The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

A SABBATH IN COLOOXR. 467own countrymen, who wore cheapening fruit in the market,while their servants followed, bearing bottles of lihenishwine,—an excursion to the country being plainly meditated.We went to the cathedral, or Great Dom, that we mightsee what kind of instruction it is that Popery provides forher people on the Sabbath. This temple, the sublimestnorth of the Alps, and, were itfinished, the noblest Gothicstructure in the world, would contain within its vast limitsthe population of a city. At the great western gate wefound a great crowd : some were thronging in, others wereleaving the edifice ; and the low murmur of the multitudemingled hoarsely with the grand music which came in overpoweringbursts from the interior of the vast edifice. Wepassed on through its aisles, its nave, and its arches, and atlast reached the choir. For beauty, and elegance, andgrandeur, it appeared a splendid vision rather than a reality.It was a mighty temple in itself, railed off by richly-carvedscreens and tall graceful pillars, from the yet greater templewhich enclosed it. Around the choir was gathered a motleyassemblage. of worshippers and gazers, of all ranks andof all countries. The gates of the choir were guarded byportly officials in scarlet dresses, bearing in their hands thesymbols of office,—long staves surmounted by little chapletsof silver. Within the choir, at one end, was the highaltar, on which were enormous lighted tapers, a crucifix,and an illuminated mass-book ; while the archbishop, inthe splendour of cope and scarlet tunic, was saying mass.Numerous priests in gorgeous vestments were assisting.Boys in scarlet dresses, with silver censers, were wavingincense. In the other end of the choir, opposite the highaltar, was a gallery filled with choristers, consisting of aboutfour hundred of the elite of the youth of Cologne, who sungsome of the finest pieces of the great masters. The musicrolled on without pause : now it seemed to retreat into theremotest part of the edifice, and now it came forward in anoble burst, and rolled a magnificent volume of rich melodyalong the aisles and roof of the mighty Dom. It was a grand