Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-02-09
Commenced in ITO Belief in
Prediction Prevents ii From
Being Finished.
ROTTEN FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
Belief is That If ii Were Completed
Tho Romanons VIII Fail--A
Remarkable Condition.
Special Correspondence.

RPNeAHA vi tSIpIiutHce.
c T. PETERSBURG. Feb. Tho
Romanoffs win fall when 81.
~ Isaacs stands complete" So says
Russian superstition when ST.
Pctersburgs wonderful cathedral in
mentioned, How the saying originated
is not clear: but since church scandals
have become public property. people
show n new interest IN the old saving
and some add when the Romanoffs
fall. the priesthood will fail, and a good
thing for Russia" Only the priests do
care. for they know that st. Isaac's
never will be finished because the pro-
ccsses of decay more than keep pace
with the progress of repairs, on which
workmen are continually engaged. At
t-ntion has recently been called anew
to the old prophecy by the employment
OF an unusually large batch of laborers
on the cathedral.
If ever tempe We're symbolistic, the
cathedral of st. Isaac's is. for never
tcfore has such n mixture of magnifl-
cence and decay of richness and rot
tenness. of mans endeavor and natures
undoing, been seen.
BEGUN IN ITO
Begun by Catherine II in f770 and
modelled after the Pantheon In Rome.
1t Is one OF the largest churches in the
world and holds more jewels than are
possessed by the richest of European
monarchs. The outer walls are built of
Finland granite and marble-solid
blocks. rs they came out Of tho quar-
REG. Inside. they are covered with
sheets of silver and gold and bronze.
studded with pearls. rubies and pre-
cious stones TOO numerous 10 name.
many OF which have been dug from
Siberian mines by the czar's white
slaves. whose only crime was a de-
termination TO speak the truth.
GIANT PILLARS.
The giant pillars which support the
huge central dome. with its golden roof,
are OF marble, agate and malachite
Gold Is laid upon silver. ivory upon
bronze ana gems on them. The ikons
or pictures OF saints, arc studded with
stones that would mako Russin's starry
iug masses rich. In grandeur. ST.
ISaac's vies with its rival. the Church
OF our Lady of lSazan, whore the jewels
that adorn ono lkon alone are worth up
prlests) with their flowing locks and
well Trained voices ana covered from
head to foot in cloth NJ gold and silver.
bear fortunes on their backs; and tho
very bells. huge. deep, sonorous call
INC faithful Ia mayer with tongues that
are silver ln substance M well as sound.
A. first the eyes nrc daazled with
% much bnrbnHc Fplondor and the
heart awed by The riahnoss OF tho rit-
ual. II seems az IT "a faith that cen
givr such offerings must be strong and
vigorous indeed, But when tho matcb-
lees music % the choir, the chanting
NJ me pouP, and TIE f'u'rs ~ the ~
causc cease 10 oyerpower the senses.
diseuchantment comes, one seaH thst
IL "a an O hollow mooRrry, q icwoll9G
corpse laid ont In state.
STRUCTURE is ROTTEN.
81. Isaau's is rotten. The lkons VITA
their jewels and tho hear golden can
dlegtlCkR stand aNrVi iho golden port
ais that cut or tic sanctuary from tho
common GnEe hayl drOppod, and VIII
not close; the pillars OF gate and mails
Chite ana marble arc Insured and
cracked from TOP To bottom. The waltz.
marble ana granite though they be, ara
bent and bulged In All dhoctonsi tho
iloor II aunken and uneven undar tho
priceless Persian rugs, ald the lamps
that Mold the snorcd OH nang crooked
from . totterin6 roof, No, a. lsaac's
will never b. iuishc1; It Il built on q
bog ana year by yea" aud say hy day
work has to DO doae over ana over
lcontlnusa on page tourteen.)