Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-07-08
81. Puul'S Cathedral,

ST. Paurs Cathedral, 10 London, has bcen
burned iivo times, thric, by fire. from Heaven.
II attained its fual magni6otnco when, 10 tho
thirtccIth century, it was o vista OF Gothic
arches, sven huadrod feet in lcugth.-
The interior was fell Of nots historic tombs,
John Of Gauut, SOD. urc,o and father of kings.
But, carly in the sXtccutb century, the build
ing had been decorated to such an extent as 10
have become known rather as 90 GX,haDga and
house OF merchandise than ns o church,
The south alloy" says D.kker, writing 10
1907. was the place tor usury aud Popery,
the 9th tor simooy, tho herss lair in tho
midst Tor oil kisds Ct bargains, meetings, braw'
logs, murlheIs. conspirRces, and tho loot for
ordinary payments OF money"
n Colinthian Poriico. Of which the first stone
was laid by h,ud, was built, by Iuigo Jones,
being intended, says Dryden, as IAN ambulato.
~ for such as usually walking in tho body OF
the Church, destroyed tho solemn service of tho
choir 1t is believed that Charles l, meant
this portico merely as the first instamant OF q
new Cathedral, but his attention was Otherwise
occupied, and under the Commonwealth the
soldiers Of Ctem we'll stabbed their horses 10 tho
nave. With tho Restoration it was intended
10 restore the cid CbuIch, tui tho words of
Dfgdru-
"Iho daring famcs pcep'd iD, aud saw from far
The awful beauties Of the sacred qure;
Aud siLco it was prntaned by civil war
Heaven thought it tis to have i. purged by fire.
Christopher Wren, son of o Dean Of Wind.
SIR, was chosen as the architect Of the new
church. ard on June 81, 1915 was laid the first
stone OF Tho new St. Psul's, which vas finished
ia thirty. five yeats While he was occupied
on 81. Paui's, Wroa was consulted as to the re.
pairs OF lily Cathedral, and 10 spite of tho diff.
Terence of styles. an arohitcot will detect mauy
points Ct resemblance 10 the construction Of the
Two churches to which he was led by his admir-
aloD, Tor tho great church of tho eastern
couD.Glcs, and which were not always to the
advantage 0t St. Pau!'s as in the case of the
mcnG!nkcsS arches which break tho sim
pllcly OF tho cornoo IN tho pillars Of the
dame. Tho whole cost of st. Paul's, E747,.
951 259l, was paid By n tax on every chaldroo
OF coal brought toto tho port of London, on
Whcl a2c)uut IL Is said that the cithe6ral has
q special claim OF its own to It's smoky exterior.
Ii will be admitted that though 10 general II .ot
there is nothing ia tho sano Style Of architect,
ucc winch exceeds the exterior of st. Paul's it
| has not siprlc detail deserving of admiration
except tho PfmniX over the south portc),
@h!ch was executed BY Gibbons, aud commem.
| oratts tho curious tact narrated in the PArenta
Il. thst the very first stonc which Sir Christie
| nhcr Wren directed mason to bring from the
| rubbish Of The old church 10 serve as o mark
| ltT ihc ceutro OF the dome in bis plans was in
| Seslocd With tho single word Rosursam-l shall
| llse seain. The other ornaments and statues
| are nhic!ly by Bird, most inferior sculptor-
| Those who ind eronter faults. must, however
| remember that ST. Paul's as it now stands is
| not according to the first design OF Wren. the
r cotton cl which cost hin bitter tears. EVon
ln his alter work hu met with 80 mspy rubs and
Illll y, ard was so iusufEcoutly paid, that the
| Duchess ct Marlborough said in allusion 10 bis
'catfoid labors: He is dragged up aud down 10
| basket Two or three times in week for an in
! significant C20O year."