The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-22

naa"e in Europe. but every credit Is due
ehe "ofkmen who closely followed their
.hooefs This incident illustrates q oecti-
mar srait In the Fflipinos They lack the
originality, but are wonderful imitators
I've taer carvers q model and they will
uupi'cate to perfection. Let their painters
gee picture and they viii copy IL 10 the
perfection OF detail Permit their musicians
20 near composition and they will re-
pioouce II On their own instruments PROB
aniy the most artistic piece of carving in
the church Is the pulpit. II liz q massive
aHair afnxed to one OF the giant columns
ciose TO the altar rail-. On its sides are
a series OF panels upon which have been
carved scenes depicting important scrspfur-
al events. The pulpit has q beautifully
carved base. and upon the outer side of the
Ddaustrade are the figures Of saints. The
Asufes nave ali been perfectly carved and
tnere mas been . wonderful regard for de-
tail. proportions are perfect and the effect
Is at once harmonious and artistic. A pro-
oigtous amount Of labor was expended up
on the pulpit. Rev. Father Francisco Siino,
one OF the rectors OF the church, under
whose direction much OF the work has been
done, relates that the carving Of the BASE
OF the pulpit consumed two years, and that
the baiustrade occupied nearly az much
time Next to the pulpit the ceiling. which
IL entirely Of carved wood, attracts the
most attention.
There are series OF intricate designs
that show the genius 81 ar, and the skill
OF the carver. and the effect Is admirable.
Inc columns. capitals and arches have
also been done In wood. and they too
enhance the beauty OF the church. The
altars-one main and two side-are also
OF wood. and show splendid specimens of
the skill OF the carvers. The floor is also
OF wood and the sheen OF its polish serves
to heighten the general effect. Most Of
the wood used Is moiave. best Of all the
nifty varieties Of hard wood that grow In
the Philippines. II Is capable of resisting
any OF the insects that attack wood. and
neither heat nor water afrec, it. Steel Is
the only thing that will outlast it. II Is
so hard that the fashioning Of It IL very
difficult. but the excellent results obtained
make 1t worthy Of the effort. The art OF
wood carving has long been taught to the
Fflipinos. and the traveller In their islands
sees many samples Of their work. II has
reached It's greatest perfection at the
Jesuit college at Manila. and the work Ia
the Jesuit church liz incomparably the best
so far done. Twenty-three years ago the
students OF the college sent an elaborate
piece OF carving to the Centennial expo
siticn at Philadelphia, and with it won first
prize.
The architecture Of Manila may be truth
fully said to be relieved OF mediocrity by
the churches. and that OF ST 1gnatius 10y
ola Is the greatest OF them all. The cathe-
dral-massive structure OF the Byzantine
per.od--attracts attention on account OF
its size and the fact that its foundation
stones were laid In the sixteenth century.
but neither interior nor exterior are par
ticuIagly pleasing. Another remarkable
church in the old city Is that Of St. Au-
gustine, built way back IN 1870 from a de-
sign drawn by a nephew OF the architect.
who planned the famous Escurial in Mad
rid. Fer over 800 years 1t has cefied earth
quake and typhoon. and the original walls
still stand as monument TO the builders.
The design is rather Of the Tuscan order.
but modern additions have rather changed
and obscured the original lines. The
church OF Santo Domingo Is another i'm
rosing structure. IL has an exterior OF
fiorid gothic and an interior OF nearly per-
feet gothic. but the latter Is married by
some Impossible coloring and some mar
tistic sta.uary. The same complaint may
be properly made OF any OF the score OK
churches IN the city and surroundings.
with the single exception OF the Church Of
St Ignatius Loyola. When the tide OF
American travel sets toward the Philip
pines, and when Manila il included in the
itinerary OF the globe trotser between Sing
apore and yokohama. this really remark
able structure viii win its place In the
world Of artisan Francisco Chronicle.