Democratic watchman. (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1855-1940, March 11, 1927, Image 3

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    Deora Yap
Bellefonte, Pa.,, March 11, 1927.
—-—
The Delights of Normandy.
AUTOBIOGRAPHY.
By Rev. L. M. Colfelt D. D.
Normandy, with its undulating,
well-wooded, well-watered, green verd-
ured landscapes, rich in sylvan beau-
ty, reminds the traveler of the
prettiest parts of England rather
than of the brown monotony of the
greater part of France. We would
confidently recommend it to those
tourists who may be frequently heard
lamenting the difficulty of finding a
spot unfrequented by the sight and
sound of others of the same species.
It is a strange subject of complaint
this, though all who have rambled on
the Continent must have heard it.
Little complimentary too, one would
suppose when addressed to an Eng-
lish speaking traveler, yet you will
hear it at Ems, at Carlsbad, at Son-
net, under the cedars of Lebanon or
at Ladmor, in the desert. Mrs. Smith
confiding to Mrs. Jones her distresses
that she has not been able to discover
a single spot uninfested with English !
or Americans! And that with a com-
placency indicating the conviction en- |
tertained by Mrs. Smith that she was
hereby clearly manifesting her own
immense superiority over the com- |
mon herd of her compatriots. One of
the objections to this solitary system
of travel is the vast deal of the world
now requisite to furnish isolated lodg-
ings for these dear anti-gregarious
people. There is accomodation how-
ever, we would respectfully suggest,
for one or two in the bye-ways of
Normandy.
Taking the night boat up the Seine
halfway between Havre and Paris,
you arrive at Rouen, the most inter-
esting city in the north of France. It
is prolific in historic interest. Deriv-
ing its name from Rotho, an idol
which the Veliocassi adored, it was
already a village in Caesar’s day and
is definitely mentioned in the geog-
raphy of Ptolmey. The capital of
Normandy and the seat of the ducal
palace, it bears token in the vener-
-able aspect of many of its buildings
to the important part it played in the
days of Norman glory and aggression.
Here Walter Scott fixed the scene and
«drew the materials for his tale of
“Ivanhoe.” Richard Coeur De Lion is
forever indentified with the history of
Rouen and has found a memorial in
‘her cathedral. The city fell into the
power of the English in 1419. In
1431 the Prelates, who were deaf to
the voice of patriotism and instru-
ments in the hands of foreigners, ad-
judged and put to death the heroine
‘who had saved her country. A statue
of Joan of Arc erected on the market
place as well as a street bearing her
name prove that her memory is still
= ES
revered in the town in which she was
unjustly condemned.
Rouen possesses probably the most
valuable collection of paintings in
France outside of Paris. Its academy
contains more than five hundred
paintings of unusual merit as works
of art. The collection took its origin
from the paintings taken from the
convents and churches suppressed in
1793 and have been subsequently
vastly enriched by important pur-
chases by the city and gifts by private
individuals and by the government.
The most valuable are Jesus Ches
Marthe and Marie, by Jrrdaens; Ador-
ation des Virgeres, by Rubens; La
Verge de Lixte, by Raphael, and Un
Portrait d’ Homme, by Titian. The
lover of art can readily pass a day
of great enjoyment in this truly re-
markable gallery.
The Gothic work of Rouen is how-
, ever the chief attraction to the travel-
er. The Linen Market and the Palais
de Justice are beautiful monuments
of the middle ages. But the Church
of St. Ouen is an exquisite gem of
Gothic architecture, notable for its
perfection and for the beauty of its
painted windows. The first stone was
laid in 1318 and the choir chapels and
transepts were finished immediately.
The nave and tower, 260 feet high,
a model of finished beauty, were added
160 years later. The south portal is
as delicate a bit of taste as was ever
| translated into stone. The interior
is 443 feet long and 106 feet high.
i All the windows are of painted glass
| and there is a fine reflection of the
i nave {rom the Holy Water basin. The
| Cathedral is also of vast proportions |
‘and elaborate decorations. But for
| the make-believe spire we would rank |
i the Cathedral of Rouen above the
Notre Dame of Paris. The central
spire is a disfiguring iron work re-
placing one burned down. The work
of the whole external front wall is
exceedingly elegant. Dark ages, the
middle ages may have been called but |
they put a deal of light and beauty |
in the stone work they did. Much of |
this vast cathedral was wrought in
| transept, from every curve in yonder
dome, 100 feet overhead to the minut-
est carving of the curious stalls by
my side, thought is visible, as El
rich, airy, thorough and conscientious |
as aught witnessed in any architecture
of our vaunted times.
Rouen is a city of contrasts. When !
mandy, it was a proud mediaeval city,
a legitimate child of the feudal sys-
tem. Its palace, its long and intri-
cately tortuous streets, compelled to
twist round the huge town mansions
of the Rouenese nobles and forced be-
large gardens, contributed to impress
upon it the stamp of an old provincial
capital of the first class. Much of
this aspect still remains in old streets,
narrow, and picturesque. The street
called La Rue Le La Grasse Horloge
from the clock gate house is an inter-
esting illustration as well as many
others containing many fine specimens
of the domestic architecture of the
Middle Ages.
In the midst of this antique city,
a young commercial upstart has
arisen, the old and the new jostling
each other side by side. Wealthy and
industrious residents have erected a
city that will vie with London or Paris
in the nobility of its buildings. Hard
by streets narrow and tortuous, are
boulevards, straight and imposing, and
long rows of business squares without
a break. The quays are lined with
buildings of noble proportions and
crowded with vessels of every clime,
attesting that Rouen is a port of en-
try for an important coast and foreign
trade.
ne —— eee
St. Patrick.
