The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-12-29

of a tradition living down through our days.
The story of the ''StOne OF Some" in the
Coronation Chair il one sucii tale. Imhedded
in the oak Of this chair, wherein have lseen
crowned Engiand's morarchs since the days
of Edward l.. IL this stone, which tradition
savs is tue very same one that Jacob laid
his head upon when he dreamed his fair
dream. It's presence in Scot and is ac-
counted for by many journeys.
From Bethel the sons "f Jacob carried it to
Egypt: from Egypt. after playing an i'm
poriant part in the history of one Galheius
AID Scotia. his wife and a daughter OF Pharaoh.
In SiHin about the stone was built the city
of Brigantia. and GatAelus, seated upon the
stone, administered law and iustire to the
people. In the years after. a son of a King
In Spain carried it away to Ireland. Some
$40 years before Christ, Scpi, founder of
the Scottish monarchy, took it to Scotland,
and finally il was rested in Seone and en-
clio ell IN chair of wood.
This Was in 40, and from then on the
Scottish Kings were crowned over the stone
until the end of the 18th century. when
Edward /. of England, after defeating the
Scotch. had himself crowned King OF their
land on The sacred stone He carried it off
to his own country to add dignity to the
and to convince the Scots, who had great
reverence for the Ia isman that The English
King Was their true monarch, having the
sanction of their stone on which jacobs
head once rested as he dreamed his dream OF
beauty.
Ever since the time of Edward / all the |
Kings of England have been crowned over |
the stone, and even Cromwell valued il |
enough 10 Order it 10 DC carried To West |
minister Hall To assist III making good his |
title, " Lo.d Protector" Queen Victoria |
was CROWDED here and probably "a long as
time is the stone Will have its history told |
even Though geo.ogiSts declare IL TO be ordi-
nary Scottish sandstone.
Henry Wis Chapel viii give something
Of an !dea OF now iliey builded in those days,
and how coniprehensIyeiy they called upon
Heaven TO protect them. The Chapel was
built for prayer and for a chantry wherein |
monks should sing as long as the world shall |
endure. The Chafei contains fst Of all an |
image Of the Vir.in, to whom it is dedicated, |
Tor she Is the refuge OF the weary and penl- |
tent. Then Peter and Paul, with hosts of
angels and archanselS. martyrs, COME sors. |
SAINTS, virgins, and other glorious ones are |
represented in the carvings round about |
Then min special saints are given shrine and |
lmi,loFed TO keep HIM from the Vaccinations |
OF all damnal,!e spirits aud to intercede with /
God for his soul. Every possible sign OF his |
royalty adorns the gates-fieur-de-li the |
portcullis and crown, the falcon and fetier- |
lock, the Scottish thistle and crown the |
in.ertwined roses Of York and Lancaster, and |
lastly his own proud initiais-H. r.
Epitaphs here are very curious. One TO a |
man who SAW the reign of 10 princes and |
died at the age OF l52 years is particularly |
astonishing. All sorts of queer epitaplls TO |
royal babies abOnnd, and one that marks the !
grave OF a vile reads
He that viii my Grace bat what is hcrs
Must say her deatH has NOS
Nude onIy h-r dear Scott,
BaL Virtue, - orth and Sweetness, " iddowers" |
The poet Gay has an inscription by him
self
Life is Jest and all things show r.;
thought SO once and now i know 4"
There are some beautiful bits of sculptur-
ing among tie many monuments. and many
that are very wearying-innumerab Nep-
tunes and disconsolatc Histories mourning the
death oil some statesman or another; Griets
everywhere with bowed heads, Neptunes
riding the waves to acknowledge some naval
hero, Navigations bewailing the death OF
Captains, Brittanias without number, and
flames lifting laurel wreaths
ELSIE POMEKOY MCELROY