Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-19

- haTe Just returned from a visit
Saint n am99s i eaihedTnI Of Era M ~,
leading cathedrals OF France and the
most unique OF them ALL
IL was not my first visit mad been
thcrc several times before, but only
for !. very short while each time. This
Quuinted with it. one cannot grasp
the wonder OF it in "A few brief visits
one must needs linger there loiter
atmosphere
The exterior view OF Saint Juliens
is most imposing. The lofty pile
crowns the summit of hill command
ing the city Of lie Mans The hill is tho
ancient metropolis. II is Il natural
fortifcation. The soldiers Of Rome
Parts Of the old Roman wall arc still
there.
dominates the city. From every .direc-
ton il can be seen. For five kilome
ters outside tho city it is Il landmarks.
mcnsity. Its great bulk. sustained by
its flying buttrcsscs, looms majestic
ally before the vision.
is magnificent. For seven or eight
kilomctcrs outside the city. perhaps
amrihS no Inc "GsGTsEr po hiis 'hH einE
yer ribbons the Rivers Sarthe and
Iiuisnc CLEAN in the sunlight. Little
farms appear like patches on the land
scapc. Orchards are dotted here and
there. Smoke from railway engines is
seen in puffs and rolling clouds.
more than 10000 roofs in full view.
one sees it's boulevards, avenues,
squares. gardens and bridges. Males
Tic cathedral churches tower above the
houses. but none compares with Saint
Julicn's. Immediately below and about
the cathedral lies tho ancient city.
paved with cobblc stones. Hero Is the
house Of Queen Berengerc. the widow
Place du Chatcau). a splendid spcci-
men OF sixteenth century architecture.
sheltered King Louis NJ. in 1867. Here
is. in part, the ancient palace of the
Counts OF Maine. in which was ccie-
ter OF Henry l. OF England. to Godfrey
PlantaEenet. Their son. born in this
house and chris,ened in Saint Julieu's
land and father OF Richard the Lion
Hera;ed and King John, Of Magma
Charta fame Here is the house of
,housc of the Red Pillar). where tho
public cNccutioner lived: tho house Of
century built on tho foundations OF
:, twelfth century house. On these
houses are sce:n some OF tho red tiled
yellow lichcns. For
"Bourgcs, Autun. lie Mans. avec Linn
OuS'S,
Furcnt jadis les quatre villes rougcs."
"BourEcs. Autun., lie Mans. Limouges.
arc told.
Were known as the four rcd towns
in days OF old"
The interior OF tho cathedral IS as
impressive as it's exterior Reduced
TO figures. for the sake OF hard details.
the nave tto the Cross-aislc Of the
transepD measures $50 feet long. IS
feet wide and IS feet high. The tran
sept is ia feet long. The choir is
ia feet long and Ill feet high There
are thirteen chapcls. Eleven OF these
are % feet deep by 16 12 feet wide.
The chapel Of the ansis Is 50 feet long.
TIN chapel Of the rcstry is 81 feet deep
and 33 feet wide
Figures. however. cannot convey the
Impressions made by this imposing in
terror. Standing within the west por-
tai. with stained glass windows OF the
eleventh and twelfth centuries on each
side tamonG, the Oldest. windows in
France. looking toward that ccle-
brated Gothic choir tone Of the most
wonderful In Europe). behold!nS those
chapcls. those pointed arches with
their graceful lines. that forest OF
columns with their varied capitals:
gazing upward TO the majestic vaul;cd
ceiling, letting the inmenalty, the
antiquity. the sentiment, the atmos-