Saxon troops entered the town at 4 p.m., and the Mayor, M. Bernard, having left, M. Servas--his deputy--took over the direction of municipal affairs. The bishop, Mgr. Tissier, and the Abbé Laisnez, his chaplain, were equally heroic during these tragic times. A contribution of £1,200,000 was demanded for the Department of the Marne by the Germans. Mgr. Tissier was able to persuade them to lower it to £20,000 for Châlons. From September 7 to 11, great numbers of German wounded came in, and were treated in the military hospital, the Hôtel-Dieu, the town-hall, and, when these overflowed, in the barracks, the college, and even in private houses. On September 11 the Saxon troops left the town hurriedly, and on the 12th the French re-took possession. VISIT TO THE TOWN (See map opposite) Of great interest: the Cathedral (_pp. 199-202_); Notre-Dame (_pp. 203-205_); Notre-Dame-de-l'Épine (_pp. 210-212_). Of interest: Saint Alpin (_pp. 206-207_); to archæologists: Saint-Jean (_p. 207_); pretty walk: the Jard (_p. 208_). [Illustration: CHÂLONS-S.-MARNE] =Cathedral of Saint-Stephen= (historical monument) (See map opposite) [Illustration: CATHEDRAL (_Photo L. L._)] The Cathedral has had a very eventful history. It dates from the Carolingian times, and was destroyed in 963, when the town was taken by Robert of Vermandois. It was rebuilt, only to be destroyed again in 1138 by a fire, caused by lightning. It was once more rebuilt and enlarged, but in 1230 a similar disaster overtook it. The rebuilding this time took many years to accomplish, for at the beginning of the fifteenth century the nave was unfinished and the western doorway not yet begun. [Illustration: NORTH TRANSEPT OF THE CATHEDRAL] In 1520 there was set up in the north tower of the transept (see photo below) a wooden spire covered with lead and richly ornamented, about 310 feet in height. In 1628 the two final bays of the nave were completed and the western doorway entirely built (photo above). Unfortunately, its style jars with the Gothic of the rest of the church. In 1668 the cathedral was struck by lightning for the third time; the spire fell and drove in the vaulting and the crypt. After another restoration, the two towers of the transept were embellished with stone spires, which were reconstructed in 1821, but, later, removed. In 1850 the south front of the transept was entirely rebuilt. In 1862 all the sixteenth century chapels in the aisles off the nave were done away with. Quite recently the two towers, together with the doorways of the transept, have been restored.