Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-11
NEW-CENTUHY CLUB.

architecture mat 10 hnn and true IL al
outgrowth of structural need. Tbs
transition from the round arch Of the
Norman to tho pointed arch Of the
early English came from tho necessity
of vaulting an oblong nave, and the
solution of this served also to meet the
problem OF the heavy outward thrust
Of the round arch. The Normans and
Romano oyercame this thrust by thick
piers 1T masonry, but with the pointed
arch the thrust is downward and heavy
walls Disappeared. With the Norman
arch strength OF the building depended
upon the strength of the wall, while 10
the Gothic the wall is not essential,
cave to keep out the rain. The ten.
dency was constantly toward greater
lghtness and yet greater strength.
Slender shafts were cut in relief
Rgainst the heavy piers. which were
later replaced by clustered columns.
There was no sharply drawn line
separating one style of architecture
from another successive generations
altered to suit their needs or tastes.
The pointed arch first appeared in
aisle and triforium while the windows
Htilf remained Norman. The transition
came 10y springing the round arch from
alternate piers which gave the pointed
6Fcn al tnB lDUeTBBCtlUh.
As the arch became more nointed
and the system of balanced thrusta was
un1erstood-when the inside thrust of
arch WAS met by the outside thrust of
huttress, windows grew larger and
larger, until in the late Perpendicular,
the sides became nearly all window.
b This made the light inside the church
too garish and so led ON to the painted
~ window whose colors threw rich but
y subdued light. The Gothic has been
n called the architecture of the painted
" window. Gothic" was originally a
cor temptuou5 term, applied TO work
done north of the Alps, by the Italians,
who were heirs of the classic principles
Z of Greece. In its later form it is the
flower of fusion Of races, the Southern
race contributing the classic idenls,
and the Northern blood giving the
freedom, the daring to try now things,
and the practical ideas. The credit for
its fret suggestion has been given to
Bindoo. Egyptian, Hebrew and Saracen.
to Rome, to Greece, TO England, and to
Scotland. 1t was said that the over
arching, interlacing boughs Of trees
were its inspiration, or the inverted
keel uf n boat, but it was most pobably
seen in the East by the Crusaders and
brought home by them.
The Gothic architecture OF the con-
tnent is more geometrically and mathe.
matically correct, but there is a charm
about the irreguarity of the English
Cathedral, where sometimes vaulting
arch ends in corbel, and so has no
adequate means OF support, FAULT in
architectural as in human economy.
There was a constant increaue in orna
ment, until the church became a great
illustrated Bible for the people, whu
had no other hooks to read. Many Of
the Old Testament stories were carved
on its walls. Victor Hugo said, 1.-THE
book will kill the church," j. e., when
people Gan read, they will not so nead
the church. No age has been no pro-
life in church architecture as the
Thirteenth Century. when travelling
bands of masons went all over Europe.
Ely Cathedral is most satisfactory
place to study English architecture
since it contains all styles from Norman
10 late Perpendicular. 1t stands on {
mound in the fen country, surrounded
by low moors that were once a morasl
where the water ran in from the sea,
but are now a rich, cultivated country
A monastery was founded on its sit,
by Saxon princess in Ga, and the ole
chronicles tell how, after the coming y
the Danes, 'merrily sang the monks o
Ely when Canute 5ailed by CHARLIE
Kingsley tells how Hereward defended
1t against the Norman, but when Viii
liam took it he tore down the able,
and began the present cathedral, which
has heen faithfully restored by ST
Gilbert Scott, architect TO Queel
Victoria, who has spent his Lifetime il
restoring cathedrals. keeping then
harmonious with their early style AMI
trying 10 undo the work of Wyatt. VIII
destroyed SO much OF fine old archi
lecture in England. Ours has beei
called the age of preservation, il not o
creation. Ws are the first generation
to prize things because they are old.
Miss Collins left IN the bookcase Il
the club parlors an illustrated chrome
logical chart of Anglican church archi
lecture for the use of those who ma
wish to study it before the class oil
next Monday. A copy Of beautifu
early English work may be seen in th
door of the Swedenborgian Church
Twenty !irst and Chestnut streets
Philadelphia. Salisbury Cathedral wi
be considered next Monday.
large audience listened Thursda
evening to tho address by Prof. Woodro
Wilson on "Tucqucville. the Studer
of Democracy He said: "alexi
Clerel lie Tocqueville was leader
pulitical thought, hut not in the sam
sense as Burke, who was a leader of tn
policy of his ration and who woul
have felt that he had failed in his mil
sion If that policy had not been trani
lated into active politics. Though d
Tocqueville was man of action, b
was not meant to be; he was membt
of the Assembly under one OF the shor
lived governments of France, but h
stood among affairs an looler-on W
feel as if he were an American, h
reputation at least belongs to US, sine
it was huilt on the book he wrote {
US, and which first made US conscior
OF ourselves, and known rs we woul
be to the wcrld.
Yet we do not know him. be seen
to US name that has not body, NJ
character. II through and through
mans writings ere pure, the man mu
be pure, and this man was nobler tina
N the things he wroie. 1t has been sal
XVI that be was SAD writer, but thong
VA lacking in the sharp Wit of Montesquiel
N he was not of those upon the surfat
"a of whose writing no suile appears. l.
WINS contsmplative purs and serene.
VI He came of Norman blood--not
4 Frenchman, if you will but Nortl
W man-the things that make III steRf
IA in government we get from the No
s mans. The old castle, blown throue
M and through by air from the Mort
M Sea, overlooked the narrow seas