Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-30

French. after two months siege. May IT.
1853 and taken away from them by the re-
publicans. April .. 1867. This last success
full charge was made by the intrepid Diaz.
then a general in the army that fought
against the French Intervention. He held
the southern states of Oaxaca and Guerrero
for the republicans when all the rest of the
country, except the extreme northern por-
ton. was under imperial control. and finally
recaptured the forts and made prisoners
the entire French garrison of Puebla.
This city leads all others in Mexico in the
matter of churches; even those of the City
of Mexico are not so notable. The cathe-
dral in the nations capital is one of the
largest In the world and beautiful archi-
tectural pile. but its interior Is not equal in
the general magnificence Of its appoint
ments and artistic effect to that of the ca
thedral In Puebla, which is second in size
among the many grand churches Of Mexico.
The cornerstone was laid in 1886. but the
building was not completed until $50 years
later. though it was consecrated in 1919. 1t
Is a massive structure of dark stone with
heavy buttresSes, 323 feet long and 1O1 feet
wide with an interior height of so feet
The floor Is laid in colored marbles, the
great aisles are divided by stone columns,
and on either side are elegant chapels, sep
arated from the nave by gilded gratings Of
wrought iron. the work of a master hand,
as is the swinging iron grating by which
the choir is inclosed. The choir occupies
the center of the nave. after the style of
the cathedral in Mexico City-a style which
Injuries the general effect. The high altar
cost over $4,000 it was the work of Man.
uel Tolsa, a Spanish architect. who came
over to take charge of the highest depart
ments In the School of Fine Arts, at the
capital He began the designs in 17S9 and
completed them in 1919. The altar is COM
posed of onyx and other fine marbles in
great variety. Beneath is a crypt of onyx,
where lie the bones of the bishops of the
church. The doors of the cathedral are in
superb marquetry work and the cases of
the organs of richly carved native
woods. The numerous side affairs are elab-
orately equipped. and the pulpits are of the
beautiful ONYX that is quarred near Puebla
The walls and noble dome are hung with
paintings, and frescoed and of the
pictures would excite admiration in any of
the art galleries of the world. Artists have
pronounced the chapter room fitting for
Italys noblest piles, with its French tap
estry, table large enough for conference
of bishops. made of a single slab of onyx
and thirty-two old Spanish chairs, present
ed by Charles v. In the sacristy are more
onyx tables, fine paintings and carved set
of drawers of dark wood for the vestments
of the church The cathedral stands on the
south side of the Plaza Mayor. on a stone
terrace and is surrounded by an iron rail-
ing that was finished few years ago. as
a memorial to Pope Plus TX. The details
of the railing possess great significance.
| On 1t are disposed statues of the twelve
! apostles, with pilasters between them rep
resenting the doctors of the church, and
| the special hereses over which they had
| prevailed. There are also croziers denot-
ing the apostolic Jurisdiction: and the arms
| of the republic. Angels crown the pillars
| for the belief Is firm that the city ofPueb-
/ la is directly under angelic protection, and
! has the right to it by virtue of her full
| name. On the principal gates are basso-
relieves representing the founding of Pueb-
1 la, the laying of the first stone of the
| cathedral, Its conservation. etc, with the
statues of Charity and Hope above all
| Such work IS fraught with meaning and
dear to the heart of all the simple devotees
| who are called to worship by the bells
| green with the mold of centuries that hang
| In the great towers There are eighteen
| bells. one of which weighs nearly 90 900
| pounds.