The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-23

20 was discolored, weather-stained and cor
foded By time. Pigeons tiuttered cooling
about the lofty cornices. and two high
bred. scholarly priests with broad brimnied
hats and long black coats entered the porti-
90. ed them anticipat ting dark and
dingy interior with aim glory from stained
glass orlels Illuminating the dusky gloom.
Crossing the vast portico behind the facade,
with heroic statues of Constantine and
Charlemagne at either end. and passing
through the screen of the great portal. a
spectacle greets the vision of the beholder
which win not be surpassed till be wit
nesses the glory of the house not made
with hands, eternal in the heavens.
WHERE GENIUS DID ITS BEST.
From the threshold to the brown statue
of st. Peter eDthroned beneath the golden
glory of the dove, the distance was nearly
as great as the entire length of the Capitol
at Washington from north to south, and
the width two-thirds much. Conceive
that building enlarged to these proportions
as to form one apartment, it's ceiling hum
dred ana nifty feet IN height, sup
ported by enormous columns of
polished and many colored marbles; then
lntersectlng arches pierced for d0mes. with
brilliantly gilded vaults. grouped about
the central dome that rises nearly high
rs the Washington monument. and q faint
idea will be obtained of the dimensions of
preme architects OF the world exhausted
the resources of their genius for nearly two
hundred years and expended more than
St0000000
It was completed $50 years ago. but it is
as perfect and radiant as If Raphael and
Michael Angelo had bestowed the lasttouch-
es OF their chisel and pencil upon it's in
comparable statues. and pillars, and mo-
saics yesterday. A flood of light from many
windows at the base of the domes fills the
An 4 a rntn nm a q N M
revealing every detail of artistic decoration
from the level marbles of the tesselated
floor TO the gorgeous cartoons In MOSAIC
upon the walls. the splendor of thirty
affairs. and tho tombs and chapels of a
nameless multitude OF buried popes and
kings. Beneath. . canopy of guided bronze
In the midst an open crypt surrounded
by many lamps. whose tame il never ex-
tinguished. encloses the tomb of st. Peter
TO which flight of marble steps descends.
at whose foot Is O kneeling statue of q
sainted pontiff.
In whatever creed he may have been
taught. or whatever traditions he may
revere. no one can stand at that gate with
ont reverence for the faith, whether false
or true, that for so many centuries has
given direction TO the currents of history
and inspired the devotion of so large "A por-
rIon of the human race. And vet even in
this stupendous temple there are two OBJ
jects that provoke not wholly sacrilegious
smile. One is the black foot of the effigy
OF the apostle sitting In his chair. breast
high against one of the central columns
who's toes have almost entirely disappeared
from the devout oscillations of his wor-
shippers The other Is sepulchral group
In which the artist had sculptured q nude
Iecumbent female figure of such exquisite
loneliness of figure and feature that it'be-
came shrine for the Gevotees of artistic
beauty. Considering this worship to be in
consistent with the purposes for which the
monument was reared q subsequent Pope
had the offending statue covered with
chemise or tune of sheet-iron. painted
white. from the neck TO the ankles. But,
notwithstanding the metallic drapery
enough of surface and contour remains ex-
posed 10 show that the modest prelate was
justified In resorting 10 an expedIent that
10 less sacred precincts would have sayored
OF superiiuous prudery.
MORE GORGEOUS THAN SUNRISE.
The magnificent gothic cathedral of
white marble at Milan is more remarkab BILE
tor Its exterior than for its Interior. though
this Is surpassed in extent only by st.
Peters and the church at Seville. in Spain.
When he vision Is accustomed to its dim.
yeligi Gus light. the lofty arches. the