The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-06-04
GENERAL ITEMS.
OF the new Romisb Catbedr

OF the new Romish Cathedral dedi-
Gated about fortnight ago the Christian World,
London, says: The opening, under crcumstan-
ces of the most impressive magnifcence of the
new Roman Catholic Church at South Kensing-
ton, generally known as the Oratory, calls at
tention to the position held at the present time
IN England by the adherents of the Papacy. 1t
Is not surprising that the surroundings of the
hour should have caused Cardinal Manning in
his address to the Reverend Fathers of the
Oratory last Friday, on the occasion in question
to view that position with cheerfulness, and to
speak OF 1t with enthusiasm. He was in what
Is, perhaps, the finest church of its order con-
structed during the present century in this coun-
try. Eighty thousand pounds have already
been spent on 1t. 1t is cruciform in shape, and
massive and vast in design being 270 feet in
length, 80 feet in its greatest width and
crowned with dome $50 feet above the floor
The vaulted nave, 70 feet in height, is ianked
on each side by three large chapes and in one
OF these is an altar of rare artistic merit
brought from a Dominican church at Brescia'
The dome will shortly be surmounted by lam
tern, the top of which will be 200 feet from the
ground, and in front of the building will be
columned portico with an Italian tower on
either side. The walls of the church are panelled
Tor future enrichment with sacred pictures and
the columns and pllasters that adorn it are
bright with colored marbles In this stately
structure, then, congregation of 1000 persons,
In point OF material wealth and dignity worthy
OF 1t, was gathered. There were the Duke of
Norfolk, Lord and Lady Talbot, Lord and Lady
Gordon Lennox, the Earl and Countess of
Denblgh, and other aristocratic members of the
Roman Catholic Church Rome's ecclesiastical
pomp and majesty were fifty represented by the
long professions of acolytes and incense-bearers,
sandailed monks and surpliced clergy, foreign
and English Bishops grand in cope and mtre,
and purple robed canons, ending with my Lord
Cardinal himself Nor was one aesthetic element
wanting to detract from the external glory of
the scene. The rich vestments of the priests.
the heavy odors of the waited incense. process
sional hymns sung by the choir, and solemn
music peallng from the great organ, all blended
In one overpowering combination of sensuous
entertainment.
IS Evenly EAR SLEEPERS Even
among warm blooded animals like the bears
and dormlce, Information actually occurs to a
very considerable degree; but it is far more
common and more complete among cold-blooded
creatures, whose bodies do not need to be kept
heated to the same degree and with whom, ac-
| cordlngy, Information becomes almost a com.
Plete torpor, the breathing and the action of
the heart being still further reduced to very
nearly zero. Mollusks in particular like ovs-
tiers and mussels, lead very monotonous and
uneventiful lives, only varied as rule by the
welcome change of being cut out of their Shells
and eaten alive; and their powers of living
without food under adverse circumstances are
really very remarkable Freshwater snails and
mussels. in cold weather, bury themselves in
the mud OF ponds and rivers and land-snails
hide themselves in the ground or under moss
and leaves. The heart then ceases perceptiblv
to beat, but respiration continues in a very
faint degree. The common garden snail closes
the mouth OF his shell, when he wants to hiber-
nate, with Shiny covering; but he leaves a
very small hole in it somewhere, so as to allow
little air to geti and keep up his breathing
to slight amount. My experience has been,
however that great many snalls go to sleep
In this way, and never wake up again. Either
they get frozen to death, or else the respiration
falls so low that it never picks itself I'D proper-
~ when spring returns. In warm climates, it
Is during the summer that mollusks and other
mud haunting creatures go to sleep and when
they get well plastered round with clay, thew al
most approach IN tenacity of life the mildest
recorded specimens of the toad-in-a-hole.
ROYAL FAMILIES OF EURoPE.-The
Sovereign houses of Europe may almost be re-
garded as one large family. They are bound
together by innumerable marriages Brothers
and sisters and cousins and second cousins are
scattered about everywhere. Take our own
Royal Family as an example. The Queens
eldest daughter will, In the ordinary course of
things, become the German Empress One of
her sons Is married to the daughter of the EN-
peror OF Russia. The Princess of Wales is the
daughter of the King of Denmark; her sister is
the Empress of Russia, her brother the King of
Greece: One Of the Queens cousins is King of
the Belgians, another King of Portugal while
through her children and grandchildren she
will be related by family ties to every princely
family on the Continent. The barrier of reli-
glon shuts of Austria, Italy, and Spain, but
some tendrlls Of relationship have crept across
the mountains, and will flourish there Through
the accommodating policy of the Coburgs In
matters of creed, the religious barrier has been
broken through and branches of Protestant
origin have been engrafted on Roman Catholic
stocks. Hence, for example, it happens that
the daughter of the Queens cousin, the King
OF the Belglans, will some day be Empress Of
Austria, holding court at Vienna, Pesth, or
| Constantnople, as the fates may determine
Our own Royal Family is but an illustration OF
what has happened with other Royal Families.
The Monarchies of Europe are one vast network
OF family alliances, congeries of brothers and
sisters, nephews and nieces, uncles and aunts.
This state of things has been brought about by
the custom which forbids the members of royal
and princely houses to marry out of their own
caste.-dlanchestcr Examiner.
-PoMPEIAN FESTIVITIES REVIVED
| The Pompelan festivities, which took place in
the month Of May, derive a certain importance
/ from the fact that the most prominent Italian
arcb@ologists and artists, under the presidency
/ Of the director Of the excavations, President
Minervni, have formed a committee, and offer
| q guarantee for the exact reproduction of an
tique customs. The circus, erected on non-ex-
cavated ground in Pompeii, was opened on the
! hrst day by an imperial procession, at the head
/ of ,Jhch the emperor was borne on a litter
.NAr fl,a III 4