National Republican., 1885-12-16

form, divided into inches and panels be-
meath which are the tombs, the whole COW
cred with dome OF transparent alabaster
whose crystalline clearness Is enhanced by
trimmings Of bronze and gold. From the
center Of this wonderful sepulcher depends
huge silver lamp which burns forever
above the illustrious dead. Over the altar,
within the alabaster columns OF the larger
temple, is smaller one, the interior of
which is displayed or concealed by secret
machinery. lnnumerable lamps and can
delabra Of solid gold and silver surround it,
and when the secret springs are touched
the host is disclosed amid
BLAZE OF PRICELESS JEWELS.
Opposite the front OF this altar is the
choir, remarkable for the rich carving OF its
woodwork and the stalls for canon and
clergy. Above the bishops is colossal
portrait of st. Peter, formed by the inter-
laying of innumerable bits OF different
woods, so marvelously well executed that
one can scarcely believe 1t is not an oil
painting, A little to the right of the chair
building-a life-size figue Of the Virgin,
dressed in richest embroidered satin and
literally loaded with jewels.
NEGLECTED FIGURE.
Formerly the wealth OF an empire was
lavished upon the figure, strings Of the
largest pearls hung from her neck to the
knees, the golden crown upon her head
was set with emeralds large as robins eyes,
and h0r waist was bound with blazing
zone Of rarest diamonds; while other gems,
scattered all over her draperies, sparkled
upon her arms and fingers, shone In her
hair and upon her breast, and crowned the
several silver caskets standing within her
shrine. Now the jewel cases are empty,
and many Of the real stones upon her per-
son have been replaced by limitations.
happening to enter the cathedral at the
hour OF mass, we knelt with the multitude
upon the marble floor beside some martyrs
bones, and your correspondent found her
self saudwiched between the Scylla and
Charybdis of a moldy skull grinning close
upon one hand aud blanketed and odor-
ferrous Indian on the other whose vermin-
infested locks were shaken In alarming
juxtapositlon by the energy OF his devotions.
As In all Mexican sanctuares, no benches
are provided for lazy worshipers, but rich
and poor,
SAINTS AND SINNERS,
are all treated alike.
TO get an incompatible view Of the sur
roundings one must climb the irregular
stone stairway that leads TO the cathedral
top. There are two bell towers, one above
the other, in each Of which a man resides
with his family, like Poe's
"s people.
They that live up in the steeple."
An inscription below states that the
towers were erected In 1878, In the reign OF
Carlos II, at cost of 100000 The great
central bell bears date l729, and the eigh-
teen smaller ones show various ages, down
to as late as 1923. All but the big bell,
hich boOms like a cannon, contain a con-
siderable percentage OF silver, which gives
| them sounds OF peculiar sweetness
There Is an old Spanish proverb; "If you
| go to live in the Indies let II be within
sight Of the volcanoes In Mexico all
the land Immediately surrounding the vol
caroes appears to be exceptionally fertile,
and enjoys the most delightful climate
The great cordillera OF Anahuac crosses
sight OF tlowery Puebla are five volcanoes,
POpOcatepetl, Ajusco, lztaccihuatl, Oriz,
aba, and Malinche. or Malintzin, so named
In honor of Cortez and Donna Marina
Points OF historic interest meet the eye In
every direction. In the distance appears
the ancient city of CholuIa and its far
famed pyramid, built by an extinct nation
in the morning Of Mexico's history. A lit
tie to the north OF 1t mag
upon a hill top, and beyond is the
Mountain OF Pinar, also crowned by {
white-walled sanctuary. On every side the
spires Of innumerable churches point tn,
Catholics route TO heaven, and the toweri
of converts and monasteres adorn the
slopes OF all the hills. Between these two
stupendous volcanoes, Old Popo and "ThI
White Woman,n can be distinctly traced
the steep and difficult road by which Cortei
first entered the valley of Mexico. Fa
away, like the ''star in the east" rises thu
snowy peak of 0rizaba, the western side o
which towers 1900 feet above the loft
central plateau, while to the east It de
scends rapidly to the burning plains o