The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-07-08
THE CROWN OF CHRIST.
1t is Claimed it Now Reposes in the
Palace of Notre Dame.
From the chicago Times.

Palace of Notre Dame.
From the Chicago Times.
How often we hear these questions
asked Does the crown of Christ exist?
DWhere is it, and what does it look like
In answer to these questions I am in
position to make under oath the follow
ing statement: One evening while being
entertained at the palatial residence of
Notre Dame Of Paris by the archipre ire,
Eugene POusset, who is also dean of the
canons of Notre Dame cathedral, the con
versation drifted on religious subjects
and relics
1--WE have" said the archipretre, "a
splendid collection in the tresor treasury
room of Notre Dame of the relics which
were saved during the revolution in 1893.
Since that time numerous gifts have en-
riched this collection, among tkem mill
tary trophies and ornaments presented by
the sovereigns. Napoleon |. gave toaIthe
cathedral the objects used at his corona
ton, any one who visits the tresor can
see the prize dieu and cushion which
figured in the celebrated painting by
David at the Louvre.
THE HOLY TUNIC.
THE holy tunic is in possession of the
canOns of st. Denis, and the Cathedral of
Trier owns the robe Of Christ-that is,
the vestnent worn on the tunic. This
last point of controversy is settled once
for all. AS for the holy crown, there has
never been any controversy, very few
people knowing even if this crown is in
existence. The tresor of Notre Dame be-
longs to the state, and | have nothing to
do with it except to see that it is well
cared for. A guardian and interpreter is
paid regularly to look after this property,
which amounts to millions. Now, as to
the crown, it IS my personal possession,
and 1 have provided that at my death il
will be intrusted to some one specially Sc
lected by me. The crown is never ex-
hioited in public. My own servants know
nothing of its existence
On further inquiry NJ. pAbbe Pousset
consented only TO state that the crown
was kept at the cathedral at the time of
the revolution in 1889. A noble family
whose name ne would not give MD it
away for fear Of acts of vandalism
Since that time IL has been transmitted
from hand to hand as a sacred trust.
WHERE THE RELICS ARE KEPT.
At nv earnest request was allowed to
see the crown. The archipeJre took me
to a garrett room located Immediately
above his sleeping apartment. No guard
is at the door, and the servants believe
that this room, which is not occupied.
contains only old traps and rubbish of no
value. The walls are bare of paper or
ornaments Of any kind In one corner is
a wooden cneSt about feet high, 3i6
feet long, and 2 feet wide. The hinges
and locks are made of steel II contains
three fat glass-covered boxes, fitting
perfectly, one inside the other. In the
inner box, lined with red velvet, is the
crown, reposing on cushion made also of
red velvet.
The crown is not made of thorns, as il
is generally represented, but of ordinary
rush carelessly twisted in the shape of a
crown. OF the thorns there is only one
left which is hardly three inches long and
is attached to the rush. There must have
been originally several of these thorns, as
one can see plainly the places where hey
have been detached. The color of the
rush is so faded from age that it looks al
almost transparent, ii being of pale vel
lowish white.
CARE TAKEN OF THE BOX.
The box is air tight and has the seal of
each person in whose possession it has
been since the reign of St. Louis Louis
| IN, who brought it from Jerusalem. The
| largest fragment of the cross in existence
is enclosed in another box. i is of cedar
or similar wood and is about 3 feet long.
inches wide and 3 inches thick. a small
of the family which saved this fragment
of the cross during the revolution
The descendants of this family are re
siding now in the town of Bourges.
Among the other relics is the lower Jaw
| the humerus, and few teeth Of St.
/ Louis. the archipreter of Notre Dame
| has in his possession all the documents
establishing the authenticity of these rel
] les, ana should revolution occur in Paris
| every possible precautiOn is taken 40 pre-
/ vent them from being stolen. was per
mitted to sec the documents, but not al
| lowed to take a copy of them for obvious
reasons the main one being that the fam
! lily who secured the crown and piece Of
| the cross at the revolution do not wish
! their name to be disclosed. A regular
/ system of electric alarms connect the
/ garrett room with the library and sleep
/ ing room Of the archipretre. Further
/ more the large iron crate doors OF the
residence Enclosure are similarly pro
| tectcd This residence, by the way, was
constructed by Violet lie Due, the re
s,orer Of the cathedral, and has the APP
pearance of a museum of public monu-
/ ment Very few seem to know that II is
( iuha bited by the first cure (curateJ Of
/ France.