PART TWO. FHE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE PKGES 9-18.
T WKNT Y-SKCON1) YEA H. OMAHA , SUNDAY MORNING , lEQmiBER 25 , 1892-SIXTKKN PAGES. NUMBER 18.8
PA5AMA CANAl" ENTERPRISE
History of the Many Schemes to Unita the
Atlantic and Pacific. "
HOW WATERWAY WAS TO USURP RAILWAY
iiK thf Work of 1 > ltrliliig
tlin iKtliiinn-Commcrrlnl Oiuiflilriicn of
( Iio Witrlil llrlilnil I lie .Hrlirmp The
t'nl In pun-Con tract ore * .Stout * .
Tlio political disturbances that have been
wrought tin In the last few weeks in
Franco , anil which at tlm present moment
liave fomented Into such u white heat that
the very existence of the republic itself is
critical , are results that were not en
tirely unexpected by those who are familiar
with the history of the company of the Inter-
oceanic canal of Panama , mid cognizant of
the fact that a serutlnous Investigation was
inado last year Into the affairs of that com
pany.
The international Importance of the enter
prise , the prominence of the institutions and
persons Involved , and the enormous amount
of money to be accounted for , arc features of
the affair that have naturally created the
most intense interest in America as well as
In Europe , and have revived the arguments
regarding a ship canal across the American
Isthmus.
The project of such a canal across the
Isthmus which separates North and South
America is one that was favoranl.V discussed
as early as the sixteenth century , and the
money which has been expended since thai
time In Investigations and surveys of the
several suggested routes would probably
amount to a sunlclenl sum to build any one
of the proposed canals.
It was projected to plcrco the Isthmus of
Darien as early as lf > 20 , and IhuTohuantepeo
Isthmus has been the subject of much ex
ploration and discussion fnr2V ! ) years. As
a solution of the question one eminent
man , who had gained fiuno and prestige
tigo by the success of his engineer
ing accomplishments in this country ,
boldly suggested the transportation upon
wheels of deep sea vessels of the largest
size across the Isthmus of Tehuantepoe. The
renown ho had gained by bis successful
opening of the Mississippi river to deep sea
vessels secured to Captain Kails wide spread
attention and interest for his novel idea , but
his project was finally dropped In ISSt as Im
practicable , and on account of the appalling
cost of Its construction and maintenance. I
Long before tli Is time the quest ion of passen
ger transportation across the Isthmus had
been successfully solved by the construction
of n railroad across the Isthmus of Panama.
Stimulated by the sudden increase of traffic ,
caused by the California gold discoveries ,
the question of transportation across the
Panama isthmus ultimately took tangible
shape in 18-11) ) , when a company was organ
ized under the leadership of William II. As-
plnwall of Now Yorli , which commenced the
construction of a railway from Colon to Pan
ama. In spite of the almost insurmountable
difficulties the road was completed in Janu-
' ' a'ry , 18.V > , mid n bronze stiituo of Aspinwall
now stands at Colon , an appropriate tribute
to the chief projector for his untiring zeal
and energy.
energy.Tito
Tito I'anaiiui Hullrnail *
The Panama railroad is only forty-seven
miles in length , but it is undoubtedly one of
the most important highways in the world.
"Vyium one recollects the fact that the route
YlaPanaina shortens the distance by sea
from Europe and the Atlantic points of the
Americas to the Pacific slope and the Occi
dent moro than 10,000 miles , and then com
putes the vast volume of trafllc that is con
stantly passing between these points , ho will
attain some idea of the amount of business
that is done by the Panama Knilrond com
pany. In many places the road is con
structed over what seems to bo miles of al
most unfathomcd swamps , and the difllculty
that was encountered in securing suitable
labor at the tinio of the construction made'
thoi undertaking exceedingly hazardous.
The initial cost of the Panama road was
about 7,000,000 , but It is probable that a
great deal moro than this was spent by the
original company , and it is stated on good
authority that the whole enterprise was a
continued steal on the part of the contrac
tors. The original company failed before
the road was put into operation , and it is
said that at that time the property could
have been purchased for & ) .000,000. If the
Pacific Mall Steamship company , possessing
as it then did a fleet both on the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans , had availed itself of this
opportunity to become masters of this vast
iiiteroccanie highway they would have been
In a position to monopolize almost the entire
commerce of the Pacific seas. They failed
to purchase , however , and the entire prop
erty passed into the hands of a French com
pany to whom It has proven n veritable Ana
conda. It Is probable that no property In
the world has ever earned handsomer
increments than the Panama Railroad com
pany. From the tlmo of its comple
tion up to about three years ago every pass
enger that crossed tlm Isthmus of Panama
paid $ > f > ,00 In gold to the Panama Ituilroad
company. The freight rates were equally
exorbitant and for every ton of freight
transported across tlio Isthmus , for forty
years , the railroad company collected f Ifio.
Kvcry stockholder of the cnterprlso has
been made wealthy , and a position with the
Panama Railroad company Is one of the
fattest jobs that a railroad man can ask
for.
for.Tho
The annual government tax luvied on the
railroad by tlio Roimbllo of Colombia
amounts to & > ! H)00 ) , ( ) , ami of this amount tlm
state of Panama , through which the road
passes , received but $ J3,000 ,
Tint IMIlimtol Coat.
During the period of thu construction of
thu Panama railroad tlio Idea of a canal
across Iho American Isthmus had 'not been
lost sight of and another great man , ono of
the most Illustrious of thu century , who had
successfully Joined Iho waters of the Red
and Mediterranean scan , took up the project
of a sea level canal across the
Isthmus of Panama. In 1878 the Col
ombian government granted his French
company the exclusive right to construct the
canal between the two oceans In the terri
tory , and the Jlrst meeting of the now com
pany was held in INI , Thu capital neces
sary tin-ompleto the work was estimated at
& . ' 0,000,000 francs , or Sl''O.OOO.IHK ) , thu esti
mated cost of excavation being -IMUXKUXX )
ir.incsor&Kl.OOO.OOO. The eminent naiiio of
do Lcsseps hi connection with thu affair Im
bued the people of the financial world with
the utmost confidence in the cnterprisn , and
ptrainhtway hundreds of millions of money ,
amounting lo double thu amount originally
asked for by do lxsops was immediately
forthcoming.
