The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-24
CATHEDRAL OF TOLEDO
SIX CENTURIES IN BUILDING TT Al
soRBED VAST REVENUES.
Remarkable Ecclesiastical Archftec-
ture I'm This Religions Heart OF
Old -Spain-Pfous Traditions.

Spain, May 0.--If / were writ
ing a boob on cathedrals I should Be
tempted 10 initiate Senior Parro. suthc,
OF a celebrated work on central Spain,
who devoted exactly half Of its 1850 pages
TO the Cathedral of Toledo. Castelar, pro-
nounces 1t the most perfect specimen OF
ecclesiastical architecture in existence.
Certainly IL is the greatest sight I'm This
ancient ~storehouse or architectural won
ders-a rare and beautiful example OF the
pious art Of priestly builders who blent
artistic with religious emotions. all 90 the
glory of God-as Wagner intensihes the
interest Of his music by means OF his
poetry and scenic accessories.
More than six hundred years in suild-
ing, this Toledo cathedral absorbed the rev.
enues of several reigns and the rents OF
one OF the wealthiest sect i'm Spain. Gen.
Grafton after generation, its slowly-rislng
walls were watched by the people. Men
were born, grew old. and died. leaving the
labor 10 their children. who took IL UP
and carried IL on. until their turn came
to go "the way OF all the earth" Then
their children, and children's children. car
ried IL along; so that when at last IL
stood complete it represented. not one
king, or one age, but many generations.
1t occupies the site OF a cathedral which
existed before the coming of the Moors.
Indeed, tradition says that the first church
was built during the lifetime OF the Virgin
Mary, and that she worshiped here-which.
If true, make IL the oldest church in
Christendom. At any rate, on a certain
much-venerated slab near the high altar.
may be seen the mark Of a small shoe,
which is said TO be a footprint OF the
virgin herself. II is not improbable that
some temple stood here long before Mary's
day, since the city antedates the birth OF
Christ by two or three centuries. Ancient
history tells us that Marius Fulvius took"
it 19S. b. c..
WORSHIPPED ALLAH THERE
The Moors turned the old church into a
mosque, and occupied it for the worship Of
Allah about four hundred years. When
they were conquered by the Spaniards.
Alonzo vi gave them his solemn promise
that they should retain it undisturbed.
Not long afterwards the King had occasion
to leave the city. In his temporary absence
Bernardo, the archbishop, backed by the
Queen (who was a native OF France like
HIMSELF, seized the mosque. turned out the
Moors and reconstructed IL as a cathedral.
When the King heard how his royal word
had been broken he returned TO Toledo in a
towering rage, swearing that he would
burn at the stake both Queen and bishop.
Riding into the city, he met a crowd OF
Moors and called out to them that the in
jury had been done TO himself. who had
solemnly given his oath. rather than TO
them, and that their mosque should be
preserved. The wise Moors. however. per-
suaded him TO let them release him from
his oath; "Whereat." says the ~chronicIer.
''the King had great Joy and the matter
ended peacefully"
Most Of the old building was pulled down
in the year 1927. during the reign of Don
Fernando Ill, that great destroyer OF
mosques, who himself laid the cornerstone
Of the new structure. From that time up
to the seventeenth century additions and
alterations were constantly being made.
Padinas's mob plundered it in 1871. and
again IL was sacked in lS0S. by invaders
under General La H-oussaye-the same who
looted the EscoriaL. Previous 10 this IL
must have been a perfect mine OF wealth
and art. During several centuries all the
foremost artists OF the world had been en-
ployed by the richest ~prelates OF Spain 10
make this cathedral the worthy seat OF a
primacy which yet ranks second in the
Roman Catholic hierarchy. Here, as at
Burgos and Leon, the Pope and King OF
Spain were canons, and the monarch was
always fined 1900 maravedis for nom
attendance in choir on fiesta days. But
alas. Times have changed in Spain and
the power Of the priests has sadly waned.
Most OF the monasteries have been sup
pressed; though the primate is still sec
ond in dignity only TO the King. nobody
falls upon his knees TO kiss the ring upon
his hand. and mere handfuls OF people.
mostly women, attend divine service. Could
he impose proportional fines I'm these days
on all Spanish Catholics who fail 10 go 10
church, he would soon become the richest
I'm the world.
REMARKABLE DECORATION
II is impossible TO get a good exterior
view OF the cathedral because il is hemmed
in on all sides by a network OF narrow.
winding alleys, so that il has no distance
20 give the proper effect and under its
walls one can have little idea OF its full
majesty. The figures OF the ground plan
-Ss5 feet by ls feet wide-fail to impress
YOU, dnQ the great Squdtt anu lVWtI lvphS
topheavy without perspective. This tower.
the way, rises. square, 10 feet; then
into an octagon. with bold tur-
rets and pinnacles. and above that Is a
spire encircled by triple rows Of metal
rays. the entire height being 35 feet. Along
the facade statues are ranged OF biblical
celebrities and native saints. strangely as
with hydras and centaurs and
other monsters OF heather mythology. The
three bronze doors-the Door Of Pardon.
the Door OF Hell and the Door of Judg-
their exquisite Picturesque de-
signs and grotesque knockers, form an ap-
finish TO the stone arabesques
by which they are surrounded. What cary
ing. what a world of statues and how-
ers. living and breathing under the chlsels
OF the master hands that evolved them
from the dull stone. The windows are glor-
ious. their tints. mellowed by age. like
the setting OF costly gems. emersIds. sap
phIres. topaz and rubies-seven hundred
and fifty OF these splendid windows OF
stained glass, through which the light Ill
ters like rainbow arches IN a thousand
azure and golden hues.
There Is a hfty-foot-wide nave and four
aisles. and the ceiling. rs feet above. rests