The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-13


comfort here they show you her oratory or kneel
ing place. niche in the WALL high up. where, with
her maids of honor. she came and prayed. They
show you the chains with which the Moors bound
their Christian captives and martyrs. When the cap
tves came home they hung up these chains as an Of
fering to tho Virgin and here they have been hang
ing. for how long do you suppose? Why. ever since
America was discovered. That seems to have hap
pened long ago. when looked at from Brooklyn
Bridge or the dome of the Capitol; but in gray,
crumbling. venerable Toledo where you step from
civilization two thousand years Old to thou
sand as you cross the street, where the wall which
you pass the glory of Gothic architect and the
stones which you pick your way laid by the
Romans. such event the discovery of America is
hardly old enough to be interesting In Toledo it is
only news not history.
MEDIEVAL MEMORIES
Ipresume the last work Toledo did was to fight the
Moors. Then she paused and. sitting placidly on
her Castilan hills she has rejoced that achieve
ment since and allowed the world to hurry past
This old person who carries the keys-how old he is
Somehow you feel that he must have been here in
Isabellas time, and if we were to fall into
talk he would ask me if had met any Moors the
way and whether their Catholic Majesties hold
ing their in Grenada. This church is the newest
thing in the place. and modern improvements
indication that Toledo holds her and real
estate is looking up-the old man is very proud
of it. You what Toledo can do when she has
mind. Only how much more beautiful it
might be if the French had not and put it under
contribution and turned their horses into it
away some of the convent walls and carried away
much gold and silver But, praise be to the Virgin.
whose miraculous ntercession fails the chains
saved, and there they hang The gold be
replaced, but the chains never. They encompassed
the limbs of sanity men, maryred for the faith and
have ever since been acomfort to believers. 1t only
by miracle that they escaped the French, and the
memory of their preservation brings tears to believ
ing hearts, whom st. John of the Kings would be
nothing if these relics of medieval martyrdom had
been stolen. Is there anything in this revolving
world as beautiful as faith?
MONUMENTS TO SAINTS.
But we want to see some Notwithstanding
old. This church--why we would as Tam
many Hall-which, if the newspapers are not misn-
formed must be more of ruin than st John Of
the Kings. Here, as we pass. is monument to a
saint-Eugeno by name-who was sent here as
bishop just 1918 years ago. This good Eugenio
made an errand to France and was murdered. A
thousand years later French archbishop discovered
his body and brought the right arm to Spain. And
"
battle, made interest with Charles IX.-Massacre Of
Bartholomew Chares-and the whole body
stored to Spain. These precious lines also mi
raculously preserved from the French.
THE PATRON SAINT.
Or you may trace the remains OF o Roman circus
or coliseum, where, in imperial days. the gladtors
fought. It will require patience and fancy to
realize the circus. More apparent is a church. which
was the continuation of Roman temple, and, hav
ing done it's duty to the GODS is now the house of
God. Here is o monument to ST. Lacadia, pstroness
of Toledo. who died in faith 1872 years ago. More
than three centuries after her death she appeared to
comfort monk who had written a book in defence
of the Virgin. She wrapped in a mantle when
she came-an industrial fact in connection with the
future life worth remembering. Her body was dis
covered in 1900, and Philip H., by the exercise of
kingly power. had it brought to Toledo, and came.
like Chriatian king. to receive it in person Here
they rest-saved from the ravenous French.
HEBREW MEMORIES.
Or pass on your way to the Jewish synagogue
most interesting monument. Spain in those days
was not kind to the Jews. They had teeth and they
had money. and Christian kings needed money
there only way for Jews to their teeth.
This synagogue is believed to be 700 years old.
and although converted into Q church, and after
ward-by Spaniards not by French-turned into a
barracks there is enough left to show il was beaut-
full. There are the remains Of another synagogue.
more pretentous, built by that good Hebrew.
Samuel Levi. who had much money that Don
Pedro tortured him and took his life. and devoted
Lewis money to the dissemination of comfort in the
household of his Catholic Majesty. What adj
mires about these old kings, and which makes you
wish You could be a monarch monarchist Of
the twelfth or thirteenth century was their
minister's no diplomats to turn your purpose. They
were kings by Gods grace. God had given them the
world to rule and enjoy. All that was belonged to
them. And if any unbeeving Jew Moor had dia-
monds or gold it was their duty Christian kings to
see that this money not applied to planting
heresy weakening faith to that it contributed
to the glory OF God, and especially of those dviney
appointed men whom God had given the world as
kings. And as walked through Samuel Lewis syna-
gogue and thought of the shifts and cark and care his
money him. and how in the end he had go the
rack and have his joints wrenched and die in agony
it seemed very hard But it the logic of the situa
ton for true king who respected his faith and his
Office would be in want while jew was in reach and
the erunching irons at hand.
DRowsY LAND.
How drowsy is the town. What reposc! what
peace! One might make this a lotus land and il
he could only be accustomed to garlic dream the
hours away. We shift through the narrow streets
and pass into side enclosed yard. Before us is
cloister. over which vines growing. group of
grooming women ask us to bestow something upon
them, as we hope to have Jesus and Mary with at
the last day. How your truo beggar always goes
into partnership with the Supreme Being! We turn
into high Gothic doorway. and from the gloom
through which at first cannot see, so strong is the
light from without. we hear priests chanting a ves
per service. The gloom resolves itself into pillars
and arches and and around are knecling men
and women. and capped priests shutting to and fro.
The incense burdens the air and tinted lights como
from the windows. This is the Cathedral of Toledo
THE CATHEDRAL TOLEDO.
I never weary of q cathedral. and have often
in the funess of gratitude thanked the men who
found the Gothic form the most suitable for the
worship of God. look back the cathedrals
have seen as so many poems-Canterbury. York,
Notrc-Dame. Strasburg Burgos. Seville. Cologne