The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-05

On the side OF the church, where the
mosaic Virgin sits high in her niche,
with gold and cleaning marbles and
quaint carving and smiling monsters
about her, burn two fiickering points of
flame. They have shone there for CEN
turies-the Republics peace-offering to
a soul whose body was put to death be-
tween the fatal columns. At the door
of the basilica, weary mothers and chill
dren crouch among the porphyry col
umns and the grinning monsters. --.-.
In the vestibule lie old doges in cap
and gown, with their hands folded on
their breasts and strange stone figures
above their heads. From the domes
leer down white-faced figures, gaunt
and spare, that the fancy of the old
Greek workers in mosaic wrought with
prayer, ages ago, into the worship Of
fering of the cathedral. Behind them
CLEANS golden surface that rouses
itself from the shadows when the doors
of the church are opened. $751;.
The people stream across the veSti-
bule. A rushing sound of voices and
sweet-toned instruments issues from
the church. The chancel is a blaze of
light from the glowing altar tapers, re-
Elected thousandfold from the won
drous tabernacle of gold and silver that
was wrought long ago in the youth of
the Republic by the cunning workmen
of Byzantium. Slender columns sculpt-
ured in Eastern device rise dark against
the space of flame. On the chancel
railing stand the apostles with the Vir-
gin in their midst, black in the sheets
of golden light. Tall tapers, like white
lily stalks, rise between them. In the
nave crystal cross blossoming with
lights hangs from the gilded dome
among the long-draperied prophets.
AT every cornice, on the edge Of
every column, stands great golden
angel keeping guard over tall white
taper that rises before him. The clear.
cut curve of the arch and the graceful
winged shape are defined against the
dusk of the great side naves. Under
the shadowy arches of the side naves
hang heavy bronze lamps with crimson
glowing flame, casting ruddy lights
upon the dark marbles of the walls.
Before the brown old bias -reliefs OF
Virgin and Child, straight and slender,
with golden halos about their heads,
hang silver lamps heavy with chains.
The manifold rays of flame penetrate
deep into the dusk of the arches, glow
mellow in the pale gold of the domes
transfgure the faces of the prophets
and saints and evangelists, and con
verge toward the lamp of dark bronze
that hangs from the great dome where
the apostles gaze down from among the
olive-trees to form a glory about the
bronze Christ on the cross that rises
from the pavement below.
At the prayer desks and on the pale
mosaicked floor kneel dark yelled fig.
ures, like statues, against the chance
flame. The people stand with faces
raised to the throne above the altar
glory, where the great pale Christ sit,
with His hands uplifted in blessing
The symbols of the evangelists stand
about Him-mighty monsters praising
God for the many Christmas Ewes they
have known since the old Greek work.
ers called them into life A peace moi
of earth lies upon their grotesque feat.
ures, and on the faces of the worshipers
standing with hushed alteration about
1.-THE shadowy columns. There are old
men whose guns hang by the side OF
the brown Madonna in token of graft.
tude for their preservation in the time
of the revolution; young girls with rapt
faces; young men with dark brave eyes
mothers with their babes crying out for
joy at the brightness. The glory OF
immortality has dawned upon their
earth-laden hearts. Charlotte .1danS,
IN Harper's Mdgazine for january.