Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-05
THE OLD TOWN. CROSS

THE OLD TOWN CROSS
the Butle- cross. they call it, stands about
midway in the length of the street-a misshapen
u sdieva. carving on a rude pedestal. with tine
peaked. pryin2 dormer windows of some very
old houses craning over between 1t and the
SKY. Beside the cross an odd-covered passage
way. lined with tiny crooked shops. leads off
from the main thoroughfare. Follow this
tagged alley under low-bowed black-timbered
walls and Jon come out at once upon
THE CATHEDRAL CLOSE.
At first nothing is seen but q double row of
magnificent elms beyond low stone wall,
with smooth green lawns on either hand. where
an occasional tomb stone crops ont above the
shaver grass. Under the elms a paved walk
runs. and here the yellowing leaves are already
beginning to drop and blow in the puffs of au-
tumnal winds, although it is still August. We
pass down the celebrated long walk, and pres
emily the stern gray front Of the cathedral il
seen between the interlacing branches, with a
single small turret piercing the pale sky and
the squat Norman tower just visible beyond
WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL
10 magnificent in its simplicity and in its vast
ness 1t is mainly early Norman in archi-
lecture, but experts claim that parts of the
building date from the Anglo-Saxon period.
II was founded in the fifth century. King
Egbert was crowned here in S21, the first
coronation in the cathedral which history re.
ports. St Swithin's name comes down from
thetarliest times in connection with Winchester
IL was here that prolonged rain at the time oil
the transferral Of his bones to a new grave gave
rise TO the superstition which has even crossed
the ocean to America:
'st Swithin's day, if thou be fair
Tor forty days twill rain nae mair," &c.
William the Conqueror rebuilt the church in
great part and from thence date its Norman
characteristics. Edward the Confessor and
Richard Ceur de Lion were crowned here and
memories of Henry VIII and Charles V oil
and OF many earlier and later English mon
arehs cling about the echoing aisles and vauIted
ehapels Of the cathedral
THE INTERIOR.
The great length Of the nave, 254 feet, gives
very striking effect you enter and see the
solemn vista before you. with the dim ancient
glass Of the east window cleaning in the dis
lance The walls are encrusted with memorial,
OF every age, and tombs of varying magnif
eenee NIL chapels and nave and choir. Under
foot are countless slabs carven with forgotten
names We stand in vast mausoleum- VIA,
fhronging shapes rise before us as We look for.
ward through the great nave and backward
through history Vague figures steal through
the far-of choir where they arc buried
me old Ansio-saxon kings, dimly
then, nearer ut hand. the fattery-hatins
Canute. hanging up his crown above the altal
IN token Of ms subsection to q higher power
There at a side altar kneels the Confessor witt
his melancholy face and etfeminate air, and
here the weary old Conqueror wanders list
lsssly down deserted aisle. The wild, red
bearded figure Of William Rufus starts from be
hiild that distant pillar with the glare Of rage
~ his murdsrers still plain upon lis face.
ALONG PROCESSION OF SHADOWS
passes slowiy through the dim vastness of tn,
wave, disappearing behind some sculptursS
tomb when We would view them too closely Ceu
de Lion, WITH his newly given crown; the burl,
Harry, beside the willy Spaniard: a queen il
strange pointed Golf and wimple. with he
newborn son in her arms, beside the ancien
FONT; royal bride and groom, smiling int,
each others faces with all the pomp Of tn
wedding pageant about them; bishops
gorgeous In cope and inter; 9 cardinal in hi
scarlet robe. and then after all these medieya
viaieus the pleasant figure Of old izaak Nation
stu armed with his fishing rod. and last, per
hapa, the graceful presence of the young writer
vkoss nAms 10 . household word IN two con
dnsats-Jane Austen.
Ths altar picture, the Raising Of Lazarus,
~ Benjamin West, the vell-known America
artzst, and IL seemed strange to see bis hadi
york amid the moldering glories of oil
Britain. One Of the finest tombs 10 that o
CARDINAL Deaufort o recunbent marble figur
under . canopy. colored after life, with hi
easdinAfs hat upon his head
vuczEs-xa SCHOOL
D1t tAaEs q too much 10 be seen in our on
shset day 10 allow - more time for tbs caths
dral Out into the mellow afternoon We 8
aSaia. end following the long. massive wall Q
ne nave through the grassy close We como
sepAins srehway. under which " pas TO Nm