Nearly every nation of Kuropo and Amer
ica 'commended the French engineer for his
'energy ' and enterprise , and the newspapers
of the world heralded broadcast the good
iiows that the long-tallted-of Panama canal
was soon to bo a reality. The expenditure
of such u vast amount of wealth in such a
binall space as the narrow Isthmus of Pan-
nma , naturally made Iho Isthmus the cynos
ure of nil the nations of the earth. Thou
sands of fortune hunters from every city and
country in the world hasten to Panama , all
eager to participate in the s | > oilsof the great
enterpr'so.
\Vhrn .Uluul Wnrlc
The date set for the actual commencement
of thu work was in the latter part of lfc > 8l ,
and in October of that year a French squad-
von , bearing do l.csscpu and a largo following
of distinguished citUcns of nil nations anch
ored in the harbor of Colon. It had been In
tended that do Ix-ssop should commence the
operations of the great undertaking himself ,
< md that ho , Individually , should turn the
ttrst spadeful of earth that was thrown.
is naturally ouo of the rainiest
months of the year at Panama , but It Is
probable that that state will never again
see another October so wet as was the ouo
of IHSl. The agents of the French company
had liberally prepared for the reception of
do Ixiss'ops and his party nnd the week of
their stay at the isthmus was a carnival of
drink and Jollity from beginning to end.
Every nation of the earth was prob
ably represented In considerable numbers
uixm the isthmus nt that time , nnd with the
money that had been recklessly dispersed by
the entertaining committee the people of the
various nations celebrated the great event
In their own peculiar fashion. A large por-
tlon of the people who had come to the
Isthmus were from the criminal and convict
classes of other nations , and Panama at that
tlmo was n famous rendezvous for Ramblers
and adventurers of every Ilk. I have been
told by people who wcro on the Isthmus at
the tlmo that the amount of champagne
alone used on the isthmus In that week cost
nt a low estimate $ . ' 00,000 , and that probably
three-fourths of the entire population were
Intoxicated for the whole week , all at the
expense of the canal company.
Curried .Mud to I > l.cMcpt ,
It happened that this week was a particu
larly wet one , anil as do Lesseps and his
party had conic all the way from France to
start the work , they decided to do it nt oneo
and return to a more favorable climate.
The day sut for the final ceremony was very
wet and disagreeable , and as M. do I essops
was somewhat indisposed that day. about
half an acre of Panama mud was excavated
and carried In an Immense trough on board the
flag ship squadron , where , under cover , with
great pomp and ceremony do Lcsseps turned
the first spadeful of earth that was turned
in the great Panama canal. The next day
the newspapers of the world heralded thu
fact that the great enterprise had started at
last , and that thu illustrious do
Lcsseps himself had commenced the
work in person , but 1 doubt if few of them
related the particulars regarding the manner
In which It was dono.
The route selected by the French com
pany as the best one adapted for the con
struction of the canal followed generally
the line of the railroad , but kept somewhat
closer to the bed of the Chagres river ,
which it was to cross seventy-eight times
between Colon and Panama. Thu physical
features of this route for a canal had been
carefully and minutely studied in all their
relations , and the brilliant corps of engi
neers who were in charge of the enterprise
were confident of the success of the plan.
Throughout the whole distance of
the canal it was intended that
the bottom should Ho about twenty-eight
feet below the mean level of the oceans , and
the width of thu canal in all places was to
have been seventy-two feet at the bottom
and 100 feet at the top. The two greatest
physical difficulties connected with the un
dertaking were those caused by the height
of laud In the center of the isthmus and by
the Chagres river ; but it might be added
that the greatest difficulty of all was to se
cure efficient nnd honest management of the
enterprise , \tabouttho center of the isth
mus , for a considerable distance it was nec
essary to cut down through the solid strata
fora depth of about ; ! ( H ) feet. The rock , how
ever , was found to bo of a soft character ,
easily removed.
Tin- Largest Dylti ) In tlio World.
The fact that the canal was located at sea
level and was to bo fed by the waters of the
two oceans , having no adequate supply of
water at greater elevation to feed" it ; neces
sitated the bottom of the canal prism to ho
lowered to the depth mentioned , which
made it a constant prey to the Cliagrcs
river nnd thu mormons floods of water that
rushed during the rainy seasons through
that channel. It was intended to overcome
tills difficulty by constriictinir at Ganiboa an
enormous reservoir for the detention and
storage of these flood waters. The dam that
was to form this reservoir , if completed ,
would have been by far the largest dyke
over constructed in the world. Altogether it
has boon concluded that the excavation of
the canal involved the removal of y , . " > : ! ! ,000-
000 of cubic feet of ejrth. At the beginning
of 1SS4 tliero bad been removed about ! ' , ' ( ) , -
000,000 cubic feet , or , In other words , after
moro than two years of labor only one-thir
tieth of the entire work had been completed.
At this time nearly all the original capital of
the company had been expended , but the
people of France , realizing the vast Import
ance of the enterprise and the enormous
source ol revenue it would make when com
pleted , decided that the company was de
serving of success even at. a cost of $500,000-
000 , and moro money was eagerly thrust into
the hands of do Losseps. The work pro
ceeded rapidly from this time on , and all
along the route workshops and settlements
were formed ; hundreds of dwelling houses ,
hospitals and storehouses were built at
short intervals , and the whole distance
along the forty-seven miles of the Panama
railroad resembled a bustling city.
In 1SSO the population of Panama and
Colon was estimated at iiO.OJJ people , these
two towns being really the only two settle
ments of any importance on the isthmus. In
ISSS the population of the isthmus between
Panama and Colon is supposed to have been
between JiOO.OOO and -100,000 people , about
2 , > ,000 of wlioiu were employed as laborers b\
the Panama Canal company , and all of
whom were tliero for the purpose of getting
the money which the canal company hud to
spend , They got it all , and after the ex
penditure of a vast amount of treasure ,
amounting to about 100,0X,000 ! ! ( ) francs , and
the sacrifice of thousands of human lives
work was discontinued on the canal in 1SS1
and less than one-third of thu total work
mill been completed.
ISnil MiiiniKrnu'iit mid Fraud.
It Is doubtful if scientists and engineers
will over decldo the question of tlio practi
cablllty and possibility of a sea level canal
at Panama among themselves , but it is cer
tain that the people of the world have
already decided that the failure of this gi
gantic undertaking was mainly duo to the
mismanagement and fraudulent motives of
the persons in charge. Since the work on
the canal was discontinued nine-tenths of
the population of the Isthmus have drifted
to newer and more flourishing fields , but the
stories of canal days , which uro told to tlio
traveller visiting the isthmus , sound moro
like fairy tales , or another Eldorado , than
like actual facts.
