catholic Orphan Asylum stands,
was leased by the corporation for ninety
nj M khn mammal of dollar.
but the two blocks bounded by Fiftieth
and Fiftieth first streets and Fourth and
Fifth avenues, occupied by the cathedral
and the work. shops, were the cemetery
of st. Peters and Sc. Patrick's parishes for
seventy years. About forty five years ago
Calvary Cemetery, and some twenty years
later st. Patrick's parish bought at public
auction the portion of the land owned by
St. Peters.