The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-05-10
81. JOsePh's Church.

lay before our readers a faint deS
cription OF the above-named
Church, since it has been submit
ted to the cunning hand of the ar
list. We realize Il inability to
do Justice To the subject, but
trust our effort will have the ef-
feet of so stimulating the curl
| ositv of onr readers that they vii
feel iinpelled to go ant see for
themselves.
Duringa pastorate,o of over thirty
six wears in this Parish, the Very
| Rev. c. VI. Menard had ever cher
ished the hope of leaving to his
successor a church Whicn would
in its interior arrangements ana
decorations be the finest orna-
ment OF the parish. Now that bis
life is entering upon the "sere
and yellow leaf,' he has the conso
lation of witnessing as the proud
est monument of his zeal and
good taste, the most beautiful
country church perhaps in the Tn
ion.
On entering by way of the centre
portal We pass througha veStibuie
beneath t'ir Steeple. and come to
the head of the nave, from which
a good view of the sacred e..ifice
can be secured. We here see that
thu church is cHuciform in shape,
and that the roof is supported by
two rows Of clustered columns
with graceful capt. lis. The ex-
i, tremp length of the church is one
hundred and fifty eight Oy fifty
feet in width, exclusive OF the dis
mansions of thu TRANSCRIPTS to
which we shall refer presently.
Tile ceiling of the navt has
been decorated with groined ar
; ches and the entablatnres on
each side are rich in delicate or
lamentations. The;ceiling OF the
. two Sile aisles are covered with
; pretty Gothic designs. The side
walls are painted Il neutral tint
which produces happy effect.
The windows are surrounded by
painted columns. On the walls,
are a numb r OF oil paintings rep
+ reSenting the successive steps in
-, the passion OF Oar Lord, and
+ known in tAe Ctthcli: Church by
the name of Stations OF the Cross.
They are set in beautiful walnat
: frames with gilt moiaIngs six
feet in height, al cost orglaal-
' IL tour thousand francs. exclusive
| Of import rlutips au other charg
eS. The writer has visited many
Churches and u few CatllaiFals
<, in this country, but he has ne
Z where seen ANY Stations Of the
Cross equal to those possessed by
our Parish Caucch. The same re-
mark ciu he made in regard Il
the pulpit watch Is attached tf
Y one of the %coinmns. about twenty
five feet from the sanctuary rail
ing. This IN ssterpiece OF the cal
met makers art is of black walnu
aud WAS made by a German wis
V lived here many years ago, ant
with whom it vas a labor Of love
d It is divided into four panels, OF
each of which is the statue OF a!
Evangelist. The panels, the has,
= of the pulpit, the canopy sur
1t mounted with y cross and tue sly
II raj staircase by which access i
e had to the pulpit, are COVERED
= WITH carvings OF the most elabo
n rate character.
Ie The TRANSCRIPTS are one hundred
and two feet in length by thirt,
II three feet wide and add consider
al ably to the effect Of the eaifice a
IS a whole. In the eastern transep
r. there is a magnificent shrine an
e altar dedicated to St. Vaieria, vi
1t gin Martyr whose relies ara her
r. preserved in il superb c;tSket. Tn
V SppprStructnre Ovpr the Shrln
proper extends nearly to thu eel
ing and is splendid in decor
= tons of white and gold and pm
st pie. Diagonaily across from S
ii Valpria'S shrine is IN altar dedic
ted to the Mater Dolorosa, with
l. sculptured bust Of the Virgil
s. which is w~ondrouslv realistic |
its expression of agony and desc
,e, latiOn at her Sons crUciiiXion.
p. Overhead is the largest OF lire
Or freScoes painted by the mast,
ir hand Of Mr.. Humbrech., the Ge
man artist who decorated the s.
It. Louis Cathedral of New Orlean!
e, 1t is 50 large and comprehen1s $
he many figures that it is impossib]
r. for the eye TO take in all its bea
:l dies at once. The subject is til
rs martyrdom of st. Valeria.
The artist has represented
'ir section Of the Coliseum. In tt
* back ground can be seen the mai
is. aud NATIONS Of Ancient Rome Il
IL >rmbled to see the rare sport
-, - " N ,niltnr =,