New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-15
CH4RTRES.
THE CATHEDRAL AND THE TOWN,

THE STORY OF CHARTREss, BY Cscil ,I Hsaa-
am Illustrated by Herbert RaIlton: tMeGl,e-
X5I Towns Serl,s) 2no, ~. NJ, Sol. The Mac
milan Company
Mr. Headlau begins at the beginning, and
-.alects nothius that comes after. The first
.ranter in this admirable addition 10 a most
seeful series deals with the legends and more
substantial relics IF Charities in the days Of the
IDruids and il those Of the Romans. Some Of
me last pages Of the book treat of the Prussians
N the town al the time Of the war Of 1870 Be
tween the earliest and the latest events in the
history Of Chartres there IS, indeed, great deal
r. be told There are saints and barbarians to
ia cornrlernorated. There are picturesque fig
u-es 10 be remembered among the Counts Of
Cbartres The town Is rich in memories Of Cru
sading zeal. there are important chapters in its
military records, il has lis literary associations;
i witnessed The momentous coronation Of Henri
ouatre and the storms Of the Revolution did
not leave il untouched. But Mr.. Headlam's
hook is rightly dominated by the Incompatible
edsfce which dominates the town; il is OF the
cathedral quite Is much as OF the miscellaneous
history Of Charities that he writes
Beneath the shadow Of its wonderful walls all
manner Of grim things have occurred. In Char
tres as in other French towns in the Middle
Ages, "a regular tariff for injuries done en-
tered into the social system. 1t is recorded that
when one Richard de ReyieTs slew a monk OF
St Pere he purchased a pardon from the fell
lows OF his victim by making over to them
four acres Of land and an annual tribute Of four
quartants Of corn" In the thirteenth century
a murderer was released from prison by the
monks on promising to pay an annual sum and
10 make some other minor recompenses. In the
narrow streets Of the town violence ran ram
pant for centuries. But above the budding
houses SCARED one Of the most marvellous crea-
tons Of medieval art, and one, moreover, eX-
pressing the noblest aspirations Of the people.
Mr. Headlam has this excellent passage in his
chapter on The Cathedral and its builders:
Each part Of the Cathedral. like the Cathedral
IS whole. Is the superb product Of the intimate
alliance OF nameless architects uameless sculp-
tors nalneleSs painters OF glass, working with
the one object OF setting forth the glory # God
and His Son and the Virgin To the multitude, OF
illustrating for all threading EYES the Word Of
the Lord The Cathedral Is a Bible in stone.
and the porches gospel IN relief. a scuIptured
catechisIn preface and resume Of the book
Each stone thus understood is seen TO be
page OF great drama. This drama l. the his
tory Of humanity from the creation Of the world
10 the day Of the Last Judgment. Within the
same story is repeated. The ieWeIled windows
are there not only for the sake Of the holiness
Of their beauty. not merely To provide the pill
grim with The dim religious light suita bic to his
-il'oL OF lttaL me IlaLN sunshine OF tSeduEs
may te transformed into imperious angry fire
The FIVE thousand figures in those legendary
AShts ar the commentary and the repetition Of
the sCUlptured text without.
With theme Ike this, and with the example
Of many eloquent writer before him. MI
Headlam might very easily have slipped into
rhetoric He might easily have sought to add
10 the glowing pages which have been conse-
Grated . one of the most glorious pageants in
stone TO be found in the world. But he has con
tented himself With writing descriptive nara
tive that while enthusiastic in tone. is always
controlled Ly knowledge and taste His little
book should make an ideal guide for the trav-
eLer. It Is comprehensive. and it is absolutely
dear and practical Mr.. Railton's exquisite
drawings add greatly to the charm Of the text,
and We have, OF course, the good presswork
and generally artistic form which on previous
occasions We have warmly praised in noticing
books il this series.