The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1895-03-15
YVES Trims TER Able Y!
BY PROF JOHN 8. GIaTlNGs

cernedin the past history Of his
race. Westminster Abbey is
the one most interesting spot on
earth for he will perceive here,
exemplified by tangible objects,
the continuity Of England's his
tory during a period ola thous-
and years. Throughout these
centuries the chief actors IN great
historic events, their careers
ended. have been brought here
for interment, Not ouly the
mortal remains of kings and
queens. but of soldiers. scholars
and poets: men ofaction and men
of Thought, the greatest of their
time, rest here Here, then, the
intelligent American traveller
will be stirred by the memories
of the past, as nowhere else on
his journey, and to this spot he
will turn with the. deepestinter-
est.
This venerable and splendid
edifice was originally founded by
Segbert, King of the East Sax
ons. II was rebuilt by Edward
the Confessor; after his time it
was destroyed by fire and again
rebuilt during the reign Of
the three Edwards. In the reign
of Henry VII. that monarch add
ed the chapel known byhis name,
and it finally came underline care
of the great architect, Sir Chris
topher Wren.
The architectural order is
Gothic. and its walls are built of
a cream.colored sandstone called
Cmn stone.
The best view of the Abbey
externally is from the open space
lin front of the western entrance.
and entering here. the body Of
the church presents a grand ap''
| impressive appearance the Whole
design being at once opened q
the view; its lofty roof. beautiful.
lily colored lights. and long
arcades of columns. The pres
emit church is not the work of
one generation, but of i've centu-
ries. In the year 147s Edward
~. wrote to the Pope. in which
letter he speaks of the Abbey as
placed before the eyes Of the
whole world of Englishmen. Z
and to which any favor shown
would be welcome to allof Eng
lish blood. The interest so
widely felt in this venerable
church has existed throughout
generations. Great victories
won by English armies have
been celebrated by professions
and TIE Deums beneath its roof
The Chapter House of the
Abbey where Parliament fire.
quently assembled for three cen
turtles, may wellbe called the era.
die of Parliamentary government
of England and her colonies.
Through many centuries this
stately edifice has been the scene
OF coronations, royal marriages
and funerals. The principal
points of interest are the Nave.
Henry VIII. Chapel. the Con
tessor's Chapel, Poets Corner.
and the Jerusalem Chamber.
Henry VII. erected his chapel
as a place of burial for himself
and the sovereigns of England.
1t is even yet, through frayed
and dimmed by time, one ofthe
most exquisite specimens of aorid
Gothic architecture. Its walls
are covered with a lacelike pat
tern, and every part is enriched
with a minute tracery and hund
reds of roses, portcullises, fieurl
de.lis, lions, dragons and grey
hounds, emblems of the royal
families represented. The win
dows are filled with painted glass
and the light which streams
through them is tinged with a
glow of warm colors that heigh-
ten the effect of the scene. Henry
VII. was buried here on the iioth
of May, 1903, in a gorgeous shrine
inlaid with gold and silver Hut
the rude soldiery of the civil MAR
stripped OFF the gold and silver
y :. a t....4Jl. 81 =.