Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-11
pct shop, to which he wishes to drag
his patrons.


pre.Roman times. Under the Romans
themselves it was celebrated water
iDg-plsce, remnants OF their baths h,v-
ing been discovered and people still 90
TO 1t to drink the sulphur-waters abund-
ant at various temperatures. The ho-
tells have the usual appearance of those
fitted up for pleasure and health-seek-
ers, and attractive gardens aud grounds
are to be found both in and
out Of the town. Aix.la.Ohi-
ptlle was dear 10 the heart OF
Charlemagne, who made it the capital
Of his vast empire, and was DESTROYS OF
raising it to the equal Of tha most re-
nowned in the world. The cathedral,
by no means one Of the hlndsomcst we
have seen, is behind none in interest, on
account OF the plan Of the construction
Of tho old part. 1t is Of two distinct
styles. separated by at least four hun
dTed years in point Of time. With the
wish to sdorn his capital as much az
possible, Charlemsgne brought work
men up from Italy to bnld his cathedral
similar TO the renowned Church Of 81.
Titale at RaTenna--l town on the
Adiiatic and once the capital of the
Western Roman Empire. ST. Vitale Is
well known now by repute 10 the pro-
fame world because the portrait Of Thso-
dora, wife Of Justinisn, a character re-
Gently peTsonated BY Sarah Bsrnhi'dt,
is said to be in the Mosaics.
THE OLD PART.
The old part Of AiX.la. Chspelle ca
thedral, ike St. Whale, consists OF
domed octagonal Byzantine Building,
surrounded in the interior by arcades,
a plan Of extreme simplicity. To carry
il out columns Of marble and granite
were brought from Rome, Ravenna,
snd other places. At 10 time did AK
la.Chapelle equal s.. WHALE 10 lavish.
ness Of decorations, bat fne Mosaics
were originally placed in the former,
one Of which has been restored by the
Saloiati Of Venice. The words CarOlo
Mayno on the pavement under the dome
mark the spot Of the grave Of the
great monarch, and here he was dis
covered centuries after his death sitting
bolt upright on his chair of State With
his sceptre in his hand. HIS bones, a;-
cording to an unpleasant custom, were
placed in golden shrine and are nov
kept in the treasury, and the chair was
used as a throne ar the coronation OF
many successive emperors. The ca
thedrsl is partly restored, the gaps
made by Napoleon J., carrying away
the best Of the marble pillows,
having been filed up. Built on to this
byzantine part is a Gothic chair Of ex-
tremely light and graceful proper
tons, which forms almost a Zip
pant adjunct to its sedate neighbOr.
The pulpit in the choir is ornamental
with acases, jewels, ivory, carvings,
and gold. and dates from 1924. The
treasury hiss a multitude Of valuable
objects. principally shrines and crosses
and huntinr-horn that originally be-
lorged to Charlemauge, Of ivory won
derfuily carved and mounted in gold.
Tie shrircs contain relics that need a
faith capable Of swallowing things
wholesale 70 have the least belief IN
them. 1t was rather painful inspcc-
ton TO us, as we did not like to smile
in the custodian's face, but we re-
strained ourselves with great difficulty.
THE TOWN HALL.
The Town Hall in -la-Chapelle, a
Gothic building of considerable size
ard interest, was built in the fourteenth
century OF materials from the ruins Of
the palace erected BY Chsrlemagne five
hundred years previously. twas used
FOR the election Of the Emperors Of
Germany for many years, and till lately
had only a narrow winding staircase,
so that it was easily guarded by any one
who had the good luck to be in posses
sion. This staircase led immediately
into tie main or Emperor S hall, a room
fifty yards by twenty, with a ceiling
supported with four massive pillars, and
walls now decorated with frescoes
by Rethel. one Of the best of the mod
err German painters. During cur stay
in Aix-la- Chlpelle we took drive to
the Lousberg, a hill just outside the
town and laid out N walks and drives
for a pleasure resort. After . consider
able amount OF winding round and
round and ascending the hill We sax
tie two countries u Holland and Bel
GUM, our next tolrins-grounl, for re
were close On the bordofllnd.
MOpLEN FREsCOEs.
In this part of our tour and IN passing
through the Rhineland we had good
opportunity Of seeing some modern
liescoes. The first set at Speyer by
Yoh Schraudolph, born in loOs, cover
The nave ch0ir and eastern cElpels Of
the cathedral and arc Of subje Illus
trating the chief events in the Old and
New Testament aud few pictures Of
saints. The next are in the nave az
Maiug, from designs by Philip Eeit,
painter Of abou. the same date as
Schrauuoiph. and these we liked better
than those al Spsyer. The subjects are
from tho HE Of Christ, with tbs eX-
ception Of few in the dome from the
Old Testament. Both at Speyer and
Maing The frescoes are necessarily
sacred subjects, bat at Cologne those
on the stairway OF the museum by
Stem, of Frankfort, a painter
sti!l living, represent the his
tory of the progress of art and
culture az Cologne. They are in
three periods, Roman and Roman
esque combined in the middle ages
then the renaissance joined with modern
times. \ supplementary division Is
added, specially devoted TO the great
pride and ornament of the town, and
depicts the progress Of the bsllding Vi
the cathedral. Those in the Rath-hsus,
or Town Hall, at Aix-ls- Chapelle aro
by Rethel, born 1916, and MS pupil,
kehren, and IN design and interest far
surpass tho others, partly because b
their intrinsic merit and partly because
each one illustrates separately great
event in the life Of great msn--sha:
is, Charlemagne, who has become almost
dtiied By he Germans Of to-day.