The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-23
A LEGEND or COLOGNE


No stranger enters Cologne without going 10
the Cathedral and nobody looks upon that fragment
Of the mghtcst Gothic design in Christendom without
doing three thng-without regrettng that never was
completed, without asking who the architect,
without listening TO the Legend Of the Builder.
Mighty the Archbishop Conrad de Iicchsteden, for
he lord over the chief iy al the Rhne-the clty Of
Cologne but his thoughts troubled, and his heart
wa heavy, for though his churches were rich beyond
compare In relics, yet other towns not half large
powerful bis had cahedras whose fame extended over
Europe, and whose beauty brought pilgrims ~ their
srne profit 10 the eccesiastcg and business " the
toxnspeople After many sleepess nights therefore, he
determined b. add 10 his city the only thing wanting 10
complete IT, and, sending for the most famous architect or
the time, he commissioned him 10 complete the plan for
Cathedral Of Cologne.
Now the architect a clever man, but he more
vain than clever. lie had a dreamy notion OF magna-
cence which he desired TO achieve without clear con
cepton of how he was 81 do H. without the will 81 make
the necessary sacrifices Of labor and perseverance,
He received the commission with great gidness, and
gloated days uIcn the fame which would be bis
the builder OF the structure which the archbishop desired
but after this vision Of glory when he took his crayons 10
sketch out the design he was thrown into the deepest
dependency lie drew and drew and added and erased
and corrected and began again, but stl he did no,
coed. Not plan could he complete. Some we're too
mean, others too exrayaRsnt and others, when done
and examined, found 10 Ne good, but original
Efforts Of memory instead Of imagination their points OF
excellence were discovered 10 be copies-a tower from
one, a spire from another, aisle from third and
altar from fourth and one after another they were cast
aside imperfect and useless, until the draghtsman
than half crazy felt inclined n end his troubles and
perpextes by plunge into the Rhine.
In this mood OF than hall despair, he wandered
down 10 the rivers side and sitting himself upon stone
began 10 draw the sand with measuring rod which
served es walking stick the outlines OF parts Of
church. Ground plans, towers, finals, brackets, win
dows columns appeared after another traced by tho
point u his wand, but all after another erased
unequal and insufficient Tor the purpose and unworthy
u form part Of the design for Cathedral Of Cologne
Turning round the architect that another per-
beside him, and with surprise the disappointed
draughisman that the stranger also busiy invent
ng design Rapidly the sand he sketched tho details
Of most magnificent buildng-ts towers rising TO the
clouds IL long ais~ aud lofty choir stretching away be
fore the eye o. the until he mentally confessed 4
indeed temple worthy Of the Most High. The win
dows enriched by tracery such artist hal
before conceived aud the loity columns reared Their tall
length towards roof which seemed 10 claim kindred with
the clouds and 70 equal the armament expanse and
beauty. But each line o. this long sought plan vanished
the msmeni II and with a complete conviction
Of iis excellence, when IL gone, not portion Of Il
could the architect remember.
- Your sketch Is excellent said he to the unknown:
" " what have thought and dreamed of-what have
sought for and wished for and have been able TO End
Give TO me on paper aud will pay you twenty gold
pieces"
Twenty pieces kal Ia, twenty gold peces'r laughed
the stranger. "Look here' and from doublct that did
not big enough to hold half the money, he drew
purse that certainly held thousand.
The night bad closed and the architect despe.
rate II money cannot tempt you fear shall force you,
and sprngng towards the srangey he pluckcd dagger
from bis girdle and held point Nose 10 the breast OF
mysterious draugbtsman IN the attitude 10 strike In a
moment his wrists were pni0ned with grasp uf vice
and squeezed until he dropped his weapon and shrekcd
in agony. Falling on the sands he writhed Ike an eel
upon the shermans hook. but plunged and struggled
vain When nearly fsntnr nc felt himself thrown help
lees upon the very brink n tho stream
There revive and be reasonable Learn that gold and
steel have no power over You want my cathedral,
for would bring you honor fame and profit and you
have Il II you choose"
I" How tell me how
g BY signing this parchment with your blood"
The continuation Of this beautiful tale will be found IN
No los OF Frank Leses Illustrated paper b. be had this
morning Al all the news depots the best family pa
per now published, without any exception.