Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-01-06
NOTES BY THE WAY.
Special Correspondence of the STANDARD

sTRAsBURG.
Anew minutes walk from the church
Of St. Thomas brings us to one of
The most imposing monuments to
which the religious art ofthe middle
ages have given rise. It is the
CATHEDRAL OF sTRAsBuRa, !,
or, as it is called, Church of Notre
Dame, a noble specimen of Gothic
architecture with it's world-famous
spire towering towards Heaven, 524
feet from the ground. Tradition
places the cathedral on the site once
devoted to Pagan worship, and where
in conformity to their religious rites,
human victims were sometimes Of
fered in sacrifice to heather deity.
But the earliest authentic records
we have refer to Clovis, as the found
er of church on the present site,
as early as A. D. $40. This, howev-
er, was the subject of misfortune.
On more than one occasion it was
partially consumed by fire. It was
rebuilt, only to be again destroyed
by instruction, again restored, and
finally in A. D. 1907. a thunderbolt
from Heaven accomplished it's de-
struction. The present Cathedral
was founded A. D. 1915, and was
not completed until after the lapse
of four centuries, and in its construc-
ton, tradition gives an account of
from one to two hundred thousand
men being employed at one time,
and as those engaged in the work
under the religious enthusiasm of
the time =" labored for the salvation
of their souls" it was rapidly adj
vanced. As you approach this Won
derful work, its stately walls rising
before you to the height of 23O feet,
embracing series of innumerable
statues and figures of the most intri-
cate workmanship, the mind is
moved with the profoundest admit
ration. The North and South Tow
ers and Central porch, each separate
and distinct portions Of the building,
present a frontispiece and portico
OF their own. The left portico is
ornamented with the statues of twelve
virgins wearing diadems, and repre-
sented as trampling down the "sev-
en- deadly sins" under the similitude
of human forms. On both sides of
the right, are represented the ten
virgins of the parable, while the
central porch is decked with figures
of the ancient prophets, apostles
and some Of the early fathers of
the church. Smaller figures of a
scriptuaal character adorn the arches
of each portico. Near the door of
one the principal places of entrance,
a very impressive picture is present
ed representing the Savior as seated
on q rainbow, and over his head a
picture of the General Resurrection
and Day of Judgment. There are
many others nearly oil symbolic rep
reservations of the mysteries of re-
demption as exemplifed by scriptu-
raj facts and the fundamental doc
trines of Christianity. On the Sec
ond tier a large rose window richly
ornamented occupies nearly the en-
tire width of the middle porch.
Over this are placed statues Of the
twelve Apostles, and still higher
figure of the Lord Jesus Christ,
holding a cross and banner in his
hands. Above the central porch
and Southern Tower q balustraded
platform is reached by an inner stair,
from whence magnificent view is
had Of Strasburg and the surround
ing country for many miles in all di-
rections. Aswe enter the Cathedral
service is progressing, and small
crowds of worshippers are kneeling
here and there about the several
chapels. The, soft subdued light,
streaming in through the painted
windows, the fragrant incense, and
solemn music all combine to produce
a strangely devotional feeling. even
in the most obdurate mind. The
dimensions ofthe nave are as follows:
$50 feet in length by A0 in width.
1t is supported bp seven huge col
umns, of which the two first. much
larger than the rest, also support the
towers. All the windows are
adorned with pictures having q re-
ligious significance. Those of the
upper galleries in "A pictures repre-
sent the genealogy Of Christ. The
circular window, nearly $50 feet in
circumference is of especial interest.
Also its carved stone pulpit, erected
in the 18th century, and adorned
with nearly fifty small statues. The
chancel communicates with the nave
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