As soon as the canal company was firmly
'
on Its feet agent \\oro sent to all portions o'f
Kuropo to select suitable machinery for the
construction of the work. Never before did
purchasing agents travel for a company of
such glgnnlH means and probably never
again will purchasing agents become rich so
suddenly as old those of the Panama Canal
company. Hero was an opportunity for
Kuropo lo dlsixjso of nil its wornout and
useless machinery at enormous figures ,
which she did with the utmost avidity , HI
that In a short time after the work was com
menced on the excavation of the caiutl.
Aspinwall or Colon was the dumping ground
for nine-tenths of the discarded machinery
of the old world. So great Indeed was the
quantity of this old iron and steel tlmt.it
was actually in tlio way , and early in Ih&J
the Panama Canal company designated n
vast amount of the machinery then on the
ground utterly worthless , and to put it out
of the way nnd cover up their folly they
ordered ll dumped Into the swamps near
Colon.
Thousands "if AVunuVrors.
A llttlo later it was decided to build a now
town on tlio Atl.tntlo side , and thu found
ation of tills town , Christopho Colomb , as It
is called , Is- mainly composed of costly
dredgers , pilcdrlvcrs nud llko machin
ery. T-hls new city was to bo
the dwelling place of do Lesscps
nud was lalil off on it scale of royal magnitl-
cencoj its broad avenues were lined with
rows of cocoanut palms , which have now
grown to a height of 100 feet and their broad
fan-like leaves form an almost complete
covering for the town. Two magnificent
residences , costing about $100,000 each , were
built and extravagantly furnUhcd for the
use of the senior and junior do Lesseps ,
neither of whom , however , over set foot in
either house , During the palmy days of the
canal company this sthnius was indeed a
busy place ; thousands of wanderers , " em
bracing every nationality and rate , oven to
these of far distant India , had gathered
there to participate in the great fraud and
simulation.
The Atlantic port of the Isthmus , called
cither Colon or Aspluwall , was n ixna that
rivaled the greatest sea marts iu the world ,
nm Informed by reliable authorities that
scarcely n day passed for several years that
lid not bring fifty ships Into the bay of
Colon , and that from seventy-five to 100 ves
sels were constantly at anchor in that hnr-
r. It Is one of the most treacherous ports
n the world , however , and ships anchoring
hero are obliged to pay about per cent
nero Insurance than if they did not touch at
his i > ort , Numbers of vessels and their en-
Ire crows have been lost during severe
storms In the very harbor of Colon , and so
nueli wreckage covers the bottom of tht bay
hat It Is seldom that an anchor eaiM > o
raised without fouling. A few years ago In
mo northwester eighteen ships went down
n one night and tlio loss of life was more
than sixty persons.
llnKnnw III * llitHlii < ift ,
During the canal days the business of the
'nnatna Rtiilro.id company was something
ilinost Incredible , anil although enormous
irotlts wcro derived by the company Itself ,
> y far the greatest Interest made for the
noncy and tlmo invested was that made by
the conductors. I know of one man nlono
who niado $10,000 besides Itla salary and all
ils expenses during a twenty-eight months
residence on the Isthmus , nil of which tlmo
ho was constantly employed us a conductor
on the Panama railway.
The Colombian government was entirely
tumble to exercise any authority of law over
the various foreign colonies that had taken
up residence there , and crime and depreda
tion know no bounds. The death. rate ,
naturally great on account of the terrible
climate , was probably greatly aug
mented by the fast life led by most
of the people. The burying-ground of the
Atlantic side of the Isthmus' w.is recklessly
named Monkey 11111. Four funeral trains
daily were scheduled to leave Colon for
Monkey I till , and tliero were but few men
who expected to take any other route when
leaving the isthmus for good.
The residents of the isthmus in canal
times , being associated with the people of all
nations and hearing almost every known
language , became veritable polyglots , and
eveu now a person who speaks only one ,
language , no matter bow well ho may bo
educated in other branches , would bo con
sidered nn absolute ignoramus by the wild
est Irishman who works the brakes on a
" 'aiiama railroad freight train.
The railroad company , having the only
means of transportation across the isthmus ,
was of course of vast importance to the canal
enterprise , but its Importance was Immeas
urably less than that of the men who ran
the trains. Most of the employes of the
company at that time were Irishmen , and
they ruled the isthmus with a high and
reckless hand. It was not a question of
pay your money and demand a ride , but
rather of pay your money and see whether
the conductor wanted to let you ride.
Thought Thi'j- Owned tlio Kurlli.
The history of the Panama R'lilroad eim-
pany and its employes during canal times is
one of exciting incidents that are exceed
ingly interesting to hear about now that
they are all passed over. It is slid that the
civil revolution that took place In Colombia
in ISSii was partly instigated and much
abetted by the employes of the Panama
Railroad company. It was during this revo
lution that the United States government
sent troops to the isthmus to protect her
commerce and keep the railway open to
trafllc. For over a month the railroad was
operated with the assistance of United
States marines , who , however , wcro alto
gether unneeded , as the employes of the
railroad , to use their own terms , "could lick
the whole Colombian army as well as every
thing else on the isthmus.1
Many arc the interesting tales that might
be told concerning the exciting incidents of
this wonderful period. Several of the esca
pades of Americans residing there at that
time resulted fatally to the residents of
Colombia , and in one or two cases almost in
volved the governments in a national con
troversy. Perhaps some of the readers of
this article will remember a long story that
was published in the Now York papers
several years ago relating the history of a
great plot on the part of the American resi
dents of Panama to usurp the power of the
Colombian government and establish a re
public for themselves. The attempt was dis
covered , however , and many of the principal
conspirators were obliged to flee from the
isthmus.
The ( iovvriimciil. Cullfd Time ,
After the discontinuance of the work on
the canal in 18ST the French government
ordered the canal company to furnish them
with report of its affairs and explain to
them tlio manner in which the enormous
sums of treasure which had been placed in
their hands had been disposed of. As this
report was never forthcoming , the govern
ment took the matter into its own bunds ,
appointed a committee to investigate the
affair in all its particulars , and the report
of this committee is what has stirred up all
the purturhcratiuns which are now agitating
the great European republic.
