Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-11-25
NEW-CENTURY CLUB.


perpendicular style was in vogue longer
than any other except the Romanesque.
Its evolution scame from the gradual
tendency toward horizontal and vertical
lines, Mulliods are carried straight
up and ct0ssed by horizontal bara or
trans6us lfaonetimes thore are dow.
ing linasthey are subsidiary. In earlier
styles The buttresses were deliberately
decorated With pinnaeleH ending 10
crocketa, but 10 the perpendicular walls
and buttrdeses are lees ornate, having
almost an effect of baroness, Battle.
meptod finish to walls, and gargoyles,
mark this period; the latter, protrud
ing from the roof cutters to carry off
the water, Hrb grotesque animal formH,
hgurativeiy representing evil spirits,
banished by the churches.
The perpendicular gives sense OF
height aud strength; it's great waiting
shafts never end in corbes, but rest on
the floor. 1t accommodated itself to
domestic architecture for which the
earlier Gothic was untitled. In the
Wars OF the Roses many old feutla
castles were destroyed. but under Henry
VIII. tho power of the king was para
mount. the people could dwell in peace,
and the manorhouse, without moats or
drawbridgeu. was built. To this was
added in Ellzabeth's time the orie
window. In churches the Gothic arch
flattened into the Tudor, ogee, or four
centred arch. The Tudor rose WIS the
only ornament used. One beauty of
early work, the under. cutting. passed
away; capitals grew simpler. Tho effect
would have been severe and plain but
| for the beauty Of the ceilings which
some nameless one thought OF; the ex-
quisite fan tracery, carved in stone, was
horn in the cloiators of Gloucester
Cathedral, probably the inspiration of
some monk. The three most beautiful
ceilings in England are of the cloiaters
OF Gloucester, of Henry VII. Chapel
at Westminster and Kings College Hall,
| Cambridge.
The straight lines Of the perpendicu-
lar killed the curves OF the Gothic:
there was tendency hack towards fiat
ceilings. 1t was said that in the
middle Of the seveuteenth century there
was no architectural style. The re-
naiesance has been called the debaaei
style. a union of Gothic and classic with
no master to hHndle it. The classic
style was not employed. but now we
are turning back TO the Gothic.
A Gothic archway of great elms leads
up from the old town OF Winchester to
its cathedral, which embraces every
style and ornament OF Gothic archi-
lecture, but is prevalingly perpendicu-
lar A little Christian church was
built here as early as A. D. 1G4, probably
\ by Roman centurions. The persecu.
tions reached even here and it was de-
stroyed, but rebuilt and used unit taken
by Cedric the Saxon, who turned it
into temple Tor the worship of Dagon.
After Cauute's famous rehuks to his
courtiers on the seashors nearby he
placed his crown on the bead OF the
carven hinge OF Christ in this church
and never wore il again. St. Swithin
built now church by the aide of ths
old one and when, after his death, his
bonea wars to be removed to the new
shrine, rain fell for 40 days. This is
the origin Of the saying that if it rains
on st. Swithin's day, the 18th OF July,
it will rain for 40 days after. Edward
the Confessor was crowned at Win
chester; William Rufus, who was killed
nearby in New Forest. was buried In
the church, but seven years after
portion of IL fell and the people believed
it refused to stand over the grave OF the
Red King who defied ii.
English history seems to have passed
in long procession through this church
from the days of King Arthur and bis
knights, whose Round Table hangs in
the hall nearby where also the first
meeting OF the government of England
was held. On top OF. the side screen
rest portuary Baskets and somewhere
in these caskets rest the bones Of
Canute, hut they are hopelessy mixed
NTH thnoa Of pfh lann
gone. In The Lady Chapel whose stones
are carved like fairy lace work Mary
Tudor AMI Philip of Spain were mar.
ried. As witnesses were the Duke Of
Alva and Count Egmont, who met later
under different circumstances. Will
liam Rufus and Richard Couer de Leon
were crowned here and John degraded
himself before the Pope's legate. The
famous great altar screen has been re-
constructed from tho few stones that
remained Of tho original one. Looking
somewhat incongruous with its sur
roundings hangs on it a painting by
Benjamin West, 'The Raising OF Laza-
rus" Along the choir are stalls of
oak, black With age, that were carved
; in 1896. The pulpit was carved in 1494,
date which to us seems OF long ago.
since our country had then been dis
covered for only two years, but which
is quite modern in an architectural
sense.
The early history of Canterbury, the
mother church OF England, which ST.
Augustine founded, is almost over
Swallowed by the fame Of Thomas a.
Beckett. OF the "Transept Of the
Martyrdom. where he was killed,
there remains but few of the original
stuneH, and the door by which he en-
tered to his death. The only trace OF
the shrine is q hollow worn by the
knees Of his worshippers. Miracles
were believed to be wrought over his
grave and such costly offerings we're
; made by pilgrims at his shrine that
Eraamus said Croesus and Midas were
poor in comparison. Henry VIII,
: jealous of this ecclesiastical power that
, had overshadowed royal power, had his
bones tried, and adiudged him traitor
D end carloads of the offerings we're
carried as spoils to his palace. Holes
in the walls of the crypt are shown into
which II ia said Henry III. thrust his
. head while being fagellated by the
, monks, Over the fine tomb Of Edward
/. the Black Prince hangs his casque
I. that never bowed except to death. y
After the massacre OF ST. Bartholomew
8 Queen Elizabeth permitted the Hugue.
8 not refugees 10 live and worship in
the crypt, and here they set up their
looms. Dean Stanlsy's Memorials oil
Canterbury" gives an interesting his.
| toHy ~ tho chnrob IT. fhn ra0ra+ ~