The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-03-21
LETTERS FROM THE OLD COUNTRY.
NO. XIV BY Z. l.. D.

One afternoon was spent IN visit
ing the Cathedral at Litchfeld, some
twenty miles to the north Of BIZ
mingham. OF all the Cathedrals IN
England, this is considered the most
beautiful, though in size and age It
is surpassed Oy a number. Its sym
metry is majestic, its picturesque
effects most remarkable, and from .
every point OF view it Is a grand .
sight. From one place the three
spires melt into one perfect pyramid. .
From another they look like three
masts of a ship moored among the
trees. The Cathedral has only
reached its present proportions
through a long and checkered his
tory, but, towering as it does 252
feet above the threshold, adorned as
it is with sculptured characters Of
modern and ancient history, includ-
ing the noted characters Of Bible
history, until you find yourself gaz
ing upon Adam himself, gives Que d
reVerent feeling as though it had
survived the wrecks of time and
would lay hold on the uncertainties
of futurity. Litchfeld means (ac-
cOrding to DIR. JOhnson) the field
Of the dead" and tradition says
several hundred Christians were
murdered by the Pagan Romans
under DIOcletian in the 3rd century
al this place, and a church was sub
sequently founded on the spot to
their memory. But this much Is
known, that one Of the Bishops from
the kingdom of Mercia, established
church at Litchtield in 663 Here
in a few years came the hermit Chad
who lived in a cave and to whose life
and death are ascribed many mir
acles His hermit life was soon fol-
lowed by his taking the bishOpric Of
this church From a small begin
ming, through twelve centuries. has
this sacred building lived and grown.
Large additions, magnificent Orna-
mentatiOns, grace, beauty and har-
mOny have cOnspired in its life, to
place it foremost among the creations
of man. Loving and generous hearts
have given largely to aid in the re-
| stOratiOns necessary. The west front
is built in three stages. In the
| lowest are three richly decorated
doorways The doors themselves
are partly covered with the old iron
| scroll work of the 18th century
! There are four rows of inches across
the entire front, one above the other,
and each niche contains a life sized
figure carved out Of stone. The
! lowest tier Of figures are all apostles
and bishops. The second, kings Of
England, before and after the con
quest. The third, the prophets of
the Bible and bishops. The fourth,
patriarchs even unto Adam, while
the gable is filled with Our Lord in
| Glory" and saints. 1t presents a
most remarkable appearance as a
whole, and one is excused for the
! feeling that it has stood from the
beginning of the world, The IN
! terror of the Cathedral is elaborate
in detail The great height Of the
arches, the rich carving on the mas
sive pillars, the delicate designs
wrought in the carved oak decOra-
tions of the choir, the elaborate in
terweaving Of iron, copper and brass
! in the screen, the magnificent altar
of marble, wrought by skillfui hands,
in which many colOred marbles and
! precious stones are combined with
brilliant effect, and the wonderful
paved floor richly inlaid with stone
and marble, are fairly bewiIderiDg
to the visitor Many visits would
not wholly familiarize one with all
the beauties and details that the
centuries have been concentrating in
this rare old Cathedral. 1t mas
many very ancient tOmbs and
tablets within its walls of great
interest, but the one piece
OF sculpture that IS most
famous, and has a world wide repu-
tation, is the masterpiece Of the ar
fist Sir Francis Chantrey, The
Sleeping Children" Two little sis
tiers clasped in each others arms, are
before you with every aspect Of life,
save the marble hue. The grace and
abandon is understandable, and the
( pillow on which they rest, looks as
if a breath might dent It's downy
fuIlness.
Were we not afraid OF wearying
our readers with cathedrals, we
would like to tell them many things
about the one at Worcester, about
twenty miles southwest Of Birmiug-
! ham. There are cathedrals and
cathedrals. Where grandeur, age.
and history meet you at every one,
| descriptions Will be monotonOus,
whereas the realities are not so. This
cathedral is only a few years younger
! than the one at Litchfeld. The pre-
sent edifce was commenced by the
only Saxon bishop, whom the Con
querOr permitted to retain his see,
| and dates from 1854. As we stood
within the magnificent doorway, the
! hour of noon pealed from the tower,
followed by beautiful air rung by
the chimes, and repeated several
times. Richness, elegance and taste
are apparent in every part within.
The whole cathedral was thoroughly
restored in 1861, consequently there
is no impression of the painful pas
sage of time connected with it. 1t
only seems at the height of its per
feet prime. In the center of the
choir is the recumbent effigy of King
John. To the left is the chapel Of