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| EXTERIOR VIEW ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, DUBLIN. -The above fine exterior view of St. Patrick's Cathedral will be immediately recognized by all who have visited the more ancient portion of the Irish capital. It has stood there since the last decade of the 12th century, and, since the "Reformation," has changed hands, and creeds, more than once. The edifice had fallen sadly into decay when public spirit moved the late Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness to have it restored and partially reconstructed out of his own funds. He followed, as far as possible, the architectural ideas of Archbishop John Comyn, the Anglo-Norman prelate, who founded it in the time of Henry II. The spire has always been an eye-sore, and has been compared by the witty Dubliners to a candle extinguisher. In another sketch, dealing with the interior of the cathedral, we have mentioned its area, the monuments it contains and other features of interest. During his stay in Dublin from 1689-90, King James II, a devout Catholic, regularly attended mass at St. Patrick's. At that period it became once more temporarily a Catholic place of worship. It is related that one of the Protestant English lords, who followed his fortunes, generally accompanied the Monarch to the church, and then took his leave. This lord's father was a Catholic, and James was not. On the occasion the King said to him: "Your lordship's father would have gone farther!" To which the other immediatley answered: "Your Majesty's father would not have gone so far!" |
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