Journal of a residence in Normandy Author:James Augustus St. John Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: 12 CHURCHES. traced in the civil or military architecture of the northern barbarians, who reared the majority ef these structures. When we compare these fine ... more »temples with the human dwellings around them, although, as I have said, the latter are far from being mean or despicable, we are almost tempted to imagine, indeed, that not only has the style of architecture been borrowed, but the architects also, and the hands by which they were reared,—so vast is the disparity. Jt is to its churches, in fact, that Caen owes its principal beauty. View it from whatever point of the vicinity you please, you cau never fail to be struck with the number and grandeur of its sacred edifices, especially when the rich hues of sunrise or sunset are glowing on their lofty pinnacles, and on the windows and roofs of the subjacent houses. CHAPTER IL Taking a House — Coarseness of Manners — The Calvaries — The Public Promenades—Vicinity of Caen — French Leases — Sarrazin, or Buck-Wheat—Mr Armstrong, the Factotum of the English at Caen — Cormelles le Royal— Road to the Village—The Cure—House at Cormelles. Although I had determined to make Caen my head-quarters for some time, it was a fortnight at least before I could discover a suitable residence. In the meanwhile, I perambulated the city and its environs in all directions, noting the appearance of its various quarters, and endeavouring, from the healthful or squalid looks of the inhabitants, to judge of the elasticity and salubrity of the air. During these walks, my eyes and nose perpetually informed me, that the people of Caen were not remarkable for taste or delicacy,—all the pleasant little paths in the neighbourhood of the town, — every spot from whence a pleasant view might be obtained, together with theCALVARIES. 1 alleys, bye-streets,...« less