Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-07-14

mic. Bushes of mastic and tufts of
grass glimmer in the crevices of the
rocks. and lizards dart about amongst
the stones at every step. Higher up
appear oaks, box and broom whatever
of winter vegetation that is able to
suhsist among crumbling crags and on
stony, sterile breasts.
Looking off into space you see an
army of mountains, nothing but noun
tains, and range after range absorb
ing the entire landscape. One of them
with its Jagged brow jutting Forth
like a promontory, seems TO be a 81
gantlc saurin stretching his long sAel-
eton before the entrance of valley.
ON the summit, on an esplanade,
stands the great square convent, with
its stories of terraces and rocky gar
dens surrounded by bold peaks, consti-
tuting chain, of which 1t forms the
centre. At the end OF a long ascend
ing porch you perceive a court. en-
closed within rows of columns. From
this court broad steps lead to still
higher court, also furnished with its
porticos, where displayed upon the
walls, is a silent assembly of statues
Of abbes, princes and benefactors. The
church rises in the background. From
Its portal the eye ranges over columns
and arches sharply defined on the clear
azure, and beyond, in the luminous
corruscatinns of sunset, over the am
pie architecture of the stone and Sky
Is all-it almost prompts one to turn
monk
Roman savants often resort here to
pass three or four months in the heat
OF summer and to work comfortably
In n silent and temperate atmosphere.
The library contains forty. Thousand
volumes and quantity of diplomas.
Its hospitality is complete; there Is no
charity-box-you can scarcely give
n d tVNfr 4
preserved ancient traditions, its love
of knowledge and Its liberal spirit. The
monks are not confined to these clois-
tiers and divorced from all society. but
are at liberty TO leave them and travel
They study and teach as formerly ont
of three hundred occupants OF the
monastery twenty are monks, and
about one hundred and fifty are pupils,
all pursuing their studies from the
rudimonts up to theology.
One dimes in the immense refectory
lighted by brass lamp without a
glass. similar to those found at Pom
peii. Its feeble taper casts flicker
ing CLEANS on the pavement and on
the great stone vaults above the re-
Elections being drowned In the vague
overwhelming obscurity. An enor-
nous fresco on the right, the ''AIul-
uplication of the LoaVes and Fishes .
by Bassan, an entire surface OF the wall
NkNfANA WIN AAdMhS u AkuIkS, mover
there like an apparitlon OF phantoms
of old.
The church Is OF the seventeenth
century, and is painted by Luca Gior-
dano and the Chevalier d'Arpino Like
the Chartreuse OF Naples, 1t Is lined
with precious stones and nosaics; the
pavement seems to be a rich carpet
and the walls ine paper hangings. The
ancient gravity and energy OF the re-
Nuisance had disappeared; the senti-
ment of the court already began to
prevail. The architecture is thus
the work of a sensual pnganism. show
lng the dilettantism Of the decorator
The altar, supported by two Gigantic
cherubs. is said 10 be by Michael An
gelo. a massive gold crucifx is by
Celini The organ HIS the most COM
plicated and most brilliant OF registers
You have everything here. not only
the arts and the sciences, hut the
grand spectaclcs OF nature. This is
what the old feudal and religious So
ciety provided for its nensive, solitary
spirits; for minds which. repealed by