Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-11

grand master was built, spacious hos
pitfalls. a public library and numerous
churches were founded. and each grand
master endeavored to surpass his prede-
cessor in constructing new Notifications
or in increasing the strength Of those
already built.
The most striking ornaments of Malta
are the auberees or palaces of the
knights of Malta. In ancient times the
order was composed OF different European
nations distributed according to Ian
guages. and eight languages at that time
constituted the order. Each of these
languages had its special palace or au-
berse. The auberges of Provence and
Auvergne (French) are situated on Strada
Reale: those of Arragon and Germany on
Strada Ponente; that of Anglo Bavaria
at thebottom of Strada Ponente on the
sea wall: that of Italy in Strada Mer-
can't and those Of France and Spain in
Strada MaZzodi Many of these palaces
are remarkable for their magnificence
and for the extreme beauty of their archi-
lecture: that of Provence for its chaste
and elegant style and that of Spain for
its imposing effect and elaborate orna-
ments.
Next in order of interest is the cathe-
the patron OF the order. This building
interior affords rich field for the study
of the art and taste of the sixteenth
and seventeenth centuries The cathe-
dral was built by the Grand Master John
de Ia Cassiere. The foo- is a mosaic
pavement, chiefly composed of the sepu-
chral monuments OF the knights. whose
efIiges in full costume are represented In
white marble. The principal picture in
the church is a magnificent painting of
the beheading of ST John, by Caravaggio
.(Michelangelo AmerigD, and is justly
considered one of his finest works. The
space between the columns is filled up
with tapestry. representing tie life of
Christ. The vault of the nave is painted
with representation OF the history of
ST. John. by Coabrese Matthias PYeti.
TIE chapel of the Madonna in this Eathe-
dral is said to contain the keys OF the
gates Of Jerusalem, Acre ard Rhodes.
The railing in front of the chapel is of
solid silver. The numerous costly monu-
ments of the grand masters merit par
ticuler attention in bronze ant marble.
A crypt under the choir contains numer-
Gus 1onbs OF the knights. This Eathedral
was at one time celebrated Throughout
Europe for the richness of its treasury.
and Is by far the most interesting pace
in Malta
The palace of the grand masters. now
the residence Ct the British governor. is
hung tr Wth portraits IS of the kghts and
sensations Of their sea fghNs. by pupils
Of Giuseppe d. Arpinio .Ahong the many
curiosities in the armoE>o of this palace is
the entire suit OF th<>Grand Master Wig
nacourt. inlaid wifh gold, the same cos
tune being REPRESENTED in his portrait by
Caravaggio.
The Notifications Of Malta constitute q
singular monument of the wealth and
pride of the grand masters. each of whom
historians claim. endeavored to surpass
his predecessor by the buildings which
should bear his name. In many respects
the principal object sought that of
strength and efficiency. was overdcne The
bastions of the Notifications around Va
letta have now been converted by the
English into burial grounds.
The usual mode of travel in Malta Is !
either on horseback or in a carriage on |
two wheels peculiar to Malta. very clumsy |
in construction but not altogether dis !
aSreea BILE. The only apology offered by the !
natives for retaining such vehicles is that |
''if anything happens to go wrong every /
body knows how to set it right" The |
writer took one OF these rigs on a trip to |
Citta Vecchia. which is about the center
of Malta and on one of the highest points |
Of the island.
The cathedral at Citta Vecchia is the /
principal point Of attraction here. 1t
is said to have been built on the site Of
tie I-o,,Se Of PIlhIiuS the Roman gov