PLACi: DE LA CROIX. 241 



Church " to mingle her sacred symbols with those of 

 arms ; and they went joined together through the wilds 

 of America. 



Among the beautiful and striking customs of those 

 days, was the erection of the Cross at the mouths of 

 rivers, and prominent points of land, that presented them- 

 selves to the discoverers. 



The sacred symbol thus reared in solitude, seemed 

 to shadow forth the future, when the dense forests would 

 be filled with its followers, instead of the wild savage ; 

 and it cheered the lonely pilgrim in his dangerous jour- 

 neys, bringing to his mind all the clftrished associations 

 of this life, and directing his thoughts to another world. 

 In the putting up of these crosses, as they bore the arms 

 of the sovereign whose subjects erected them, and as 

 they were indicative of civil jurisdiction and empire, the 

 most prominent and majestic locations were selected, 

 where they could be seen for miles around, towering 

 above every other object, speaking the advances of the 

 European, and giving title to the lauds over which they 

 cast their shadows. 



Three hundred years ago the sign of the cross was 

 first raised on the banks of the Mississippi. 



From one of the few blufi^s or high points of land 



that border that swift-running river, De Soto, guided by 



the aborigines of the country, was the first European 



that looked upon its turbid waters, soon to be his grave. 



On thi.s high bluff, taking advantage of a lofty cottou- 

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