The Irish standard., 1918-11-09
Cathedral Of
Cologne an Arch
itecturaI Wonder

itecturaI Wonder |
The Cathedral of Cologne is one of |
the great architectural wonders of the
world. "The whole ediice covers an
area of 1870 square yards. It has a !
nave AS feet long, five aisles, and a
transept 2S2 feet wide with three
aisles. The height of the nave is 2O2
feet, and that of the two towers 515
feet"
Needless to say, the Germans are
proud Of such masterpiece; and
princes and peasants have all con-
tributed their share to make it what it
the greatest Gothic struc,
ture in Germany. 1t took over six
hundred years from the laying of the
cornerstone to the day when it was
formally opened for public services
October 16, 1880. The architects
name was unknown for centuries, and
strange legends grew up as to who
was the originator of the wonderful
cathedral; in fact, the design was at
tributed to the devil himself. Accord
ing to the legend, it happened in this
way:
The archbishop of Cologne sum-
moned the most celebrated architect
of the world, and told him in the pres
ence of numberless witnesses, that he
wished to build the grandest and most
sumptuous edifice that it was possible
to conceive. He then showed him the
accumulated treasures and the eX-
haustless resources at his command.
The gifted prelate omitted nothing
which would inspire his imagination
OF stimulate his genius. He told him
Of the riches he might acquire, and
that his name would go down to pos
terity. The architect replied: my
Lord, your wishes shall be fulfilled"
When he pronounced these words,
new light shone from his eyes and
family rested on his forehead.
Each morning as the first rays of
the aurora scattered the shadows of
night, the architect was seen sitting
on the shores Of the historic Rhine,
deeply absorbed in his thoughts, filled
with reyeries. His eyes were ever
fixed on the silvery waves of the river
breaking on the shore. No distrac-
ton could turn him from his contem-
plations. The immovable outlines of
his face were covered with clouds of
sorrow during many days Of painful
meditation. Little by little, discour-
agement undermined his health, and
at length threatened to take away his
reason. After all his efforts, the ideal
of the great church was but vague
and confused. Uselessly he tried to fix
in the tablets of his mind the vision
of the grand edifice rising before him;
uselessly he tried to unite the details
of the plan-that bold plan of the
church which he ever traced in his
mind; it was still but common build
ing. The lines were badly united.
How" he said to himself, Shall 1
ever complete the grand church which
promised the archbishop"
One day an old man, of spare form
and wrinkled face, with tottering
gait, came and sat in silence beside the
architect. From time to time he
looked at him in mockery, rejoicing in
his perplexity. A dry cough gurgled
in his throat, when a cold touch at
tracted the attention of the confused
and despairing architect. The withered
old man then traced upon the sand
with long stick the outline of the
church, which the waves soon washed
out. "That is the plan which I de-
sired!" cried the artist. But his mem.
DRY in vain sought to bring back the
plan, which had vanished. All had
disappeared like light vapor rising
heavenward, leaving not the slightest
trace. The old man began again his
fantastic plan, the poor artist follow
ing at the movements of his wand.
Carried away by an irresistible fascin-
alton, he could not turn his eyes from
the magic lines, which appeared and
disappeared so rapidly.
A deep sigh escaped him. "Will
you not sell that plan?" he said to the
unknown. II will pay you any price
you wish. will give you all l own"
II will give it to you," replied the old
man; "the building which you will
raise will be the object of envy and
despair to all your successors; your
work will excite the admiration of all
future ages; your name will be praised
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