The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-09-26

secure as TO require constant repairs. and
an interior arrangement so peculiar rs to
conceal instead of displaying its riches.
st. Isaac's is severely simple, so plain that
one whose eyes have become accustomed TO
the elaborate ornamentation of the gothic
cathedrals of the continent has to study IL
awhile to comprehend its beauty. 1t is how
ever. one of the finest and richest in speci-
mems Of the pure Greek in the world, and the
longer and oftener one looks at il the greater
do its glories appear. The only other &C.
clesiastical ediflce that can compare with 1t,
of this order of architecture, is the Church
of the Savior at Moscow. more recently built
ana on the same general plan, 10 cOmmem-
crate the destruction of Napoleon's army.
The gem of Petersburg architecture is not
dedicated to the son OF Abraham, as people
usually infer. but 10 st. Isaac Of Dalmatia,
d Greek martyr. Ever since the foundation
OF the city the Russians have had place of
worship on this spot. Under Peter wooden
editice Was erected that was destroyed by
fire. Then Catherine built one, which was
finished in 1901, but did not suit her, and
with the reckless way she had OF doing
things, it was torn down, and foundations
laid in 1909 for what was to be. and until re-
Gently has been, the finest temple in the
empire.
The foundation itself is a wonder. for il is
a perfect forest of piles, a million or more
of them. sunk in the marsh on which the
city is built, at a cost OF 81 800 900; but even
this work Is not sufficient TO carry the enor-
nous weight OF stone resting upon It, and
Tor more than fifty years all the engineers
OF the empire have been experimenting at
an enormous cost TO make it more secure,
without great success. The walls toward
the river are gradually sinking, and there
seems no way TO prevent ii. Enormous
scaffolding continually conceals the walls,
destroying the appearance Of the building.
but giving continual employment TO a large
number OF workmen, who undoubtedly need
the money more than the church. The
total cost of the building was originally
100000 600. S3,000,00O more than the Capitol
at Washington, but the repairs since it was
completed in 1858 have been enormous.
The Pillars and Dome OF ST. Isaac's.
The building is i'm the form OF a Greek
cross, like all the Russian churches, each of
the four grand entrances being approached
Boy three broad flights of steps. each whole
Hight being composed of a single block of
granite brought from Finland on sledges
over the snow. The level roads and the
snow make possible in Russia the transport
tation OF large masses of rock from the Fin
land quarries. that could not be carried on
wheels or railroad tracks. These steps lead
from the four sides OF the building TO the
four grand entrances, each of which has
superb peristyle.
Each portico has 112 massive pillars OF
polished granite, sixty feet high, with di-
atreter OF eleven and half feet-the finest
aSSembage OF granite monolithS in the
world all from out of the same quarry i'm
Finland. The pillars are crowned with cap
itals OF bronze. Over the peristyles. and az
twice their height, rises the chief and CEN
trial dome $50 feet supported by thirty pill
aars. which. although gigantic in size. look
small compared with those below. The
dome is covered with copper, overaid with
gold bullion, hammered TO the thinness of
the American dollar. The value of the gold
upon this roof is nearly 1,0O0.000 roubles.
ana II gl1tterS in the sun with amazing bril-
Alancy. Very naturally the dome of st.
lsaac's. reaching far above everything else
and being so bright, is the most conspicu-
Gus object in the city, and can be seen for
miles around the country, rising like a
golden mountain.
AT the crest is a miniature dome. an ex-
act copy OF the great one beneath. looking
Ike little chapel, and that is surmounted
Dya golden cross. the top of which is 3j6
feet from the ground. The Washington
monument is 555 feet high, the dome of st.
Peters at Rome AS feet. and the goddess of
Aperty. who stands guard at the top OF the
Capitol at Washington. is 3G0 feet from the
ground. or four feet higher than ST. Isaac's.
The dome OF st, Isaac's is not so cone like