The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-24

5000
and statesman. As his tomb sets forth.
the title OF Tertius Rex, Third King OF
Spain" from the degree in which he shared
the sovereignty with Ferdinand and Isa-
bella. Cardinal Ximenes, too-the great
preIate who was once the obscure Fran
ciscan friar. occupies a splendid niche,
above viii n hangs his scarlet silken hat,
covered with the accumulated dust of three
hundred and fifty years.
OTHER FAMOUS TOMBS.
Every Spanish cathedral is a kind of
Westminster Abbey, and this of Toledo
is particularly rich in famous tombs. Each
of its twenty chapels-hfty-six feet long
by fifty wide. 116 feet high and in form
like the cathedral itself-is as large as
many churches; each contains its illustrious
dead, amid paintings by the old masters
and war-worn trophies of SPANS proud
est triumphs. On the altar Of one Of them
lies the sword OF Alfonso VI, conqueror of
Toledo; over another stands the cruciix,
which was raised upon the walls of the
AInambra. Side by side, in the beautiful
Capilla Mayor. hang the banners taken in
the victory of Las Navas de Tolosa, which
forever broke the Moslem power. and the
STANDARD borne by the royal gallery at the
battle Of Lepanto.
One of the most interesting chapels is
that OF San ndefonso. founded by Alfonso
Wits fighting primate away back in earli-
est times, and much improved by Gil de
AIbornoz. who was buried within Ii in the
year 1890. The saint was born in Toledo,
and was a famous advocate of the doctrine
of the Immaculate Conception. twelve CEN
turtles before 1t was proclaimed by Pius TX.
Tradition tells US that the Virgin, in graft
tude to Saint ndefonso, once came down
from heaven and sat in his seat in the ca
thedral: and again she appeared in the
same place, and put the cassock on his
shoulders. OF course. this holy garment is
preserved in the chapel. St. udefonso be-
came primate of Toledo. where he died in
the year SIT, and was buried at the feet of
Santa Leocadia. During the Moorish inva-
sion his body was carried of, together with
that of Leocadia, and was lost Cor more
than six hundred years, until, in tire year
120, a Toledon shepherd, caught In the ca
thedral at Zamora and suspected Of being
a thief, replied: II was led here by San
Ildefonso, who appeared in person, walked
before me to this spot, and then vanished
Thereupon Alphonso VIII had the place
dug, a body was found, and a chapel built
over it. wherein astonishing miracles were
performed.
SHRINE TO THE VIRGIN.
AS Zaragoza claimed the primacy of Ara
gon because the Virgin appeared there to
Santiago. so Toledo owes it's elevation in
CASTLE to her visits to San I~ldefonso. Ac-
cordingly Cardinal Royas erected a shrine
over the spot where she stood-a lofty
49, ornf1foor -fTa - 49,, GotH;o -ro-1- -
~ carved with bas reliefs representing de-
tails Of the story. The very slab of red
jasper on which the Virgin stood is here
preserved. rallied of and inscribed.
"~Adorabimus IN loco ubi steterunt pedes
ejus," and the multitude nave worn the
stone away with their kisses. The Vir-
gins wardrobe, which one may inspect by
raging a small sum. is a sight indeed. Her
mantle Of silver and gold cloth is en-
broidered with $1,000 real pearls besides
multitudes Of diamonds, emeralds and
rubies. There are countless robes of
various colors OF rich patterns of en-
broidery given by kings and queens, popes,
arcbbishops and wealthy ladies. Her
crown without its jewels cost $4,000, and
her bracelets, brooches and other jewelry
are worth the ransom of several kings In
Spain the worship Of the Virgin is some.
thing like that paid to an earthly queen
and assumes an oddly practical character.
She has always a royal crown, a household
formed OF the greatest ladies of the land
who provide for her wardrobe, her
fetes and professions, and she has also
considerable landed estates left to her In
legacies. from which a sacred revenue is
derived.
The great queen OF this cathedral is
carved Of black wood and is seated on a
silver throne, under a siIver-gilt canopy,
supported by alabaster pillars. In the year
III II was saved from the infdels by an
Engiishman, who hid it in a vault. where
IL remained until after the %reconquest of
Toledo. Her famous clock was made In
165 and in 1t the following materials were
employed: 25 ounces OF pearls, various
sizes; 800 ounces of gold thread, $50 ounces
OF small pieces of enameled gold and 200
ounces Of emeralds and other precious
stones 1t is a marvel of the jewelers. art.
the materials entirely concealed by precious
stones, white, black and pink pearls. and
gems Of every color and purest water,
wrought into leaves, roses, feurs-de-lis.
stars, crosses and crescents.
STRANGE MORTUARY DEVICES.
Queerest OF all the chaDeis is that built
py Avero de Luna, constable of CASTLE.
Grand Master Of the Order OF Santiago.
and prime minister of John II. whose
mind and counsels he completely ruled for
nearly forty years. He lived in royal state.
and when he rode out was followed by
thirty knights. and he held three thousand
iances in his pay. His interference brought
about a marriage between his king and
isabella OF Portugal. who became his Bit
terest enemy, and whose ascendency over
her husband was finally the cause of his
ruin. He was executed, on a trumped-up
charge Of high treason, in the plaza of
Valladolid, his last words being: And this
Is the reward of faithful service to nv
king" During his lifetime he had pre-
pared beautiful bronze tombs for himself
and his beloved wife. But when he was
disgraced his relentless master had them
broken I'D, and they were made into two
pulpits. which now stand at the entrances
20 the Capilla Mayor. The existing sepul-
chres Of aIabaster, rich but much defaced.
are due TO the fliaI piety of his daughter
Maria The original tombs had on ton