Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-19

ful scene comes with the evening. The
iour-tuned chimes of the sweet cathedral
bells have scarcely ceased when thousands
oil Gloucester lads md lasses arc upon tho
streets. The little shops are ablaze. All the
household marketing of the day is now
being done for the morrow One can
scarcely make progress on the narrow
walks, and the. mass overlows upon
and fills the carriage ways. Then it is you
will see innocent, unabashed, sturdy love
making at its best. There is no secrecy
about it. The smacking is resonant, the
caressing unchecked the embracing mus
cular and ardent. II increases in activity
and universally until 10 o'clock. Then
out go the lights and away to their homes
whisk the young folk. their heavy hobs
beating thundrously upon the resounding
pavements. Almost in an instant you are
alone with the helmeted roundsmen upon
their beats and utter silence has fallen
upon the old cathedral town.
However others may feel, never enter
an old-world cathedral without awe in my
heart apart and distinct from that direct
ana instructive reverence which the sacred
character OF the structure impels.
This, is because stand in spot which is
o tomb OF innumefable personages who
have assisted in making, or have gained
places in, the worlds history; because the
upbnilding, preservation, destruction, re-
Mobilization, of what my hands may touch
or eyes behold. have often changed dynas-
ties, Impoverished treasures, created pill
grimages and sacrificed countless lives
and more than all else because, for century
after century thousands upon thousands
OF great minds have with matchless
fidelity given of their best effort or abso-
iutely their life's devotion, towards the per-
lection OF this mighty prayer in stone.
And there are cathedrals and cathedrals
besides. There is the vast and gloomy sort
like York Minister; those of Doric ponder
osity, like st. Pauls in London; and those
that blind II not the spiritual the physical
sight with their vastliness and ghastliness
like Canterbury.
But it seems to me that whether YOU
contemplate this Gloucester cathedral
from without until your minds receptive
ties OF form and proportion have brought
It's line outlines and majestic central tower
into the most fitting shape you can con-
celve stone to be set, in sacred structure; or
have stood at the side Of, and just beneath,
its west window. within the nave, and
followed its splendid lines of depth and
height up and on up and on-past choir
screen and choir, the DELEGATE flying but
tresses across the great transept.opening
above, the wondrous carvings of the chan
Gel and the chantry faces, the high altar
and the filmy Gothic reredos, to that mar
Vicious east window, greatest In Britain,
Dehlnd-you have here Toasted upon as
perfect a Christian temple as the inspired
builders have ever wrought.
And for these reasons: Massiveness and
spaciousness have been brought into low
ing proportion. Perspective and embel-
ilshnent are here poem in harmony.
Loftlness has been, in the delicate groin
ing, fretwork and tracery OF the roof, so
LUMINOSITY enwreatled, that all the up-
ward aspect to the behoder is one of in
slant and lasting exultation. Never else.
whefe, have seen such perfect blending of
miracles of human handwork with the
magic of distance and the enchantment of
light. 1t can only be likcned to the arched
vaulting OF majestic forest trees, where in
Vulnerable interlacing branches and leaves
so filter, but do not turn back, the sum
light, that from highest arch to sward be-
meath, there is a pulsing, palpable, tran
scendent glow.
To simply the art lover there is pro
found pleasure to be derived from visit
to Gloucester cathedral. The student of
ecclesastic art will discover ample ex-
amples from the time of the old Anglo
saxon builders down past the early Nor
man workers along the development i'll
first and middle pointed, perpendicular
and the modern Gothic. Whoever loves
to dwell upon ecclesiastic history will find
NpIlu vi ndltrlul III TRADITION ana 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 mere where
parliaments have assembled. kings have
been crowned and monarchs lie entombed.
More unique, splendid and interesting
than those OF any other British cathedral
are the cloisters. North and south they
LA faaf n, lapntb Co IL,
east and west alleys, u feet wide and IL
feet in height: with the famous chapter
house reached from the east walk. The
fan-vaulting Of their roof is the earliest
specimen in England, and the most mag
niiicent extant. Here in open, arched and
embattled recesses, overlooking the 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 dormitory, in
these noble cloisters | would idle and
dream, and in restfulness and peace work
out some grand design.
EDGAR l.. WAKEMAN.