The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-28

mediate surroundings of the abbey are dis
tressing to the stranger. On one side is a
grazing ground for sheep. On another
drear, forlorn, modern graveyard, with
thin and meaere headstones, is crowded
against it. On another, matched novels
and cabins huddle beneath its graceful
mattresses. And on another that Cerberus-
horror, guarding all that is sweet, sacred
and beautiful, in Scotland, combined inn
and toll-gate, lays in wait at the only en-
trance. Scarcely tree, shrub or plant is
there to kindly hide the squalor and avar-
ice or soften the hurtful ravages of time.
If you love to contemplate the glorious in
pure art, Melrose is q never-ending feast.
If, in your liking, even marvellous ruins
must be set in the tender framework
wrought by natures recovering and Ieha-
billtatlng hands, you will be bitterly disap-
pointed. The church itself is in the form
Of the cross of St. John of Jerusalem. Its
! length from the east to the west is 258 feet,
| the cross aisle 1877 feet; while the breadth of
the nave is So feet between the walls. From
the center of the Latin cross rises square
west side only remains. This tower rests
on a lofty pointed arch, the summit OF
which terminates in stone balustrade with
quatrefoil rails, under which is a bas-relief
frieze of roses. The north transept is roof
less. The eastern part of the nave is still
covered and was used during the first quar-
ter of this century as parish church; but
the western part is roohess, and the great
western entrance is gone. In the south wall
are eight windows, sixteen feet by. eight.
The roof above the eastern part OF the choir
and the marvellous east window at Its end
are still almost perfect.
The pedestals for all statues, and there
must have been upwards Of 200, are com.
posed of five members of cornice, supported
point with triple roll. The tracery of
the window mullions is in foliage. The
, pedestals and canopies of the buttresa
inches are all ornamented in Rarlands Of
flowers. In the arch of the door once lead
ing to the cloisters. the work upon the fillet
. is of marvellous conception and execution,
, the flowers and foliage being separated
! from the stone behind and suspended in q
' twisted garland. There is no more superb
stone-work in all Europe than in the m. mould.
. manning seats of the cloister. The side
:. aisles are formed by light clustered pillars
8 richly capitalized, with garlands of flowers
r and foliage disposed delicately il
%ssd9 rs entire 0as %sas s'fs
: this marvellous interior ID simply an unsur
= passed nature-study or foliage, plants an(
T flowers. wrought in stone to as accurate
Z semblance rs though under the most per
3 solemn sole lnaenihcenoe and aplendor has neve
5 elsewhere been more perfectly welded t.
+ the very incarnation of the beautiful
y through art. Setting entirely aside the re
is ligious associations, those impressive emo
y tions which ever arise at the sepulture o
I the mighty dead, or still those more touch
d ing and exquisite emotions which are tn
Il outgrowth of consciousness that the eye
# and hearts of countless men and women Q
& transcendent genius have Toasted upon tn
8 splendid shrine. as have yours and mine,
4 know of no other spot in the three klnl
t doms where one may come and SO worshl
b alone, With the immortal soul of art whis
,s pering sveetly through the silent lips 9
10 chiseled stone.
Is II Melrose Abbey furnishes examples {
d art almost as bewitching as the most del
]. cate expressions of nature itself. Drybul
re Abbey, but four miles distant, down Il
Y Tweed. holds aud fascinates the wander'
a. with far more tender and subtle charm
30 tiquity than even that of the original Gu
n dee house of old Melrose. Before the a,
Id vent of Christian missionaries the place vi
g resorted to by the Druids for the celebr
Z tion of their mystic rites-as Darachbruac
B. 1.-THE bank-cluster of sacred oaks" Dr
a. burg.s Celtic name, implies. Modan.
ed Culdee presbyter, set up the first Christie
ed establishment of DryburRh, ir 622. For o
tn years thereafter its history is insagnihcan
h, Then monks from Alnwick, undel the pa
II ronage of Sir Hugh de Morville, constah
he of Scotland under King David L. found,
'ly here PremonstratentiaD Abbey
splendid dimensions This was burn
Is along with Melrose Abbey by Edward I
lc- and restored by aid granted by King ko
nj. ert Bruce. Twice, in 1885 and in 1854.
We was pillaged and devastated by the En-
N ish. The reformation of doughty Jo