Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1888-05-31
SKETCHES OF TRAVEL OVER
The SUNSET ROUTE.

replete with beauty anu STdh-
deur. Perhaps some ofthe emo
tions produced by the first sight
of it, are the result of a COMPARE
son between this edifce as it
evidently appeared in its prime,
and the rude state ofthe inhabi-
tants here at that time.
Its style of architecture is
arabesque and byzantine. From
the right-hand corner, rises a
square tower, which, in its clear
story, has beautifully sculptured
LEAKAGE around oval windows.
The crowning-glory ofthis old
edifce is its portal. 1t is ex-
quisite in workmanship and i'm
posing in character. From the
base to the summit of the wall,
it is embelIished with foliage
and human figures carved in low
relief. The material used in or
namentation is a different kind
of stone from that of which the
walls are constructed. Ii is
much whittier, and is supposed TO
be an exotic; as none OF that
quality has ever been found in
this country.
The six human figures, six
male and SIX female, are life-size;
and L of a military and reli
gious Specification. One stands
above the door. and one in each
OF the two lateral pilasters.
There is one on a pedestal each
side of the circular window that
tops the door way plane. Above
this window sits an old warrior,
which has had an arm broken
of. The mutilation is attribu.
Ted TO a tastey curioso, who,
coming stealthily by night,
climbed up and severed the limb
from the body. He was from
New York, and carried to that
metropolis his stolen treasure.
There are SO few buildings in
the United States, which, on ac-
count of age and architecture,
are sufficiently interesting to re-
pay q visit, that it seems like a
sacrilegious act to despoil one,
even for 80 laudable a purpose
as to add to a museum.
The eye and reflective faculty
are both busy in contemplating
this work of refined taste, skill,
aud beauty, in connection with
the era in which it served it's
purpose. These mission houses
were old, and the art:zans and
s%culptOrs whose workmanship
we see to day, were sleeping in
their tOmbs, when our forefath.
ers IN the Revolutionary war
were struggling to plant the
banner of freedom npOn Ameri.
can soil.
They affect the surprised visi.
tor like the shadowy picture of
a former dream, looming up sud.
denly in a realistic manner be.
fore the mind during waking
hours.
Without a guide we proceed
20 other portions of tine building
The woodwork chiefly is gone.
In the rear we find u furnace.
The apartment, containing the
large oval oven, has q very mar.
row entrance, and is separated
by a wall from the one in which
tie fire place opens.
A large, inner quadrangular
room has q number of arched
windows, on one side, looking
into a contiguous division that
is bOrdered on the outside by
an arcade. These, no doubt,
were designed the one for the
Assembly Hall and the other for
a clOister for recreation. The
arcade is yet handsome, and
adds to the picturesque value OF
the old ruins.
On the left side of the roof.
weeds, shrubs, and young trees
are growing.
AS we wander around, we
have many cODjectures about
the uses ofthe various divisions.
We experience a pensiveness to
which most persons are suscep.
tibte amid desolate remains of
human habitation. Solemnity of
feeling is deepened by the gloom
and silence pervading the place.
Our inspection, though q has
ty one, has excited in us n
strong desire to know the histo.
ry of the building, to learn some.
thing OF the ordinary human
transactions that have occurred
here. fetit seems as if it would
scarcely be out of harmony with
the surroundings, should there
rise before us some shadow
spectre, the ghost of some for
mer occupant, to question the
propriety of our curiosity. and
deny us the privilege ofInvesti.
eating the past, or of ferretine
out secrets that must forever
remain in oblivion to mortal be.
ings.
Wandering around, we sud.
denly discover a larle, hand
some door, which is locked.
ABOUT the same time. we see
standing very near US, as ifiust
emerged from some hiding pIace
a little girl, untidily dressed
and seemingly much abashed'
Our curiosity is diverted to
q Na m -I