Norwich bulletin., 1918-05-30
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society.

The Amiens cathedrsl-'In spme respects the reported destruction oE the Cathedral of Anliens at the hsHf.s of the Germans, whose big guns have been bonn barding tAe ancient capital of Picardy for several weeks, is al most as great a loss to the art world as the dem nelition of the more historic Cathedral of Rheims says a war geography bulletin issted today from the Washington headquarters of the National Geographic Society.
 "The 'Amiens Cathedral enjoyed tfac distinction of being the largest eeclesi- astieal structure in France and was one Of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world.
 sUMi6e the great ma ajerity of medieval cathedraIs, the erection of which extended over periods Gat least, roofed-in) within the span of a sinsle lifetime, having been started. in 1920 and finished in 12SS. Robert de LGzarches was the great architect who began its construction and his work WAS carried on by Thomas de Cor mont and the latter's son Renault It would probably have been completed in an even shorter period of time had not financial difficulties been en- countered in 123z, followed by a serious l fire some years later.
 Strange as it may seem, there is I considerable discrepancy on the part of generally accepted authorities as 1 to the exact dimensions of this edi- i fee, one giving it's leugth as 475 feet, another 470 feet, third as 4S9 feet and a fourth 442 feet. There is an ] equal diversity of opinion as to the length of the transepts, which ap- 1 proximates 215 feet, while the great 3 nave is in the neigh5orhood of 140 ] feet in width with an interior height | of perhaps a few feet more than that the yaufting being supported by 126 great columns.
 'There is Cor was) a slender central spire which lowered to a height of more than 350 feet. The two side ] towers of the western facade are with out spires.
 This cathedral is notably rich in its external sculpture. many pieces oi
 statuary approaching in beauty o1 1 form and grace of design the marbles of the ancient Greeks. The sculpture l of the famous western facade tells al most the complete story of the Bible in the only universal language-fse language of pictures, in this instance marble pictures.
 .''In view of the destruction which i udS OFEILGhe1 lu4S 6A~I4GE ] the last few days, it is pathetic to read 1 the following comment of a famous ] authority on cafheGrals. writing il 1910: At Amiens we see < what i: rare in France, a cathedral finished and one, moreover, that seems alto gether to have escaped the ravages O revolutionary fanaticisn None O the scul ptures which are so numerou. and so interesting, has received an! other injury than what time ana weather have effected in exposed spots
 Perhaps no better idea of tn beauty and grandeur of Amiens can b gained than from the following de scription written eighty years ago
 eff you have never heard and seel it you cannot imagine the sublimit. of a procession in such a church a that Of Amiens. I can almost fanc
 that I see it now, as I saw it for th , first time The stupendous height c , the vau1ted roof the rich foliage C the piers,-the tall lancet arche : throwing themselves upward the in terlacings of the decorated window . tracery richness of the stained
 glass the glow of the sunlight on tn
 southern chapels,-the l1notted in s tricacies of the vaulting ribs,+sh ! flowers. and Wreaths. and holy sym
 bols that hang sef-poised over, th !. head the graceful shafts Of the tri T forium,-the carved angels that vii 3 outstretcned wings keep guard oyt
 1.-the sacred building,-the delicatel