St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-03-30
st gnlinsbnry eIradenp Column.

ming, March Is. The presence of a
large number of former students gave
interest to the occasion. We are al
ways glad to see at these gatherings not
only the recent alumni of the school.
but also older friends, especially the
parents of the scholars.
There is now public defamation on
Thursday and Friday mornings in No.
10, immediately following prayers.
The Seniors are writing on a series
OF topics illustrating ancient and modern
art and are much interested. The fol-
lowing is specimen paper:
THE ORDERS OF GRECIAN ARCHITEC-
TURE.
The origin of Grecian architecture is
commonly supposed to have been in
the eighth century b. C. 1t attained a
degree of perfection never before equal
ed and in its peculiar department has
not since been surpassed.
To understand some of the remains
of architecture in Greece at the present
day, we must bear in mind that at the
time of its appearance, there existed
two contemporaneous races in that
country, one (whose origin is unknown)
called Pelasgi, was supreme at Athens
at the time of the Trojan war, the other
was more nearly Aryan in its origin
and customs, and largely inhabited
Sparta.
Of the former race all that remains
are few architectural ruins. Its Ian
guage has been long extinct. The most
noted of the existing remains of Pc
lasgic architecture is found at Mycenae.
1t is known as the tomb or treasure of
Athens and is in the form of pointed
arch. 1t is quite small in size, and is
now almost entirely under ground. AS
rule, Pelasgic remains are noted prin-
cipally for stability, making but little
pretensiOns to beauty.
What is commonly known as Grecian
(more properly Hellenic) architecture,
appeared first at COrinth, four centuries
after the building of the Peiasgic re-
mains just mentioned. AS usually
classified, Grecian architecture com
prises three orders,-the Doric, Ionic
and Corinthian.
The oldest of these orders is the
Doric, the style of which is evidently
borrowed from the Egyptians. 1t is
distinguished for its simplicity, massive.
ness, and majestic beauty the columns
have no bases, are large and taperins
in form, and are surmounted by large
and plain capital. This order is sait
to have been more loved and cultivated
by the Greeks than any other. The
oldest existing DOric Temple is al
Corinth, being built $50 B. c. 1t.
columns are very short in proportion tt
their size, impairing its effect as a work
of art. Several other temples might be
mentioned, but the most celebrated anL
best example of the DOric order is the
"ParthenOn," which has been called 80
the kind the most beautiful building il
the world" At the time of its con
struction its magnifcence probably ex'
ceeded our highest conceptions. 1t wai
constructed with white marble through
out, was Ornamented with sculpture
and in the proportion of every part, anC
the finishing of every detail, was "a
near perfection as human works can be
It's dimensions were 10lx227 feet.
The Ionic order is distinguished b!
more gracefulness and Ornamentatiol
than the DOric. The shaft is lighte
and rests upon base. But the prin
cipal characteristic is the spirals on it
capital, called volutes. 1t was proba
bly, introduced from Asia. Two TEN
pies of this order, built about the SAM
time, are historically famous :-Dian
at Ephesus, and Juno at Samos. Th
being 425x220 feet. 1t also was bull
of white marble, some blocks being 3
feet in length. The ancients regarde,
this as one of the seven wonders of tn,
world. 1t was burned by Herostratu
to immOrtalize himself, in the year 80
B. c., and was afterwards rebuilt.
The Corinthian order was the last il
use amOrg the Greeks. 1t seems to b
union of the Egyptian and Ionic char
acteristics. Its style is the most slen
der and ornamented of the three orders
its capital is handsomely decorated wit
acanthus leaves. This circumstanc
gives rise to legend regarding tn
origin of the order: that an Athenia
sculptor saw basket covered with
tile, around and over which acanthu
leaves were growing, the stalks bein
crowded down by the tile formed It
the imagination of the artist,) tn
volutes, and having sketched it, b
afterward invented the Corinthian OF
der, with this for a foundation. TIL
oldest and most beautiful example @
this order is the monument of Lysicrate
at Athens other buildings are the TEN
pie of Jupiter Olympus, the size {
which is 171x354 feet, and the tower q
the winds.
These are the orders on which nearl
all modern architecture has been found
ed, and like a theme in music, we Nigh
say, they surpass all variations both i
simnlicity. and in true beauty an