Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-22


of the new Granadian Government, out OF
which, through the sacrifice of many lives.
a more definite form of republicanism was
at length evolved.
THE GOVERNMENT "PALACIo,"
Which occupies one side of this plaza, is
by no means so imposing an editice as its
name implies. Indeed, its whitewashed
walls could hardly be distinguished from
those of adjacent private residences, were
it not for the Colombian colors floating
from its root, and couple of uniformed
sentinels pacing before the entrance.
On another side of the same square is
the great Cathedral, wonder structure as
to size. but not much to boast of in the
line of architectural symmetry. 1t was
begun shortly after the Episcopal See Of
Bogota was founded lin 1868, believe);
but its original builders did not seem to
understand their business very well, for
the whole pile tumbled down, killing
scores of people in its fall, en- the very
day it was to have been conse-
Grated About thirty years later the
work was recommended, under the direc-
ton Of clever Capuchin monk named
Domingo Perez. He died before his de-
signs had been entirely carried out, and
many alterations having been made at
subsequent periods, by as many different
architects from designs OF their own, the
building has singularly mongrel look.
Trying to describe a church is stupid
work; but want to give you some idea of
this, even at the risk of a few stilted sem
fences, because it is one Of the oldest in
all Spanish-America Its facade rests upon
basement of square, hewn stone, slightly
raised above the atrio. Above the base
ment eight Doric pillars rise in group,
forming portals for the side doors. The
entrance to the great central door is be-
| tween two futed columns of the ionic
order. Above the first story runs an eiab-
crate cornice; and Immediately below the
cornice, in spacious inches over the side
doors, stand colossal statues Of ST. Peter
and St. Paul.
The second body of the edihce-that
above the cornice-is raised upon eight
Ionic pillars, which form an imposing niche
in which appears beautiful image of the
Blessed Virgin. Surmounting these pillars,
| the carved and succeed facade ends in an
inscribed frontispiece, topped by huge
! iron cross set upon pedestal. At either
| Cl1u vi lilS llOut slS iNOl tONCIs, u1NiuS
by cornice like the main building, two
Ionic pillars on their second story forming
in each tower an aperture for the bells and
clock. Both towers are canopied by a
quaint dome; and In each dome the Epis.
copal emhlems are emblazoned.
Inside, the old sanctuary is dark, damp
and gloomy beyond degree. Down each
side runs a row of seats, which during
service are occupied exclusively by men
all the women kneeling upon the cold
stone floor throughout the most lengthy
masses. 1t is the old story-that females
are expected to do all the praying in this
wicked world. as if they were guilty o.
all the sins thereof, while their male
relatives look on complacently, intend
ing to slip into heaven somehow through
their intercessions. A few of the more
aristocratic ladies bring rugs or square;
Of carpet on which they squat
a Ia Mohammedan, when tired o.
kneelipg. The only remarkable thing
about the interior of this cathedral is 9
really elegant pulpit inlaid with tortoise
shell and pure silver; but surrounded by
the usual images of wax and wood, gaudy
with tinsel and tissue flowers.
Not far away from Bolivar's statue is
the
PLAZA DE LAS ARMAS
One hundred meters long, and traversed
from east to west by the San Augustir
river. At each end of this park is a bridge
over which runs busy street. and ex
tending north and south, on either side Of
the river, are narrow avenues, always
crowded with pedestrians. On the north
! ern bank is a pretty garden, of irregular
shape, because following the bends of the
river; and on the opposite side, beyond
another howery spot, stands the fine ole
| church and former monastery of San Au
gustin. Besides its religious history, which
dates back nearly three centuries, thi.
church is memorable for having withstood
siege of three days duration in the rev
olution of 1861 Though the building wa.
mined in three places and the besiegeC
were entirely without food and water, they
held out heroically until help came and
the day was gained.
Scarcely second to this in historic inter.
est is the Plaza de los lLdrtires the Mar
tyrs $50 named because within it have
| been executed many Of Colombia's patriots
politicians, councillors, soldiers and states.
! men, shot by the Spaniards during the bit.
ter struggle for independence Again and
again has it been deluged with human
blood-which perhaps accounts for the fact
that grass and flowers seem to grow more
rankly here than else, here 1t has also
been the scene of several auto da jes, IN those
earlier days when Romish Ineuisitors had
power to burn alive those who dared to in
cur their displeasure.
In the center Of the plaza alofty ODE
lisk has been reared to the memory of "los
MartiTeS." The cornerstone of the splen-
did monument was laid in 1872 by Doctor
Manuel Murillo, then President of the re-
public; but the work was not completed
until as late as Trujillo's administration.
The beautiful statues that adorn its sides
are the work of the Italian artist, Zombar-
do.
Then there is the
PLAZA DE La CAPUCHINA
Surrounded on three sides by the swellest
private residences, and fanked on the
other by the College of MERGED ("Mercv''l
and the ancient pburcb of tho Co,,rol -,