Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-14

that blind if not the spiritual the physical
sight with their vastliness and ghastliness
like Canterbury
But it seems TO me that whether you con-
template this Gloucester Cathedral from
without, until JOUR minds receptlvlties OF
form and proportion have brought Its hne
outlines and majestic central tower into the
most fitting shape you can conceive stone 10
be set, in sacred structure; or have stood at
the side of, and Just beneath, its west win
dow, within the name, and followed Its
splendid lines in depth and height, up and
on, up and on-past choir-screen and choir,
the delicate flying buttresses across the
great transept-opening above, the Wondrous
carvings of the chancel and the chantry
faces, the high altar and the filmy Gothic
reredos, to that marvellous east window, the
greatest in Britain, behind-you have here
feasted upon as perfect Christian temple
as the inspired builders have ever wrought:
And for these reasons: Massiveness and
spaciousness have been brought into loving
proportion. Perspective and embelllshment
are here poem in harmony. Loftlness has
been, in the delicate groining, fretwork and
tracerv of the roof, so luminously en-
wreathed, that all the upward aspect to the
beholder is one of instant and lasting exul-
tation.
Perfect Blending of Handiwork.
Never elsewhere have / seen such perfect
blending of miracles of human handiwork
with the magic of distance and the enchant-
ment of light. 1t can only be likened to
the arched vaulting of majestic forest trees,
where innumerable interlacing branches
and leaves so filter, but do not turn back
the sunlight, that from highest arch to
sward beneath, there is pulslng, palpable,
transcendent glow.
To simply the art lover there is profound
pleasure to be derived from visit to Glou-
cester Cathedral The student of ecclesi-
astc art will discover ample examples from
the time of the early Anglo-SaXon builders
down past the old Norman workers along
the development in first and middle
pointed, perpendicular and the modern
Gothic. Whoever loves to dwell upon &C.
clesiastic history will find world of ma
terial in tradition and fact from the time of
Lucius, in the second century, to that of
Victoria in this. The antiquarian can come
upon no richer field And he who delves
in civil history will find much to feast upon
here where parliaments have assembled,
kings have been crowned and ponarchs lie
entombed.
More unique, splendid and interesting
than those of any other British cathedral
are the cloisters North and south they
are IA feet in length. 147 feet long in the
east and west alleys, II feet wide and IS
feet in height; with the famous chapter
house reached from the east side. The fam
vaulting of their roof is the earliest spec-
men in England, and the most magnificent
extant Here in open, arched and en-
battled recesses, overlooking thea sunny
cloister-garth, the old monks studied and
wrote. One will linger long and lovingly
in these. And, could have my wish, with
the chapter house for a dormitory, in these
noble cloisters L would idle and dream, and
in restfulness and peace work out some
grand design. EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.