It is generally supposed that the greatest
steals of the affair were in connection with
tlio contractors who took time contracts for
dredging , dyke building and similar work.
It is slid that one firm nlono received $3,000-
000 before the canal company found out that
they were being robbed.
It is probable that a time will never again
como in the history of any one state in the
world that can be compared with the few
years that Colombia saw the life of the
Panama Canal company. No conglomeration
of races will over ho confined again in such
narrow limits , isolated from the rest of the
world , living without law or order and all
bent on the same purpose as were gathered
on the Isthmus of Panama between 1S81 and
18S7.
It is to be hoped that the time will novel
again come when the people of any prudent
nation will suffer to bo perpetuated upon
themselves such a gigantic fraud and swin
dle as was the Panama canal undertaking.
Guenon W. Miitcnu.
FOB RUSSIA'S BELIEF.
OMIchll AfUllOH lnliii | ( > llt ( if tliu Clint 1 Illll-
tliuis ill' WfHti'rn SlaU'.s.
Kx-O.ovornor John W. lloyt , chairman of
the Russian famine relief committee of the
United States , has furnished to the press a
report of thu relief offered by America to
the sufferers from thu famine in Russia.
The Hrst movement In thu northwest was
made by the milling interests of Minnesota ,
and by December HO , IS'Jl , 1.100,00 ( ) pounds of
flour had been subscribed.
In the states of Minnesota , Iowa and Ne
braska the work of canvassing Hteadily ad
vanced during the month of January , with
suth results as mudo thu s.illlng of at least
one relief ship early In February seem possi
ble. Hut the philanthropists of the north
west , gathering their flour from moro than a
hundred miles and their corn from thousands
of cribs nnd storehouses widely scattered In
many states , had a struggle not easily appre
ciated nt the cast.
'Millers of twenty four states , far and
near , had contributed their flour ami were
pushing it forward , Nebraska , under in
spiration of Governors Thayerand Boyd ,
had given her million pounds of corn , and
the Now York Chamber of Commerce had
supplemented the whole with so much as
$5,000 would buy , in addition to the 7,000
before contrlbvted for llko use. The At-
lantio transport line had put the great Mis
souri In readiness for bur generous service ,
and the warehouse , lighterage and coal coin-
panics had followed suit. And thus , on the
Ifith of March , the Missouri , with her burden -
den of r > , WO,000 pounds of flour and corn
meal , left Now York harbor for Llbau.
"Iowa Hunt a great cargo of Wi.OW ) bushels
of corn , sacked at a cost of some $4.000 fur
nished by the Red Cross , with 131,201 bags of
the sumo , 400 sacksof corn meal , 7H ! sacks of
flour , nnd various miscollancuus stores. Hut
there was no further offer of ships : add so
with Jl',051 moro , advanced by Miss Uarton
from contributions sent to the Red Cross , a
steamshin was chartered ; and on the iSJil of
May the Tynehead. gaily dressed vrith many
Hags , American , Russian and Red Cross ,
cleared from Now York for Riga.1
Five ship loads of food stuffs were sent lo
Russia , and tlio cash donations are estimated
at 1100,000 , Of thu latter over $7,000 came
from Nebraska , over $3,000 from Iowa
fcl.500 from South Dakota unil fl.200 from
Minnesota ,
NEBRASKA ; CIRt IN GREECE
L
' "T
Merry MomentaSpent ! nt a Monastery in
the Monnfciins Above Andres.
t
WHERE MONKS ARE COMELY AND CHEERFUL
. - *
Ml Mnimtt Writes of n Plra iinl .tourney
to nn Ancient llrllclculs MOIIM-
( touil Liquor mid VlrtimU U r i
Hook * nnd Kmtirnldrrlc * .
Axmios , Greece , Dec. S. [ Correspondence
of THE BUB. ] Our landlord told us we should
on no account neglect to visit the ancient
monastery of Andres , and ho undertook to
arrange for our - golhor In this wise. He Is
proud of being an old crony of the hogou-
menos , or head of the order , and lo Insure us
a reception worthy of such distinguished
m
foreigners he must send a messenger or An
geles , { o give warning of our approach , that
the failed calf might bo killed and all bo put
In readiness. We modestly object to what
seems a good deal of an Imposition , as we feel
lucky Indeed to see a real monastery in run -
niug order , and fancy quite as well , taking
pot luck with them. But wo submit to our
friend's judgment when wo find that this is
the usual thing , and , moreover , thai llio gov
ernment provides tliem 11,000 francs yearly
for Iho entertainment of strangers.
The next morning , therefore , after our
coining is heralded , as , it were , with a flour
ish of trumpets , the donkey train of quite
imposing length is seen wending its way
over the steep mountain path , for the monas
tery is set far up hud away from the haunts
of men in the wildest mountain fastnesses.
And such ! s usually the case , I believe ,
I'm snro the old , kings wished for
naught better than llioir mule learns
before chariots came in , and some
way donkeys and rocks seem made for each
other the llttlo fellows are so entirely at
liomc , much preferring u sleep path of hair
breadth width ; and those rocks and don
keys are exactly ihc same dull gray color. 1
might go on with inv comparisons such as in
firmness and durability , but hero 1 would
need to illustrate , which might reveal
secrets of struggles not meant for
unsympalliizlng readers. To tell the truth ,
however , the Greek djpnkc-y has a very'good
temper , and when properly understood can
bo perfectly managed.1
Tlir .Monk WHS Oniirly.
Some of our party pride themselves on
their walking and scoff at the donkeys , who
don't mind it in the least and are glad
enough of Iho rest. But these scoffers are
either too long or too broad and don't lit the
dapper litllo beasts. ' There's nothing the
matter with the donkey oh , no I The non-
growlers are enraptured with the superb
views as Ihoy look back , Iho panorama
growing broader 'ami Jlner as wo ascend.
Our own lilllo IminleJ , of Balsi lies nestled
between bay and mbuntain like a while
cameo , with Iho sea , of shimmering gold at
its feel. And sonic one who never is
mixed in his topography points out the
many islands , cadi , with its memories of
poets who had ttung there , as ICeos Slmonidos
isle , or of old-Unit * safes , as Gavrion , the
pretty little port 'of Pahvopolis , which
Thimistocles stormed with his Athenian
hordes. Lyra was very distinct , the center
of the present' ' eastern trading ports , and
away off westward the faintly delicate coast
line of Attica. And how fair were the val
leys below us , with their olives and figs Just
ripening , and fields of waving Indian corn !
