The Meeker herald., 1905-02-18

scarcely anything in the deep dark.
ness. Then you are At length able to
make out the existence Of . massive
column in the center Of the building.
which happens to be circular. and
from this column there spring num-
bef Of vaulting ribs, which after
while you begin to realize are very
beautiful.
Then you notice that in this massive
central pillar and also in the walls Of
the crypt there are number of curl
ous square holes. There ID authentic
evidence to show that the resalia and
crown jewels were kept In this strong
room once upon . time. and It sup
posed that the holes were utilized for
storing money.
b this - II may. burglary took
place hers IN the reign Of Edward !.
No end Of treasure was surreptitious-
ly made away with BY certain mem.
bers Of the monastic body. The heavy
hand a 'the greatest OF the Planta-
genets" fell upon the abbot and monks
alike. with the result that no less than
forty-eight Of them were arrested and
confined on suspicion In the Tower Of
London.
Tho crypt ceases to have any special
history after that. 1t Ii . great curl
osity among the other wonders OF the
abbey. but It IL many generations since
1t has been employed for any specific
purpose.
On the Abssy's Reel.
Let Us proceed BY an extremely
abrupt transition from the cellar of the
abbey to the roof A visit to the tri.
forum Of the abbey is = revelation.
Until you get to the top Of the long
night Of stairs which leads to this
great gallery running practically ali
around the building. 1t Is impossible
for you to have An adequate concep-
tion Of the immense size of the church
When you are once safely in the trt-
forum you ind yourself In = gallery
the breadth Of which IN not much less
than that Of many . street.
Immediately below the triforium Ii
of the cloisters il one Of the most in.
teresting rooms In the abbey. and, In
deed, In all London. It II known ~
the imminent room, and was original.
ly the scriptorium Of the monks. II
opens on to the abbey through the
lofty arches OF the south transept and
for centuries past It has been the most
tealously guarded place in the entire
fabric.
Here IL kept, roll after roll. consist
ing Of priceless charters and other rec
ords. What the actual number Of
these documents 10 probably NO one
really knows: but their historical
value and interest II great. Some
time ago DR.. Scott. chief Of the manu-
script department In the British muse
UNI. told the writer that there was
scarcely single great name in Eng
fish history which he had not come
across In these rolls. They date from
the eighteenth century down to the
present time. and they have mot been
classined.
In the Dsansry.
OF course, by far the most interest
ing Of the various building contiguous
to the abbey church II the deanery, q
house which will be long associated
with the name Of Dean Stanley. Into
its more private recesses We do not
propose to enter. but there are num-
Der Of state apartments belonging to
the deanefy which are shown from
time to time to privileged few.
II must Be remembered that the ab-
bot Of Westminstor in olden times was
very important personage indeed,
and that he had seat In the house Of
lords and was expected to do . great
amount Of entertaining In his own
home. Thir, :hen the abbots place
or palace, has now become the dean
~. and . very brief study a abbSy