Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-04
'SEV|LLE'S, CATHEDRAL
Regarded as the Third Great
est Church in the World.
CENTURY IN BUILDING
CONTAINS RELICS OF ENORMOUS
VALUE.
Most Beautiful Tower Of Its Kind
Daring Feat Of Ancestor Of the
Spanish Minister Here.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS

Milan. st. Peters mighty walls inclose an
area of 10000 square feet; the Seville
cathedral $4,000; the Milan cathedral.
04 coo; St. Paurs in London $4,000, and the
cathedral at Toledo which described the
ether day. 1900. While many prefer the
latter as superior in some of its details, no
one will question that the cathedral Of
Seville is one of the noblest monuments
ever erected to the Almighty power, and It's
PORTALS cannot be entered without feeling
Of reverence and solemnity.
1t has little external beauty. Its roof is
confusion of pinnacles and a succession
OK projections that are confusing and irreg-
ular, and the color is not agreeable to the
sight. but within it is a superb expression
of majesty and harmony. All Of the arts
seem to have been combined to produce a
result that Is almost perfection. Its vast
proportions, harmony of design and severe
simplicity make 1t impressive. All of the
highest authorities admit that the interior
effect is as fine as that of any church In the
world.
The architect is unknown. but is sup
posed to have been German. Like all or
the other eighteen cathedrals in Spain. it Is
built upon the foundations of Moorish
mosque which was transformed into
Christian sanctuary when the Islam was
driven from the city. This edifice was used
until 1401, when the chapter concluded TO
magnificent a scale that it can never be
surpassed and shall cause the entire world
to wonder" 1T shall be so large and beau
tiful,' they boosted, that even the angels
may proclaim US mad to have undertaken
IT.
A Century in Building.
The work was begun in 1902 and, accord
ing to the records of the chapter. it was
finished in 1906. The dome collapsed during
an earthquake in 1911 and was rebuilt.
From that time until 1882 it stood without
alteration, but, as TOLD you the other day.
the roof fell in in 1888 and since then and
until recently the interior has been filled
with scaffolding. Nowsit is entirely clear
and the majestic isles may be seen to their
full advantage. Every chapel, and there
and Twenty-Five, is a wonder Of beauty, and
they are all filled with works of art of the
highest merit. Some of. the most celebrated
paintings in the world are found here, In
Guiding Murillos Saint Anthony of Pa
dua, which some years ago was mutilated
by an American thief.
All Seville was horrffed one morning to
discover that the figure of the saint had
An alarm was given by telegraph to the po-
lice authorities of the world, and picture
dealers and curio collectors were notified,
but nothing was heard of the thief The
Whole AFFAIR was mysterious. About eight
months later man offered for sale at
picture store in New York. the painting of
the saint, which was Immediately recog-
nized. His offer was taken under consid-
Grafton and he was asked to call again for
decision later in the day. He came with
out suspicion and found a police officer
waiting to receive him.
In one of the chapels is Murillo's Guard
ian Angel" which is familiar to every eye.
a glorious seraphim with spreading wings
leading little child by the hand. Murillo
Is buried under Campana's Descent From
the Cross" which he considered the great
est painting he had ever seen, and during
his life he often sat for hours before it.
When friend once asked him why he was
sitting there, he replied: 81 am waiting I'M
til those holy men have finished their
work"
Relics Of Great Value.
In this chapel. behind the picture are
kept relics of enormous value. There is a
cross made from gold brought home by CO.
lumbus on his first voyage; a richly inlaid
viril studded with twelve hundred dia-
monds; golden relquary covered with
jewels, containing piece of the true cross,
which was given to the church by Louis
Philippe, King of France, and other gifts OF
corresponding value, but the most interest
ing of all the relics are the KEYS of the
gates of Seville surrendered to St Ferdi-
nand when he captured the city from the
Moors One of them bears the Inscription,
May Allah grant that Islam may rule
81 IN this his; city Another key of gold
the King of the Earth will enter"
In the royal chapel is the tomb of ST.
Ferdinand, wrought In solid silver and over
1t an equestrian statue representing him
riding between a Moor and a Jew. His
body, which is said to be almost perfectly
preserved, although he died in the twelfth
century, rests in an urn of silver and glass
and is exhibited to the public three times
year-on May 30, August % and November
3-attended by imposing ceremonies
In the same chapel are buried Peter the
Cruel. of whom 1 told you the other day;
Maria de PadilIa his mistress and several
other of the kings of Spain.
OF the ninety-three stained-glass windows
many are old and splendid and indeed in
all las details the church equals where it
does not surpass others.
The chapters of the Seville cathedral are
famous for their ceremonial services and
people from all parts of Spain come here
during holy week to witness them The pro-
ceSsions on Easter and Good Friday are
remarkable, and on the former day term
mate with a realistic representation of the
crucif1xion, and on the latter of the resur-
rectfon The common people, who are al
ways emotional. become SO excited on those
days that the person who takes the role of
Judas has frequently been in great danger
of his life. Formerly men with nerve were
hired to perform that part. but now it Is as
signed to some poor wretch in the peniten-
tiary. who receives a, pardon as a reward
for his services and Their risk he has run.
Most Beautiful Tower Of It's Kind.
The giralda, the tower of the cathedral,
which is an ancient Moorish structure, is
considered the most beautiful of it's kind in
the world. The toweE.jo of Madison Square
Garden. New Yorksfs an incomplete repro
duction. Only the lower part is really Moor
fsh. The upper tier with the spire and the
cupoia were erected by Spaniard, Fran
cesco Ruiz. in 1868, Whose name should be
inscribed upon his work. At the summit is
a bronze figure of Faith.
The view from the tepAof the tower, which
is $50 feet In heighS is one of the finest that
can be imagined. bntNAo one is allowed to
ascend alone. because there seems to be an
irresistible tendency ION the part of
strangers to throw themselves over the
rail. Within the Tower there is zigzag
path of ascent which Is so gradual that it
can, be climbed without much fatigue
Napoleon the Great rode to the top on
horseback, and excited the fury of the
Sevillanos by what they considered sacri-
lege.
While Ferdinand and Isabella were visit
ing Seville. in the latter part of the fir-
teenth century. daring youth named
Alfonso de O5eda climbed to the top of the
pinnacle. which was not then crowned with
the bronze figure. The feat was witnessed
by nearly the entire Population and was