The beauty of these islands lies chiefly in
their irregularity of outline , reminding one
of linen embroidery , with couutless little
bays , capes and promontories. It is a scene
of delight , let the eye turn whither it will.
But away to tlie monastery , whose white
steeples and towers have Just appeared to
our eager-witching eyes , fornll this beauteous
landscape is for you but poorly conveyed on
black and white.
I spurred my bravo steed on ahead at the
last , too impatient to await these dallying
folk who never were quite content , either
afoot or on niulebat'k. and lost so much lime
go ling on and off. So I rather startled the
monk delegated to welcome us at llio gate as
much as ho surprised mo by his fresh and
youthful beauty , enhanced by the long black
robes ho wore with such grace. However ,
his easy and cordial greeting were anything
but embarrassed , and we were fast making
friends when the others cumo trolling up ,
alarmed at what the holy friars might think
of a young lady who would run at will and
unattended.
.Merry Moulin of u Moilrrn Momitttery <
Soon there wcro moro monks , who
gathered around with unmistakable warmth
of welcome , and servants led off the much
tried donkeys , while wo were conducted in
triumph lo Iho visitors' apartments , nn
.entry room and lurgo , pleasant salon , with
a wonderful outlook from its small
grated windows. But the old arched corridors
riders with marble floors and fine carvings ,
all sunlciently old and ruined , which we
passed on the way , were quito up lo our
ideals of the monasteries we had read of.
In ono nook a quaint old well provided the
clearest of water drawn up by a friar for
thirsty travelers. And no end of black-
looking doorways furnished food for our
fancy , leading to underground passages ,
dungeons who knows where !
Tlio monks were each of them a study ,
and'twere difficult to say which typo was
most slender paio-fiiceil
interesting'-llio , -
young fellows with their big p.ithulio eyes
encircled with black , telling of fasts and
long devotions , or the Jolly round old fathers ,
whose Jovial good humor and round cheeks
like apples and amply-filled gowns bo-
lokencd plenty of "iho flowing bowl and
easy going-lives , such as are brought before
us In story and song , Ono of these last
was the farmer hegrunicnos. and his beam
ing face , round as a ball , was good inedicino
for dyspeptics , while his plump soft hands ,
like pulTballs , seemed specially inado for thu
holy kiss imprinted , there BO often by his
duvoled flock. It was quilu lee fimfiy to
keep a sober face'wlicn ho raised one hand
nt table lo ask the .blessing , with grcalest
effort setting two fat lingers upright and
keeping the rest doubled under.
Wo were refreshed as soon as the Introduc
tions were through by the serving of Turk
ish coffo and , sweets'with , water borne in on
a silver tray by a ii&nilio fellow in splendid
costume , tbougH shabbier than the rest.
His dark face , heavy beard and magnificent
physique seemed 'noro ' Egyptian than Greek.
Ho proved lo Do a Dorian of Iho Polopouneho ,
which accounts , perhaps , for his majestic
air , und his manner of passing Iho cupswith
Iho pretty phrase ' 'Long ' live "
, may you , or
"To your health uiid > happiness , " etc. , digni
fied thu humble service to twice ils usual
value. 1
They Knuty Uuod l.liinor.
As the knowlcdgc/of Greek was confined
mosfly lo iho ladles 'ot our party , the monks
wcro obliged to device themselves lo them ,
though It Is quite otit of the Greek order of
things , as they deem that women should bo
"seen and not hoard , " The young unmar
ried ono must interpret for all -that amused
them greatly. WVtcst their rakeo , a white
liquor resembling firewater , ono laslo of
which bo m8 to bum Iho mouth , but ono
must bo polite. The good missionary's wlfo
looks on in horror , but shall wo offend our
hosts to begin withi Besides her discom
fiture rather makes up for Iho burning taste
with the viciously Inclined young folks , who
affect to empty theirKineses with greatest
relish andwicked/vfnks.
On asking to see the library wo are led ,
thither with great ceremony , und that ,
sacred precluyt , opened for us with a mam
moth keyrprovcs lo bo but u tliiy closet , but
It Is packed full with such treasures as
have never before been our good fortune to
see How wo gloutpd over Iho primitive
bibles , many of thorn 800 und WX ) years old ,
and oilier evangelical books , printed on finest
pwliment. yellowed with age , cover of gold
and silver Inlaid with precious stones I What
bonanza for the rollo hunters J And how much
lovers of such things would cuvy us I The
illuminated texts we had always hcaru of
but had no Idea of , wo hero found In abund
ance , and fascinating they were , Indeed ,
The old Greek text of almost 1,000 years ago ,
you may imagine , differs greatly from the
modern , and It was hiirhly interesting trying
to puzzle out the strange letters. 1 managed
to read along quite smoothly , much to the
amazement of the friars , who , T SUPJHISC ,
didn't expect It of a woman who read com
mon. everyday newspapers. Where the
covers were wooden or the furry skins of
animals they were old and moth-eaten
enough.
TrriiMir ' < In Huok iitiil r.iliHroldorli' .
Many of the volumes came from Constanti
nople ( n the old Dyzantliu * times. 1 doubt If
anything moro Intensely Interesting I" the
book line could be found , and I longed oat , va
sufficient time to copy some of
the exquisite designs at the head
ings of the chapters. Such lovely
colorings , blues and rods and gold ! Wo begged
: hem to send these gems on to the oxtosltlon |
but they seemed to think it quite as absurd
is to pack oil' the Nike temple , on the
Acropolis or some of the orlirlnals in the
nuseuin , from which cuts are now being made.
The finery lovers , ( not all ladies either ) were
carried away In wonder at the splendidly
embroidered vestments in fulest cloth of
gold and heavier of brocade nil handwoven
mil destined for fete -occasions , heirlooms
likewise handed down from gencr.itlon.H.
What shall 1 say of the richly carved gold
communion cups dazzling with diamonds ,
emeralds and rubies and adorned with
finely painted pleturs of tlio virgin and
saints and angels In enamel work encircled
by pearls or brilliants 1 Them were silver
sublets too almost as rich.Vo were assured
Lhat 'twas a great favor to have these sacred
treasures partly revealed ttfnur profane eyes.
There were golden candlesticks with figures
in relief and all sorts Of things for use in the
religious processions which I couldn't name
except In Greek. The arch bishop's Jeweled
crown was a marvel of costly splendor. In
Tact the cabinet containing all these festal
Habiliments and Jeweled crosses was
shown to a few of us after the rest had gone
by a kindly disposed young monk whose folly
and weakness we slnccrly hope will bo for
given.