Far back in the mists of early his-
tory, there lived a robust old saint
who is reverenced by the Irish people
today. He must have had a most or-
iginal personality, as something out
of his commanding and winsome
character has come down through all
these ages, to influence the life of
these times.
He must have been a statesman as
well as a religious leader and a man
of great power and influence, as he
is said to have founded 365 churches
and to have put a school beside each
one.
The Irish people, who have become
go important an element in American
life, look back to Saint Patrick with a
peculiar affection, perhaps because he
typified in so many ways the Irish
temperament. The man who did so
much to stamp out heathenism, who
faced and overcome the perils of those
savage times must have been one of
undaunted courage and cheerfulness,
and these characteristics have been
handed on to his descendants in Amer-
ica.
Someone has said that when an
the 13th century yet from nave to |
the capital of the province of Nor-
tween long lines of dead walls by their |
Irishman has a roof over his head, he
sings, and if he doesn’t have a roof,
he sings, too. There is an imperish-
able good cheer in this race that has
helped them win their way.
Wherever you find the sons of St.
! Patrick in this country, you find peo-
‘ple who have taken hold of the hardest
tasks with persistent industry, and a
{kind of smiling faith which has worked
| wonders. The first pioneers began on
the most laborious tasks, they helped
| build our railroads and dig our ditch-
ies. Now they have risen to the high-
est posts in the nation and business.
The same fearless spirit that carried
old Saint Patrick through his achieve-
ments and drove the snakes out of
Ireland, has today driven away the
difficulties and obstacles that beset
the people who come to a new land.
—Governor John S. Fisher has
designated Friday, April 8, and Fri-
day, April 22, as Spring Arbor Days.
The Governor asks that these days be
appropriately observed throughout the
State by the planting of trees, the
study of birds, and the consideration
2 other important conservation prob-
ems.
The Music of Ireland.
“Although it is not long since tke
opinion was generally entertained that
Ireland had been sunk in barbarism
until the English invasion,” says
Grove’s “Dictionary of Music and Mu-
sicians,” “historical and antiquarian
researches have established the fact
that the island was in early times the
seat of Christianized learning and a
remarkable artistic civilization. The
music of Ireland, in particular her
ancient school of harp playing, has
from early times been in high repute,
having been lauded in the writings of
Brompton, Giraldus, Cambrensis,
Dante and John of Salisbury (twelfth
century.) The latter writes thus: ‘The
attention of this people of musical in-
struments I find worthy of commend-
ation, in which their skill is beyond
comparison superior to that of any
nation I have seen.’ ” In recent years
successful efforts have been made to
revive harp playing in Ireland.
—
Fastest Electric Train.
The fastest electric railroad train
in the country is said to be the North-
land Limited which runs between
Chicago and Milwaukee. The train
covers the 88.24 miles between the
two cities in two hours, making nine
stops. Its average speed, stops ex-
cluded, is 51.91 miles per hour.
i
Sine
A NT nin
5.
keen
every
Valog
Ve
shaving expense.
Yet get a quick,
smooth
The oNLY razor
insuring a super-
Razor,
$1 up to $28.
Auto-Strop
Razor
~Sharpens Itself
SHMAVE.
a
blade Sop
shave is the |
AutoStron
Pr
alet
Are You gi E
“Toxic?”? EY
It IsWell, Then, to Learn the Importance
of Good Elimination.
UNCTIONAL inactivity of the
kidneys permits a retention of
waste poisons in the blood. Symp-
toms of this toxic condition are a
dull, languid feeling, drowsy head-
aches and, sometimes, toxic back-
ache and dizziness. That the kidneys
are not functioning as they should is
often shown by scanty or burning
passage of secretions. Many readers
have learned the value of Doan’s
Pills, stimulant diuretic to the kid-
neys, in this condition. Users every-
where endorse Doan’s. Ask your
neighbor!
PILLS
DOAN’ 60c
Stimulant Diuretic to the Kidneys
Foster-Milburn Co., Mfg. Chem., Buffalo, N. Y.
Whether they be fresh,
smoked or the cold-ready to
serve—products, are always
the choicest when they are
purchased at our Market.
We buy nothing but prime
stock on the hoof, kill and re-
frigerate it ourselves and we
know it is good because we
have had years of experience
in handling meat products.
Orders by telephone always receive
prompt attention.
Telephone 450
P. L. Beezer Estate
Market on the Diamond
BELLEFONTE, PA.
34-34
CHICHESTER S PILLS
Lad} licat Ask yous Dr D;
Shiono d Bm Eanes
hora sealed with
Take Reeth other,
TAM SD’ i Her GS P,
DEANS HAND FrLis, eliable
SOLD BY DRUGGISTS EVERYWHERE
—
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°
wi
WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY,
MARCH
Bargams and Specials in all Stores
Don’t Miss this Wonderful Sale
Watch for
Gden OPPORTUNITY Sale
by All the Stores of Bellefonte, on
161718 I9
$100000 IN FREE GIFTS
Given away Saturday night at 9:30 on the Diamond. With ev-
ery $1.00 purchased during this Sale you receive one
“Golden Opportunity Ticket” on the Free Give Away.
Remember the Dates
the Hand Bills
Associated Business Men of Bellefonte