The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-07-19
CATHEDRAL OF COLOGNE
THE DEVIL HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR DELAY IN IT'S COMPLETION.
The Great Edifice Was Begun i'm the
ly Ffnished-Satan's Part.

Cologne Letter in Philadelphia Telegraph
There is something peculiarly diabolical
about the legends that hang around the
sacred edifices of the Rhine. i have al
ready described that it was through the
agency of the serpent tina. the virtues of
the sulphurous springs of Aix-la- Chapelie
Were discovered by Charlemagne, and tina.
1t was the Evil One who in person, sup
piled the money to build the cathedral of
that town. Now. at Cologne. there is a
similar story told concerning the great ca
thedral. which is the admiration of the
whole world. 1t is true that some explana-
ton had to be found to account for the
fact that the cathedral. though commenced
In the thirteenth century, was only fin
ished in the latter half of the nineteenth
century. Doubtless it was some coasoat ton
for the faithful to feel that this scandal
Gus neglect of the sacred edifice for so
many centuries was due. not to the indif
ference of the population, but to the
tive and personal intervention of the devil
himself But. If this is the case, how is 1t
that 1T has been necessary to wait till the
triumph of the Protestant States and of
Protestant monarch before this great
Catholic cathedral could be completed?
confess myself totally incapable Of ex-
planning such self-evident contradictions
and had to content myself by admiring
the magnificent result without understand
ing it's cause.
1t was in the thirteenth century that
Conrad Won Hochsteden Archbishop of
Cologne. determined to build a cathedral
that should surpass all other sacred edi-
fees by it's beauty and its size. For this
purpose he was willing to sacrifice the
great wealth he possessed. and as many
other pious Christians were also ready to
contribute large sums. it was not the lack
of means that would thwart his ambitious
projects. The difficulty rested rather in
securing the services of an architect capa-
bic of realizing so vast a scheme. Fortu-
nately there was. i'm Colgne. at that time
an architect. who had already greatly dis
tinguished himself. and who gladly under
took to prepare design that would satisfy
the Archbishops most ambitious projects.
The architects proposal was accepted and.
: confiding in the ArchbishoD's promises, he
abandoned all other work devotng himself
exclusively to devising a monument that
should transmit to ali ages n proof of the
piety of his epoch. and. more especially.
and ability. But, in spite of every endeav-
or. he could not satisfy himself. His plans
and his DRAWINGS all seemed inferior RI
what he wished to accomplish. The ideal
was in his mind. At night. in bed and
with his eyes closed. the architect plainly
saw the cathedral he wished to buiid.
found it impossible to place his ideas on
paper. Yet limit had been placed to the
time allowed him for his studies. AS the
day approached for him to present his
plans the architect became more and more
respondent, more and more ashamed of
himself. In his despair he took long walks.
and one occasion went as far as the
forest, which then covered the Seven
Mountains familiar to all tourists on the
Rhine.
THE ARCHITECT AND THE DEVIL.
In this forest the wanderer was over
taken by night and by terrible thunder
storm. But he was not alarmed. Indeed.
the struggle of the elements harmonized
with the anger that his failure to devise a
suitable plan had occasioned in his own
mind Suddenly, however. there was a
loud crash. The lightning struck down a
huge oak tree close at hand. This in itself
was sufficiently alarming. but still greater
was the terror Of the architect when he
saw a man step out from behind the blaze
of light which Illuminated the wreck of the
tree The stranger was dressed as a hunts
man, but bore red plume on his hat and
had flowing red mantle on his shoulders.
What bad weather. exclaimed the
stranger Il am surprised that you. the
wandering about in the forest. and during
such a night. However. l know path
that will take you quickly out of the for
est, ana. III you VIII accompany HE. We
shall soon find comfortable shelter
These words seemed particularly ironical
to the architect. for he knew that he would
never be able TO build the cathedral. so he
turned his back upon the stranger and
made no reply. The latter, however. would
not accept this rebuff but, seating him.
self on the trunk OF a tree. drew flask
out OF his pocket.
this wine: Ii will render you more sociable
II will cure you of any grief that may be
weighing on your mind
The architect. however. protested that no
drink could cure him of his afliiction.
You are an unsoclable fellow" replied
the stranger. but this will not prevent
my helping you. as have helped so many
others. Drink. The vine does not ripen