Next we visited one of the private cells , or
rather dwellings , for each monk lives by
himself and IniU-peiidunt of the rest , works
his own little vegetable patch and ( lower
garden , makes his own wine , dries his figs
for winter and rides his special donkey to
the village. Only in the chapel lliey all
meet together for prayers , morning and
evening. Our host was a lovely old fellow
with llowinggray beard and lomrhair twisted
into a knot behind , as is the custom , except
on state occasions , when it is loosened and
thus adds not a little to the effect of gor
geous robes and glittering vestments. In his
now threadbare draperies and with his dcep-
set eyes he would make an admirable study
of a hermit. At tlio same time ho has the
sunnincss of homelike rooms and is as nnug
as any spinster. He quietly opens his Invit
ing cupboard and produces another "round"
of sweets preserved , lemon-blossoms being
the treat this time , ami as delicious as it
sounds. Wo ask for his recipe , but he says
the process of treating this perfumed blos
som is quite too elaborate for our compre
hension. ' His hospitality could not bo ex
celled and we ladies were obliged lo admit
that here at least they get along very well
without us.
AuxloiiH to llt'iir oT America.
All the brother monks had followed us and
as they were on the qui vivo to hoar nil
about our far-away America 1 undertook to
give them some idea of the size and wealth
of that new land , of the enormous cities and
railroads , and my figures quite took away
their breaths. They couldn't begin to realize
in their untruH l j < implicit.v the great dis
tance \Vehad \ cwiwttrYlslt them. Formerly
America meant Now York to foreigners , but
since the World's fair lias been "noised
abroad" their geographical knowledge has
extended to Chicago. Our old monk , think
ing to air his superior wisdom , inquired for
the Mississippi , whether city or mountain or
bay. ho knew not. And he had heard of
Chili , so lie concluded it must bo on the
Mississippi. It was great fun to see them
open their eyes at the ( to them ) fabulous ac
counts , but quite as entertaining to mo to
hoar one of themselves , the Greek mission
ary lately returned from Now York , draw
glowing pictures of his travels : and indeed
we feel wo have a sufficiently eloquent
champion , as with ready tongue and telling
gestures ho rouses the quiet monks to their
greatest enthusiasm. For he has been
everywhere from California to Boston and
knows our country better than we.
Meanwhile i glean many interesting de
tails of monastic lifo from my talkative
neighbor , who is glad of an opportunity to
converse a little. Ho says their visitors are
few and far between. Ho is the young
hegonmenos , and 1 am juirtial to him , as who
would not be ? If you could see him , _ un
Apollo-like figure posing in unconscious
grace , wrapped in a purple chiton , his ideally
classic face and high while forehead ,
crowned by a mass of curls such as one ? sees
in the best ago of Greek art , such as Pr.ix-
iteles chiseled ho fondly for his Hermes.
And his smile is captivating , while ono is
struck by tlio repose and dignity of his bear-
Ing. How his face liglils up as ho enlarges
upon Hie peaceful charms of Ibis free life , as
he calls , il , in contrast to tlio tnimels of the
caged city birds ( meaning ourselves ) ,
I confessed It hadn't come to mo In thafc
light before , but I felt the truth of it when
he said hu spent a day or two in Athens last
week and could scarcely wait till ho got back
to his mountain home , so distasteful was the
noise of 'tho world to him. So either visit
ing or being visited by people f rom the world ,
it seems , doesn't make them any less con
tented and serene.
Dinner.
All the foretaste of sweets and line bev
erages did not in tlio least spoil our appetites
for dinner , and returning to the guests'
room wo found a "groaning board" awaiting
us. Five of the head marks Joined us at tlio
table. Note the order of seating , The
propenus , or consul , as first in rank was
honored with a chair at the head ; next came
the protestant priest ( missionary ) and the
, professor and other gentlemen , after which
the ladles wore disposed of all In a row , while
our hosts were ranged around the lower end
of the table , where they could survey us to
best advantage , ami quaint figures they
wero. All stood while the patriarch asked
grace , rattled off at such lightning rate that
one would think Us virtue depended on the
rate of speed.
That right royal spread will always bo
vivid in our memory , not only for the
uniqueness of ils convives , but thu dishes
themselves Pin sure were unrivaled cvou in
Aristophanes' time , when the cooks were
lords of creation and cookbooks moro in de
mand than are novels nowadays. From the
dainty arrangements of the table-services ono
might suspect a feminine hand. The fresh ,
flaky white cheese la pretty patterns lay in
u bed of grape leaves. The olives , also a
homo product , weiu unsurpassed , not to
mention tlio numerous Greek vegetables
cooked a la monastery or served fresh from
their garden. And as healths without nuin-
bur were proposed to the peerless Colum
bia and Its representative present , to llio
noble hegoiimenos , and to the modern Helen
( as ono gallant monk made bold to dub one
among lib , rather moro to extricate himself
from trouble than anything , else , as the
story of thu Odyssey had como up and ho
was rather "misty , " that not being In his
Hue ) and to the prodigal son , as they chose
tj call their Protestant brother , a native of
Andros , and all thu healths wcro quaffed in
thu richest of old wine ; we called It neuter
of the gods , which pleased them Imnnnuely ,
and Indeed It fully camu up to our expecta
tions ef the contents of a monastery cellar.
Our hosts , while merry , were very tem
perate , and mildly astonished when our good
missionaries declined to join us. Altogether
our symposium was a sucicss , and wo
chatted and Joked Indefinitely over the
after dinner coffee. They thought every
word wo uttered soery clear , which is , you
know , most stimulating , and wo on our side
agreed never to have happened upon moro
genial , benovolcnt and all-around entertain
ing dinner companions ,
With thu .Muiika at I'riiyrrf , DC ? 32
A fitting close to the day's festivities was
the vebpers In the old , old chapel , which wo
wcro invited to attend , Our interest was
divided between the bervico ( rcsKjnsivo | ) , in
which about a dozen monks took part , and the
most antique uud richly ornamented. Interior ,
Around the stiff Hyzantlno
of the Virgin were hung do/ens of
churms nnd votiro offerings , a relic
in reality of . .Kseuhipius' worship ,
hands and feet of tin , hearts , bloodred ,
and ghastly eyes , ears , etc. , each devotee
presenting nn Imago of thu ailing member.
