Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-17
LANGRUNH.
IFS ONE MoNUMENT-AH OLD CHURCH
AND MODERN AGREEMENTS.
The Strange Things about an Ancient
structure-The Tombstone Images
Peasantry-sea eaths


ten about it, and those little pamphlets to
be found in almost every village through
out old Normandy have no existence IN
Langrune. 1t can not boast of any remark
able heroes of the past, and Nature her
self has not deigned to perform any feats
worthy of mention in honor OF this little
town no record therefore exists to indi-
cate the march of the sea and whether in
ancient times the waves dashed the stone
walls of the church, or, being at far
distance, have gradually approached.
That Langrune, however, is an cid
settlement, is proven by the age of its
one monument, that sort of milestone of
centuries-the church. /. was built in the
twelfth century, and is said to have been
constructed by the English when this part
of France was in their possession. It con-
tains its center aisle and two side aisles, with
majestic pillars between, as in the archi-
lecture of that time. On the interior, here
and there patches are discovered of the
new on to the old, particularly in the
stained glass windows, wherein are readily
discovered the rich, deep tones of the past
from the bright, gaudy colors of the pres
ent day. Its arches are noble and impos.
ing, and all that which belongs to the past
is expressive of lofty sentiment and seems
to look with a sad mockery on the gaudi-
ness and smallness of its more recent
adornments. 1t impresses me as
a ROMAN TEMPLE
To which some savage race had brought its
idols, to there worship free from rain and
sun, for the miserable chromos of dingy,
inharmonious colors, in which repulsive
green largely predominates, representing
subjects which have been marvelousiy
treated by the great masters; an artificial
paper grotto decorated with tinsel, and at
whose entrance stood plaster statue of
the Virgin in its striking gold and red, and
having above in common illuminated let
tiers 81 am the immaculate concep-
tion;" the ordinary artificial flowers
upon the altar, the heavy modern organ
all these things seemed inconsistent with
the sober, majestic monument, and were
almost an insult to the beautiful For
tunately the temple had been constructed
by other hands, else these present Nor
man peasants would succeed in shocking
the eye from the highway as they have in
the interior. The pulpit is new, but there
are rows of chairs in carved wood which
bespeak very old age they are express
i've objects, and in their deep-carved cells
appear to hide the history of every digni-
fed prelate who had there rested his tired
limbs. Before the most important row are
smaller chairs, equally aged, yet less elab-
crate as to decoration, and which seem to
gather themselve up as unworthy objects
compared with the more important repre-
sentatives which tower above them. In
front of these is still another row, not,
however, of chairs, but sort of elevated,
small, round stools. as smooth and pol
ished as looking glasses, and suggesting
another degree of kumbleness of much
larger space than the first. II ow these
TRUNKLEss HEADS
Did stare. I could think of nothing but
the skulls of martyrs, and as these stools
for centuries have been occupied by boys,
their restless bones have doubtless left an
aching sensation upon the wood. The ex-
preston of caste to be found in the ap-
pearance and arrangement of the chairs is
further on still more accentuated
At the two extreme ends of the building,
facing the altar, aretwo confessional boxes,
one of plain muslin curtain-the whole
suggestive of severity and poverty
whereas the other is constructed of carved
wood of deep color, and its dark green
curtain of moire-antique, although pieced
and patched, indicate the pretension to
elegance and richness. One is for the
poor, the other for the rich and influential.
It's floor is composed of massive square
stones, which seem prepared to defy time
in the dress of many centuries to come.
On entering one of the side doors the foot
almost Immediately falls into rather deep
hole worn in the stone, and when it rains a
foot-bath is in store for the visitor, for it Is
then filed with water. The rest of the
floor is pretty even, and this hollow can
be accounted for only by the supposition
that the good people entered separately
and there repeated their prayers just
within, without seeking a seat. The wooden
and very modern benches placed for the
worshipers have an unyielding and
CRUEL APPEARANCE,
Resembling the people who occupy them
some are pretentious, with cushions ar
ranged in precise fashion, footstools OF
the floor, and the names of the owners II
great staring letters. The exterior of the
church is very pleasing, for its deep, grey
color against the green foliage surrounding
it produces an agreeable harmony; iti
walks are covered with sort of moss, {
cloak time spreads over his cherished
objects in many places the stones appear
Ike skeleton leaves and stand out exquis
itely carved as though for ornament, anC
resemble the many stones and oyster she'll
found on the beach which have been per
| forated by insects. As with all village
churches, the graveyard surrounds tn,
building, that at almost the same time yor
can touch the walls of one and the marble
slab of the other. A great many of tn
tombs are horizontal, entirely covered will
| inscriptions, while those that are perpen
dicular have the advantage OF being en-
orayed on both sides there were nou
which dated beyond the first part of thi
century, and there was much monotony IL
the rehearsal of the many virtues of eacl
good soul gone to rest, the most importan
being his attendance on church and gener
osity towards its maintenance. From tn
graveyard the rear of the church is wei
seen, and presents very curious aspect
with its numerous ancient water spouts o
hideous looking devils through who's
mouths in those days the rain from HEAVIER
found its way to the earth. These
STONE IMAGES
Are of the same family of hideousuess a
those seen in Notre Dame at Paris ant
other religious edifces of that epoch, ant
why the grotesque in this instance shoulc
be chosen by architects who sought in par
ticular the beautiful, is difficult to compre
bend yet it must be remembered that ii
those days the devil was creature o
much more Importance than at present, il
| fact he seemed to be the supreme ruler
and all things. good or evil, were performet
through fear or out of respect for him
that it is not surprising his imps should
have been supposed to shower upon tn
earth those refreshing draughts so Otter
| dau;-ad In the eemefarv standing a