, 1877-08-12

| terrc,--at least unless tho ecninl r1itnatt. nt
Nanterrc and the contagious YlYacity OF it's via.
itors can also bc bespoken.
TIE MILAN CATHEDRAL.
.H5fan Cor7tsnondence :4tiiadeioata TtIrorcuh
The glory OF Milan Is TINT eighth wonder OF
the world, which is equal to all the other seven.
I as runs the proVerb, mean the Cathedral.
Hvpercrittcal people will tell you that there Is a
slight defect IN its architecture, as II there was
| ever perfect thing On earth. They will tell
you that 1t is bound to discover what the archf.
! tects wanted to make out Of such eonglomera.
tton, aud that its 106 Gothic turrcts and 4. sN0
statues are great waste OF money, labor, and
marble. SOFTLY not 50 fast. It is these peo-
ple's notions that arc q little conslomeratcd.
This temple is as eilaste md simple us It is rich
and beautiful. lts.syery stone tells plainly that
1t ~as built for the eye OF God, not for the eye
OF man. But the result equally proves that man
never so we'll serves his fellow-nan as whcu he
works with single eye and heart for the glory
OF God. Let me say, in conclusion that
work on this church is never finished, at least i
hundred men are cmnloycd daily upon some
great surprise to stranger to find It externally
SO fresh and white, only the lower portions Of
the marble being stained BY age. The solemn
beauty OF the interior is not impaired by any
distractfng effects. It has nothing worth men
ttoniag In the way Of side chapels or monu-
inents to diycrt the attention. Tie statue of
st. Bartholomew layed alive may be fine work
OF art, but 1t Is IN questionable taste, and too
small to attract much notice. Truth compcls
inc to say, however, that 4 strangers first i'm
coscr5 that the marvellous tretwork Of the
ceiling is,--hut no, will not retract a single
compliment I have paid to this wonderful
church. II you want to know what WIS about
To say, go to Milan aud sec for yourself, and II
you find any defect come home aud acknowl-
edge that it is overcome bg many merits.
As the glory Of Milan is the Cathedral, so tho
glory Of the Cathedral, speaking in u material
sense, is its shrine Of st. Charles Borromco,
Cardinal Archbishop Of Milan. Directly In front
tho roof, which enables visitors to look dorm
into the chapel or hear mass there without actu-
ally descending, but to sec the splcndors Of this
UNIQUE ansl magnificent mausolcun tile descent
are covered with plates OF solid silver, each IRE.
sentln@ ltl snecics OF repousse work scene in
the litc OF St. Charles. The coffin, which rests
on the back Of the little altar, is also of solid
silver. It whs the sllt OF Phillip II. of Spain.
trouble and privilege attendant upon tic open
Ing OF the coffin, visitors permitted to see the
body. On two days Of the year it is exposed
publicly. Few persons, comparatively, avail
themselves of the opportunity at any other
you what saw. The sacristan, 4 very gentle
manly young man, turned q large crauk ut the
side Of the altar and little by little the massive
sides Of the coffin began to descend, like the
sinking scenes Of a stage, lcaying the velvet
lined lid suspended in the air. My surprise that
the chapel doors were not closed, to prevent the
large crowd outside from seeing the body, was
now explained by the fact that it cannot be seen
at any distance through the glass Ease beneath
the silver exterior. Twas requested toapproach
rtc E,rf1H CT rf ]{trhf
thrown upon the case. and thus, plainly visible,
lay tho dead and sainted Cardinal in his pom
tiiical robes.
There is nothing whatever revolving in the
Indian style, Of covering the fatc with a wax
fac-simile, and then dressing the figure up to
look like d stagc-danccr; but, attired simply In
his Episcopal robes, he lies there precisely as he
was in life, saving only the changes which 800
years Of death have rendered inevitable. A more
superb instance Of successful cmba1ming is
probably not to be found. The face IS, OF
course, entirely muuinifcd, il may use the
expression, and tho nose, which is i So specially
prominent feature in all portraits OF the Cur
brow is there in all its life-1ike grandeur, and
the general contour OF the features, so we'll pre-
served, almost SPEAK Of sweet rcposc. The
Episcopal robes in which the body is
plain Nitro, are Of the richest description.
They we're the giit Of Philip ~. of Spain. Over
the breast is suspended, from the lid Of the
coffin, an emerald cross, the jewels OF which sur
pass description for their masnifcence l
thought as looked at the splendid tribute Of
the devotion Of Maria Teresa, Of Austria, how
many Queen OF society would ycarn to devote
it to less sacred purposes Over the head is also
suspended q silver coronct Of beautiful work
nanship, tho offering, If l remember rightly, Of
Duchess Of Parma and Modena. Various
other little jewels are deposited around the
cotlin and could not help rejecting how much
more real respect, reverence, and lore was ex-
hibited towards the dead in this effort to pre-
serve his form as In Life and surround it With
those magnificent but clastc tributes OF affec-
ton. than in the usual extravaganza Of pompous
monuments and tawdry decorations which gen
era}lr express Italian grief
Before close must not fail to mention that
went this morning to sec the original :" Last
Supper r' of Leonardo Da Vinci. Do not believe
the reports which tell YOU that it is almost en-
tircly tlcfaceei. 1t is, indeed, very much injured
by time or accidental causes, but even through
its serious blcmishes it fairly astounded INC. 1t
has impressed me more than any masterpiece OF
painting have ever seen in Europe It is q
glorious picture. and startling in its yiyid reali-
zation OF the effect OF those terrible words:
5" Amen, amen, say to you, one Of you is about
to bctray me-" The characteristics of the dI- |
ferent Apostles on hearing the announcement
arc wonderfully developed on the canvas.
OLD AND NEW PARIS.
t4.yia EoJre7nondence Loudnn f;{oGe