One monk swung far and wide a censor of
'lino ' flllftreo gold work , scattering ns blessings
the sweetest of Incense among the wor
shipers , while others chanted the lllinv.v.
for once most harmonious , and uplifting ,
thanks to the handsome hegoiimenos , with
his deep , sonorous voice. Rarely does ouo
meet with a musical Greek , and one old
priest here , who bawled llko a distressed
cow , came near ruining the otherwise deeply
affecting solemnity of all. The congrega
tion consisted , besides ourselves , of n boy of
seven summers on thereabouts , whose skill
ful and businesslike performance of all the
various forms required in the service excited
our honest admiration. He must cross him
self continually , kiss the feet of Christ and
bands of the Virgin , as well as numerous
monks , bowing , standing and prostrating
himself completely , besides rattling tiff what
we should Judge to be whole liooks of the
bible. When we could spare no iniuv time
wo left him still at It , with no prospect of
any "let up , " and thought If our ministers
required so much of us , wo would bo missing
oftener from the Sunday pew than Is now the
case.
Perhaps I may be forgiven if I whisper In
closing , a word , brought down to us by a
Greek'friend , who visited llio monastery n
week after wo had been so royally feasted.
An lutitnato friend of his among the friars
( wise , grayheaded , too ) confided to him that
if ho had known what these women of llio
world were like he never would bavo taken
the cowl. Ho was sure there worn.no such
girls iu his younger days. Why , these Amer
ican ladles wore goddesses I Now , I'm sure
you will agree with me.that this most value-
able tribute to our womanhood deserved to
wind up my letter. And so , till another say ,
adieu ! WixiKitr.n A. MANATT.
A commodious Baptist church has been
completed on the silo of the one destroyed
by fire in Dcadwood , three mouths ago.
A woman in the western part of Now York
wants to have her pastor dismissed on the
ground that ho rides a bicycle and studied
medicine in his early years ,
In about 100 of the synagogues in this coun
try Sunday meetings are now held , at which
MASSIVE AND MAJESTIC
Projected Episcopal Cathedral of St. Joho
the Diviuo.
MONUMENT TO RELIGION AND TO ART
IIMor.v ( if ( hei MoviMiicnt und llricrlptlon of
the rinm--Tlu > l.iirKi-ot IMIIIrn tin ( ho
( 'ontltu'nt- l.ujltiK thi-Cor-
nrr Stiiiir.
Next Tuesday , December 2 , will bo a
memorable day in the religious history ot
New York City and of the United States.
On that day , with appropriate ceremonies ,
will bo laid the cornerstone of the grandest ,
church edifice In the western homlspheio
Iho Protestant Episcopal cathedral ot St.
, lohn the Divine.
The project of building an edifice of mag
nificent pwiHirtlons was discussed us early
as IS70 , but it was * not until 1SS7 that the
plans took dollnlto shape. ( During these lu
terveniiig years the heads of the Protestant
Episcopal church had talked of a cathedral
rivaling the great Catholic edifice , St , PaW
rick's cathedral , but It remained fur Miss
Catherine Wolf , the wealthy philanthropist ,
to expand upon this necessity and feasibility
of providing a temule or worship that should
surpass any building devoted to a shilling
purpose on this continent. To glvo
the scheme n practical basis' she sot }
aside Iho sum of $1,000,000 as a parti
of the amount to ho used for it. Other
wealthy Episcopalians contributed tolho _
fund , among them being the Vandorblll "and
Astor families , each of which iravo $100.000 ,
hast spring the late Mrs. K. N. Cole bo-
qnealhed JTiO.IH'O ' , and recenll.vsomoutiUnowu.
friend contributed SWXIKX ( ) .
Tlm Silo.
A place between Sixth and Seventh two-
nues and Fifty-seventh and Fifty-ninth
streets was at llwt decided upon i but the
Pi : - ' - ' - /
1
Ml t > ' \-lf\ \ \ -J.f - , . % - : ' ; ; , " ,
* I $ - ' . , I- X.Jsir . ' .
"
CATIIKDKAT , OF ST. .JOHN Tlin DIVINE.
( Ueproduci'il from llurior' | Wcokljr )
lectures arc delivered by the rabbis who had
conducted the regular Jewish service on the
previous day.
Rev. Marv T. Whitney has been installed
as pastor of the Unitarian church ofWest
Somerville , Mass. She is a New Yorker ,
her maiden name was Traffarn , and she is
descended from an old Huguenot family.
In Franco the government pays the pas
tors , not only of the Catholic but of the Prot
estant denominations. This rule obtains
also in the colonies , so that Mohammedan
mosques are maintained by the state. It
costs millions of francs.
A Utica , N. Y. , preacher has risen up to
criticise the "prodigal son" parable. Ho
holds that It Is an injustice to the other boys
who remain at homo and keep their noses to
the grindstone while the prodigal Is "blow
ing in" ills substance down the line.
Bishop Pnrot of the Protestant Episcopal
diocese of Maryland and the district of Col
umbia will soon nave built a steamer which
will bo fitted as a church. The boat will
carry the bishop and his assistants to the
oyster dredging grounds Sundays , whore
services will bo hold.
The late Cardinal Lavlgerie , tlio "Grand
Old Missionary of Biskra , " used to wear a
Florentine cap such as D.mto wore , half
covering his cars and falling lo his neck.
Tlio walls of his simple apartments were
absolutely bare except for a hinall statue of
the Virgin which faced the crucifix over the
mantelpiece.
Tlio Hiram Binghain. the smallest mis
sionary vessel In the world , lias just been
fitted out in San Francisco horbor , nnd is
now ready to start for Hawaii on her way
to the Gilbert islands. She is fifty feet
long , fourteen feet wide and six foot deep.
Her rig Is Hint of a two-masted schooner.
The Hrlghnm was built for tlio American
board of foreign missions of Boston ,
The American Society of Church History
will bold ils fifth annual meeting in the re
ception room of Columbian university , Wash
ington , D. C. There will bo three sessions ,
Iho first on Tuesday evening , December - ,
at 8 o'clock ; the second on Wednesday morn
ing , December US , at 10 o'clock ; llio third on
Wednesday afternoon nt ! l o'clock. Prof.
