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

devil. All over these cathedrals the greatest
| prodigality is shown in ornamcntation. al
| though the exterors are generally severely
plain and frequently blocked up by other
buildings. - ~
Christ is also King Of Spain, but the images
are generally bare, and there is no display
about them. However. the Spanish prefer to
have images clothed, and have seen some
cavaliers clothed with bright-coored full
skirt such as the women wear, and with red
hair falling over the shoulders. l never laugh
at anything held sacred by anyone but the
effect of this is extremely ludicrous. The
sublime and the ridiculous are not far apart in
such things.
Architecture here is science that has been
fully developed. In a country where beautiful
building stone ab0unds on every hand the ap-
peal to the builder has not been in vain.
Palaces have been constructed, but it is in
church architecture that the architects have
reached the acme Of their skill. The purest
specimens of architecture are found here. 1t is
not in grandeur of outline. usually, but in rich
ness of detail that il cxcels. Just the
coors are always preferred in Spain. so every
available spot has been crowded with statues,
floral ornamentation, etc. 1t is anything
rather than plain surface. These have been
remarkably we'll preserved for country in
which things are usually permitted to go to
decay rather than to take the trouble Of
repairing.
The cathedral was formerly everything 1t
was not only place for religious worship. but
likewise for the meeting of councils of state
aud municipalities. 1t was the library, the
natural history museum, the art gallery, and
whatever there was of learning there was shut
up within the costers of churches or converts.
The people went to the priests not only to con-
fess but likewise for guidance in all things
temporal. So to-day many of the relics shown
49, - hon.
the archives of church. Stuffed animals are
sometimes met with, though not often, for they
have nearly all disappeared. Antiquities of all
kinds are very frequent. In many of the
churches occur the masterpieces of painters.
The sacred relics the most interesting
and curious. In several places are preserved
what are alleged to be bits of the true cross pieces
of the pillar against which Christ leaned while
being scourged, thorns from his crown. a napkin
with which he wiped his face on the way to
Calvary and almost to infinity. These
are most carefully guarded, and are of course,
believed in by the people. Bones of saints are
likewise a favorite collection. One cathedral
is especially fortunate in having what the
Church declares to be the whole body of saint.
Others have only an arm or leg.
The old Kings were very Jealous collectors of
these CHASTITY trophies as the supply was some
what limited the scramble was 30 much the
greater. Nevertheless, however insignificant,
it is still carefully preserved and believed to
have miraculous power.
The number of times that the Virgin has
appeared in Spain is truly legion. She is de-
clsred to have appeared at various times to
favorites and requested that churches be
founded at certain places. Afterwards she
was believed to come down and worship there
she would place robe on some saint as a
mark of favor. At other times small images
of the Virgin were found in a marvellous way
by the people. This generally caused shrine
to be built, and was the object of pilgrimage.
At Montserrat such was the case, and as many
as go. 900 pilgrims used to visit yearly. Nearly
every community has some tale of the marvel
Gus that is carefully cherished and handed
down from mouth to mouth. The idea that
imposition may have been practced by the
priesthood never occurs to these poor people.