The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-06-16
xXIX.-NO. 80.


placing the soiled coverings with linen of
spotless white. Along the sides, standing
in little sections surrounded by railings, are
the confessionals, the curtains Of some being
drawn aside they presented an interior
similar to a sedan-chair, and viewing them
thus from distance the mind might easily
imagine that some London carriers had
just placed them there, and, removing the
poles left them standing against the wall.
Sauntering toward the aisles, illumined
by light from several frosted windows, |
paused before large painting, one of two
presented to the Archdiocese of Baltimore
by louis XVIII. of France, entitled the
"Descent from the Cross" In the fore
ground are eight figures, while the sky is
darkened by the heavy clouds which hung
over Calvary and cast their gloom-a
gloom that filed the hearts Of these per-
sons here with deepest sorrow-throughout
the entire land around Jerusalem.
As | turned from this picture and walk
ed in the direction of the altar, the silence
reigning here in anger seemed to throw
back the echoes of my footsteps; but taking
seat upon a subsellium standing beside
pillar they suddenly eeased-engulfed in
the vastness Of the nave. The massive
columns supporting the dome also sustain
upon the left side an arch extending the
entire length of the cross's arm; and with
in this vault-like space is a gallery above
an Ionic colonnade in which the organ, the
voice of the cathedral, rests. 1 once hap
pened here when the organist was at prac-
tice. From the deep laboring instrument
swelled great volumes of sound till every
corner and alcove in the old pile was hurl-
ing back myriads of echoes, which, meet
ing in the nave rose to the domes summit,
there circling around died of sheer exhaus-
tion and fell to the marble floor in waves
too faint for mortal ears. Then when the
air was soft and low, the music slowly float
ing among the vaulted arches would be
answered by reflections of yet gentlsr
kind. But when, with one giant burst of
power the notes rushed from the organs
lungs, ten thousand demon echoes would
be aroused from their slumber, and shouting
back defiance charge in troops and armies
along the aisles, now mounting to the cell
ing, then rebounding to the pavement, they
carried on war of increasing force, till
reaching the space beneath the cupola
leaped aloft and with a burst of rage
were no more. Only few disbanded
ones caught in some corner whirled in cir
cles, and growing less and less, at last
vanished silence again held sway; the
organs voice was hushed.
Standing before the stately altar watch
ed for some time the two workers as they
busted the golden candelabra and arranged
the white drapery; but in a little while
finishing their labors before the shrine they
disappeared through door at the back of
the chancel, leaving me alone excepting
distant figure of an adorer kneeling with
BILE floor, behind the altar balustrade, stands
the archiepiscopal throne, where, under the
overhanging canopy are the papal emblews
and bishops staff together with the inscrip-
ton; Auspice Maria Upon an opposite
pillar are tablets commemorating the lives
of former archbishops of Baltimore Their
remains lie in the crypt beneath the altar
massive mausoleums, their last resting place
Methought mysterious reverence cluster
ed about this spot like halo whose mists
are ever growing thicker and thicker, and
beyond which our sight penetrates but
feebly-as the priest chanting before a
congregation beholds their faces through
clouds of sweetly smelling incense.
There is another painting under the gal
lery at the entrance to the cathedral, the
companion of the one mentioned, which
affords glimpse of historic times Louis
*. of France, better known as st. Louis,
is burying the plague-stricken troops be-
fore Tuuis in 1910.
The chill that pervaded the church
when entered was still present. Now the
sun hiding behind cloud, its light vanish
ed from the windows, only pale rays pene-
trated the frosted panes and a semi-gloom
filled the cathedral aisles. The silence,
disturbed now and then by distant footballs,
lay like mantle on all objects. Thus l
left it, in its impressive grandeur.
As | write this, from my window I can
see the two turrets, above the dome, rising
in the distance; and as the sun disappears
behind the houses to the west lengthen-
ing shadow creeps across the arched roof,
which, fading away, as the twilight deepens,
at last is engulfed,in the darkness of night.