The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1903-07-24
MILANs TWO PICTURES.


DEAR News -
Most Italian cities have one or
two objects of interest which sur
pass all the rest. In Rome, 1t is
st. Peters in Naples, the museum,
with its unique collection Of relics
from the ruins OF Pompeii; in
Florence, Giotto's town; in Venice,
st. Marks; in Milan, the Cathed
ral-yes, and Leonardo da Vince's
Last Supper. The one is picture
in marble, the other picture In
color; the one is sublime express
sion OF the blended brilliance OF
many architects, the other is an
immortal conception OF one OF the
worlds master painters; the one
pierces the skies with its flashing
pinnacles, the other exalts the soul
with its wordless eloquence; the
one is dedicated TO woman, the
other commentaries a tremendous
scene in the earthly life of the Son
of God; the one is grand, the other
glorlous-both wonderful
| Milan's cathedral is beautiful
enough to have dropped from the
skies. That was my impression ut
first sight, ] never dreamed that
such building could rise up from
the earth. There is a fresh and
airy elegance about it which seems
to say, "Good morning. have
just stepped down from the skies,
where angels sculptured me. Take
a good look, for am liable to van
lsh any moment"
] Well, l took a good look, and will
continue 10 look forever. 1t is one
of these scenes which the soul lit
orally absorbs-a picture which
memory photographs for all time
How this dazzling reality forces
one into realms OF fancy and then
! back again into realms OF reality
| found myself, amidst the confu'
sion OF mingled emotion, seeking re-
fuge in contrasts. thought OF win
dow panes-those fond receptions
, OF our childhood-when the frost
L king has etched his silver pima
Giles. / thought OF Southern skies
/ run rosy and golden by streams Of
color seen only at sunset, in tn,
= midst OF which float fairy islands
= crowned with towers OF trembling
: sapphire. | thought Of Lake lie
man-easily mistaken for silve
dimple set in the cheek OF God
when at evening its dreamy bosom
3 catches the lances OF the dyinl
! sun, hurled over the giant shout
. ders Of Mont Blanc-every lance
. fallen column OF splendor stretch
I ing across this "mirror OF al
3 beauty" | thought of Venice
the Adriatic Venus rising from tn
u foam-when the tender Italian
:. moonshlne sleeps her palaces ant
y towers in unearthly glory.
> thought OF Naples, trying like
. coy maiden to dip her feet into he
y stored bay, but when caught ii
. the mellow twilight sitting dow
u from the mount Of Virgil's toni
u saucily says, 81 know Pm tn
y queen OF EARTH" / thought Of tn
Il Pantheon-"simple, erect, severe
10 august, sublime"-grand enough t
u be chosen by Raphael for his ow,
u tomb. / thought OF our own Con
% gressional Library, into which tn
i accum ulatcd treasures OF all al
. seem TO have drifted, the roya
u crown of the most royal capital Q
u the most royal country on tn
T, globe! These and many NOR
y were suggested as | walked abou
Il Mllan's cathedral, which has bee
!. building for over five centuries
u and is not yet finished.
. Here are just a few details-I re
u frain from entering largely into
u field which has inspired volumes
/ The building is of white marbl
a and covers an area of 100000 squar
u feet; the inside is 4S5 feet long
. the transept, 2S8; height OF facad,
= 1888; height from floor to the top 9
!. the statue OF Saint Mary-to whor
Il the cathedral is dedicated-356
. the five aisles are l91 feet broad
u there are 700 statues IN the interior
u 1000 OH the exterior, and room 70
> 1900 more.
y On entering the building,
. thought had suddenly steppe
into all out-of-doors with fenc
around 1t. The guide said ther
was room for thirty thousand pc,
pie. Had he said thirty million,
:, could have believed him. Jus
now the walls are being cleanse
of dust, for the first time In tweni
- years. 1t is no small undertaking
| was anxious to see how large