Philip Schaff will make the oponingitddrcBS ,
These who do not pay close attention to
the development and advance of religious
methods have probably failed to notice the
decided improvement in the standing of the
Salvation Army In this country. To many
people this organization Is moro or less gro
tesque and fanatical , but thu sober truth Is
that it is getting the respectful attention
nnd even tlio cordial commendation of seine
of thu ablest of thu church leaders ,
A papyrus manuscript found in the den of
an old hermit in a cavu near Jerusalem In
Jho year IbSO , and which experts have all
( ilong believed to have been the handiwork
of St. Peter , "tho friend of Christ , " was
submitted to a committee of the Biblical
Society of Ixmdon In ISUil , They have
arrived at the conclusion that the uorlc Is In
reality exactly what it purports In ho the
last literary work of Iho great uposilu. It
has not been ascertained exactly who has
charge of the relit- , but It Is said that a
"society of British literary voluptuaries"
has offered $100,000 for Iho document.
c
Susan B. Anthony Is of the opinion that
wo arc on the verge of an era of unmarried
women. Our civilization , she says , Is chang
ing. Daughters cannot bo supported at homo
and tliero is nothing tliero lo busy them ,
The women used to spin and weave , make
carpets and soap , but now 'all that is done
for thorn in factories , Young men do not
make enough money to support their wives ,
und ihero Is such a craze for dissipation
among them that the women had rather go
into a store for almost nothing than to
marry ,
The engagement is now announced of Miss
Fannlo Stevens , slater of Mrs. Adolph l-ndon-
burg , and cousin of Mrs. Frederick II , Allen ,
to Captain Harrington Swiinn of England ,
Miss Fannie Stevens is a daughter of Mr.
and Mrs , Alexander II. Slovens , who have a
seat at Uiwrcnco , I , . I. , and the wedding of
thu couple will bo celebrated In the spring.
"How did you como to break off your en
gagement with Twilling } " "He told me ho
wanted to t' t married , "
lirieo was far beyond all possibility , and tlio
trustees agreed thai it would bo beat to looh ;
far north for a sight. In November , 18S71 ,
the old Lake and Watts' Orphan Home )
grounds wore bought for $ .S.'il,0o ( ) , and the )
now cathedral will stand in porhnps the }
most picturesque spot on Manhattan islnndj
Its lowers will look down on the lludsori
and the Palisades will bo within view , Fa
off the busy cities of Hoboken and .lerso/ ;
City will bo seen from the towers of the edf.4
lice , and its great splro will , on llio east , hoi
in sight of all Harlem and the hills of Long
Island. :
It is n spot hallowed by history as welj , foft ,
it was hero that the famous l > ako lived la
Ihc early days of Iho municipality.
Tlm Hiill'llng.
The piano for Iho building wore prepared ! '
by Messrs. Hetns & La Fargo of New Yorlf *
Cily , They provide a general ground plait
for llio cathedral in the shape of a cross , thcr
arms of which , forming nave , chancel nnd/
transepts , have each n central and twooutj'- '
side aisles. Tins general exterior design 1
that of a largo central lantern or lower , " '
against the four sides of which tire the fouii
anus of the cross. In the four angles of tliff
cross are four flanking towers with cni
trances. At tlio south front are two largcif
towers , the central tower belli ) ; crowned
by a spire dominating the group. Thrf
front towers will have no spires. Tho'
total external length of the cathedral wil ]
bo tfM foot. The width across the front
Is to bo UK ) foot ; width across thu transepts ,
' . " .10 feet ; height of central spins-l'- | foo.t
from floor of cathedral nnd from level of the
city , IW5 feet. Tlio width of Iho four IIaiik >
ing towers will bo-fil foot ; height , IM feet ;
total exlerlor diameter of central tower , IK I ,
feet ; Interior diameter , DO feet ; height or
vaulting , SJIiO feet ; depth of chancel , I'JO1
feet ; width of nave and chancel to centoK
of piers , ( X ) feet ; length of nave , IbO feoV
width of front v&fllbnlo , D7 feet ; height o )
nave vaults , lO.'i feet ; bulght of chancel
vaults , llfi feet ; height of front gables , 10 $
feot.
feot.The
The structure of lha round-arch Gothic
order , planned in many dulallH after thu
early Christian churches , following notably
Iho Santa Sophia church at Constantinople
and St. Marks at Venice. But Gothiu char
aclorlsllcs could not bo laid aside with Im-t
punily , as llio chtnvli was to BO mo extent
wedded lo Ibis style of architecture. So the
central dome Is snnnouiiled by GotliioHpirca.
and Iho conspicuous feature of this design it )
In the milliner in which these splreS seum to ,
grow out of the structure seem to take roonj
in the very foundations. Tlio latin formiia
followed in the plan , but striking departure : } !
arcs inado in thu termination of tlio trai'iBuplsp
which are simply the apses of Iho chancel
swung around. T he.se acccnlualu thu'
Roniuncsqua character of tlio design. Thq ,
twelve great piers which support the domu
are to bo dedlcaliid to thu apostles , the ono
of special magnificence being that dcHlgnca
for St. John. Tlio dome is enriched bA
scenes from llio Apocalypse , and llio syin\
hollc decorations as ihoy are carried upward
change from Iho particular to the generate *
The t'ost ,
The cost of the now cathedral IHIK not been
fully determined , It will oxeord * . -i,000,000 ,
and may go boymvVSIO.OOO.OOO. . A fair o tl }
mate given by OIIQ of Iho iruslc.oH places Uify
amount at ? 7,500KKI ( , This amount will pert
mil tlio projectors and dignitaries of thd
church to provldoa building which they hope
will become as firmly welded to Iho purposn
for which II la lo bo used as the Vatican ae
Rome Itself. The money for the new ciitheU
dral , It Is believed , can bo raised without
great difficulty ;
The trustees of the now edifice hoped to
have had it completed , when It wan orlgly
nnlly projected , by IMKi , but delays havii
been occasioned by enlarging the KCOJIO off
the original plans and la modifying th
s a mo. The final finished drawings , slmwlnnj
actual measurement and bringing out every
detail , are ready for the InilldorH ,
The proposed magnificence of the iiow
cathedral can bo judged from the fact that
il will occupy a tract of land four times at
largo in area us that upon which St. Pnt <
rick's cathedral stands. The site for the
now ICpisropal cathedral is over sixty foot
higher from the level of thu city than thai
upon which Iho great Catholic ; cdlilce IB situ *
nted , and il will. In addition , bo surrounded
by a grout park , which is lacking iu
tfoii of St. I'tttrlck * .