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

/ phere, the beauty and grandeur of II
All ~ the soul. one marvcls and
:, This mighty pile was four centuries
i IN Dni'd ,n 1t was the successor OF
fourth century. Begun in the eleventh
century. this structure represents ar
e si,ii., Of the eleventh. twelfth.
centuries. nits exterior. built into
the southwest corner. is Il huge boulder.
4 waterwo block of red granite
From whence II came when IL was
placed there no one knows II seems
uhdlsputcd that the stone IS n menhir.
me pagan priests OF ancient Gaul as
Occur dc Lion nF Was chr e lasher TS Hs
Dody or richards Queen is buried
mere. Her sarcophagus lies in tho
size, sculptured upon il, Just of the
m ,,,, transept. in the chapel Of the
os small fonts; is the tomb Of Charles
I'm the fifteenth century. His sculp-
imreh hsure. IN armor. lies upon il.
lain, Bishop OF lie Mans in the early
n 1,t, IN century, Cardinal Fillas,re.
and his wife. folandc d'AraKon. In
the south transcpt Is the big organ.
built there between 1878 and i5s5.
carved. The cathedral still bears
marks or it's sack by the Huguenots
ii9sa '''2 ana by the Fevolu''onis's in
Tho passing centuries make their
non,riouf Ut m,s TO these mighty monu-
piles represent the labors of indl-
viduals: their prayers, their spiritual
m ,nI,nT,, ,s They represen, the com
oppression also plays it's part The
spirit. the ambitions. the cravings. the
supcrstitions. the lonEinss OF a people
These cathedruIs are history in
s she so nn" Of art r,n In them one sees
nobility. generosity. grandeur, gro
tesqucncas are found together. Sculp-
,nrcd saints horned demons. hideous
EarEoyleS minSlc in queer dcmoc-
racF. All arc in perfect harmony.
Though the minds that wrought their
dreams and fancics in stone in glass
IN wood and on canvas were centuries
apart. yet there ~ no jarring note nor
disGord In the riot OF imagery. sym
bo!ism. fancy, spiritual aspira ton OF
varying periods there is 4 marvellous
unity Of soul
The silent worshlpcrs who came and
~ before Their saints and symbols
ana hnc"linE at the affairs. even ar
going. bowling, and knecline in this
same temple for nine centuries and
for seven centuries In tho temples
whole. They link the prcsen, with
the past. The keeper OF the tower.
the bcggar at tho door, the elderly wo-
tomb OF Bcrcngcrc. seeking contribu-
tons for a memorial 10 Joan of Arc.
the artists craving and painting In
the aislcs. the children in the south
porta asking for pennies. all are in
texral parts Of Saint Juiien's They
VIII pass on and out Their children
ANA their chiidrcn's children will fol-
low in the same ways. Old orders will
change giving place to new New.
systems Will prevail for a while. only
TO be succeeded by others. But Saint
Julicns viii remain unchanged.
That ground is too valuable for
hotels. apartments. stores and ware
houses. Even TO the cathedral walls
may flow the tides of commerce.
iiither they may come. but no further.
Saint Julicn's Will never become a
.downtown church Like Gibraltar.
that mighty temple stands, and will
continue TO stand. ancient yet mod
ern. apart from life and tho busting
Ways OF the world. yet belonging
strangely and vitality to them "a land
mark. hut something more---an ;nsti-
tuition. history, living. breathing
soul.
Intensely human are these lcvia-
thans OF architecture, gray and stained
and weathcr-b beaten with the storms
OF centuries. What secrets they con-
tain. How wise they are! And how
eloquent.