Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-12

east But nothing definite is known about
the designer, and 1t would be a great salts
faction If there were some authentic ac-
count of his life and education in architec-
ture and descriptions of other buildings he
erected. because 1t could not be possible
that this his only work. We NOW the
names of several men, most Of them abbes
or monks. who were engaged in it's con-
struction during the 200 years before it was
finished, but nothing definite can be said
concerning the genius who made the plans
upon which they worked.
Nor is this the only beautiful Gothic tenn
pie whose designer is unknown. There were
great architects in those days, and, while
it is not fair to say that architecture is a
piles have been raised within the last four
centuries.
Products of the Middle Ages.
1t is generally believed that the designs
were made by a monk. and he must have
been an artist of extraordinary genius. But
where did he get his knowledge of engineer
ing: where were his hands and his eyes
trained to do this work? There were
schools OF architecture beaux arts in
those days, and after the fall of Athens
there was no place where a man could
learn or acquire the technical knowledge.
the refinement and the taste that were nee
essary to produce these jewels of architec-
ture. 1t is just the same in England, how
ever. as in France. The middle ages pro-
duced the greatest soldiers. the greatest
architects, the greatest theologians, the
greatest poets and dramatists In the whole
history of the world. Architectu: genius
does not seem to have been confined to any
part of Europe. The castles and palaces
and cathedrals Of Germany, Italy, France,
Spain, England. all testify to this fact. The
colleges at Oxford-the finest assemblage
of Gothic architecture in the universe, are
the work of medieval artists.
l am not going to describe the Cathedral
of Rouen Such a thing is impossible 1t is
ONLY
ready said, that it is Incompatible You
would be interested in knowing that the
architect was man of rather gross humor,
whether he was a monk or layman,
saint or sinner for along with the statutes
of the apostles, figures OF saints and angels,
and statuettes of faith charity, temperance,
prudence justice and the other virtues he
threw in many grotesque and funny char
acters which seem to endure longer than
the religious emblems. The entire surface
Of the church, inside and out, is covered
with the most elaborate carvings In stone,
which are finely wrought and so much
in detail that it would seem as If it must
have taken all the sculptors In the world
all the days of their lives to chisel them.
The architect had a very vivid imasina-
ton In his designs he produced a men
agerie of birds, beasts, reptiles and other
creatures which are unknown to the Zoolo-
gistS and have never been seen except in
the rawlings of delirium.tritons, sirens,
satyrs dragons, birds of all sizes and
shapes, lions, tigers, bears, elephants and
other wild game, while gargQyles and grif-
fins stretch out from the caves so that they
may pour the drainage from the roof upon
the heads fpeople passing by These
grotesque animals are on most familiar
terms with the martyrs and saints, and
sometimes are playing tricks upon them.
St. Genevieve stands with Bible IN her
left hand and candle in her right, while
a wicked little imp with a pair of bellows
is perched upon her shoulder trying to blow
1t out. At another place the figure of
man in a monks robe is saddled and bri-
died and ridden by gay lady who sits
upon his back and is whipping him with
rod. There is a pig playing on violin,
and dancer standing upon his hands with
his feet in the air. Mermaids and monsters,
half men and half goat, half women and
half fish, human heads fastened upon the
bodies of animals, appear everywhere In
the carvings, while lizards, snakes and other
reptiles crawl in and out among them.
The students explain that these fantastic
and often gross designs simply represent
the poverty of the age in which they were
created: that the architects experience and
his knowledge of natural history were both
very limited, while the demands upon him
were very great. Hence he found 1t diff
cult to conceive of a sufficient number OF
forms of beauty to cover these great build
ings.
The general effect, however, is not in
jured. One who does not take the trouble
TO examine the details sees simply mass
of delicate stone tracery rising in the air,
8
shapely masonry that can be seen any
where. 1t is said that the stone all came
from quarries in the hills that surround
Rouen; that all the carving was done by
natives or residents of this city. and that
the money which paid them estimated at
5O0O,OOO francs for the cathedral and 3OOO.-
600 for the church of st. Ouens. was con-
tributed by the people of this little COM
munity. We know that one of the towers
of the cathedral, called the Tour de Beurre,
finished within the last century, was built
from the fines collected by the priests from
people who ate butter in Lent.
Much of the work done by monks.
They are said to have furnished all of the
iron. which is beautiful. The stained glass
is exquisite, and nothing to compare with
1t has been produced in modern times. The
monks carved the chairs in the choir and
they are superb specimens. 1t is difficult
for any TO avoid gushing over such
wonderful work. and when you remember
that it was old when America was dis
covered your wonder and admiration are
increased.
Other Beautiful Structures.
There are several other beautiful build
ings in Rouen which were intended for sec
ular purposes, and they show that all the
architectural genius and taste was not con-
fined TO the ecclesiastics. The palace of
justice city courthouse is a building of
marvellous beauty. and, like the cathedral.
Is five or six hundred years old The
city treasurers office is quite as beautiful
as the palace of the law, and there is
tower called La Crosse Horloge which con-
tains what is probably the Oldest clock in
the world. 1t was built in 1889 and still
keeps perfect time. 1t has struck the hours
faithfully for 517 years The machinery is
simple. as any one can see VINO Is willing
TO climb the tower and examine the in
terror of the clock. II shows not only the
time, but the movement of the planets and
the phases of the moon.
Almost everything in Rouen is old. Just