The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-02

and his hands took them. He gave the very
good reason that he did SO so that no one else
might be tempted. 1t was unfortunate that
no one thought of that before. 1t did remove
temptation for those succeeding.
Thus the largest part of the rich jewels and
plate has disappeared from time to time, so
that now what remains is kept secure and
shown very carefully; yet this is something
splendid and eaualed in few countries The
rich golden plate, the crosses studded with
hundreds of diamonds and relics, many of them
worth small fortunes, are something magDif.
cent. In the dresses for the clergy it is that
Spain is unrvaed. l have been shown one
that cost 900 in the Seville Cathedral-that
amount for a single robe. 1t is made from the
finest of silken threads intertwined with real
gold and silver threads With this thread are
WORKED all sorts of designs from roses to crosses
The weight of these garments is a burden for
any ones shoulders When you consider that
there are scores Of these finely wrought robes
In one cathedral you can see that the cost has
been enormous. The effect of dozens of clergy
clad in these glitterng robes, that are literally
all purple and gold, at mass bowling and cross
ing themselves is something splendid, but very
worldly and not at all spiritual.
Aught else Of splendor. however, is eclipsed
by the wardrobes Of the Virgin. In Spain the
Virgin is Queen. and has all the accompani-
ments of that position. The statues are al
ways dressed and surmountcd by the royal
crown. The dresses of the Virgin in the Toledo
Cathedral are something that might be envied
by many real Queen. Their magnificence is
grand almost beyond belief The dress for gala
days of this sculpture is all silver aud gold 1t
is ornamented with $4,000 pearls. together with
countless diamonds, emeralds and rubies. Now
a few diamonds and pearls are greatly valued
by even rich aristocratic ladies' but such dis
play for piece of cold marble is something nm
precedented. She has whole wardrobe full of
other dresses of equal richness Of finish, but
different colors and embroidery. All these
were presents from Kings, Queens, Princes,
Potentates and Popes. The crown which she
wears cost 500 600 without the multitude Of
jewels set in it, and she wears bracelets worth
$4,000. In addition there are bracelets, dia-
mond pins, etc, almost without number. There
is special mistress of this wardrobe and as
much fuss over the care of it fastidious
living Queen could possibly cause. The statues,
many of them, are landed proprietors, and own
the choicest bits of land. The revenue goes
towards keeping up the wardrobe.
1t is in the affairs that magnficence is usu.
ally displayed. In this Cathedral of Toledo
there are affairs small parts of which cost $780,
600 to 100000 The pillars in come of the
chapels are of Jasper and the floor of pre-
cious marbles Silver gilt are some of them
with parts picked with real gold. In the Sc
vile Cathedral there is almost equal magnifi
cence. In others tho interior is all Of the finest
OF marbles which have been brought from all
parts of the world
In the Cathedral of Burgos there are Is
chapc!s and some 40 confessionals The wood
carving is something most beautiful. The sub
jccts are rs varied as could be well imagined
They range from historical events in Spain 10
such imaginative ones AS saints riding the