El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-13
= rAsHINGTON, D. q. al. =

w TAsHINGTON. D. C., Feb. 10
M The outlying defensive works
of Metz (the most strongly
fortified town in the world. if Paris
be excepted have been under lombard
ment by French guns for some weeks
past Before very long, II the war takes
its expected course, the allies will lay
formal siege to that city and to Strass-
burg.
IT is safe 20 assume that they will
take all possible care not to injur0 the
famous cathedrals; for in case Of ult-
mate victory for the allied arms. both
Strassburg. and Metz viii once more
become French towns the cathedrals
in question returning to their former
owners.
burg cathedral was rather badly dam
aged. The French established a mill
tary signalling station in the I'M
mediate vicinity, which drew the shell
fire Of the Prussians- As q result, the
ma gniflCent spire was torn from top
TO bottom, and one projectle, grazing
the cross at the top, bent it sidewise-
This happened on the "a the day Of
August
Gernmns Repair Damage.
No sooner was the war at an end,
however. than the Germans set about
the business of repairing the damage
thus inflicted The task Oc-
completed until 1850. Traces of
the mischief wrought are even today
not entirely Obliterated, inasmuch as
the new stones inserted are Of a bright
Or color than the rest of the structure.
1t is an interesting fact that this
celebrated cathedral occupies the site
OF an ancient heather temple dedicated
to Hercules. Indeed, the image Of
the god is known to have been pre-
served within its walls, as an historic
memorial up to the year 1865, when It
disappeared-juSt how is not satisfac-
tOrily explained. The heather temple
was demolished in the fourth century
A. D.
Formerly Yves OF Wood.
The Christian fame that took its place
was of wood in the seventh century;
later it was of stone. It was partly or
wholly burned half-dozen times (de-
stroyed by lightning in 1O02,) and as
often rebuilt. As it stands today, it
was completed in 1893; but the oldest
portion dates from the beginning of
the eleventh century. It is considered
the nobleEt creation Of ecclesiastical
architecture in Germany, its only rival
in that country being the equally IA
nous CATHEDRAL of Cologne.
The latter, however, is mainly Of
modern construction Only a fragment
of the ancient edifiCe was standing a
century ago. But, by extraordinary
luck. the original plan of the building
was discovered, and it was completely
restored in a uniform Gothic style by
clever architects.
On the other hand, the Strassburg
cathedral was a completed work 500
years ago. III its various parts, harmon
iOusly related, Il represents every
epoch OF medieval architecture, from
early Roman to latest Gothic Its ma
terial is red sandstone, Of a beautiful
dark. warm tint, from a quarry in the
mountains Of the VOsges. The stone is OF
very fine grain, and, instead of suf-
fering disintegration, becomes so hard
with exposure as TO preserve with a
surprising freshness the most delicate
and elaborate sculptures.
Wonderful Clock.
The astronomical clock which adorns
this cathedral is the most celebrated
timepiece in the world 1t dates back
10 1852, and originally was graced with
statues Of the three Wise Men and the
Virgin in wood. together with cock
At the stroke Of every hour the Wise
Men bowed before the Virgin" and
the cock crowed and tapped his wins