Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-12
AMllEENS CATHEDRAL

mans, whose big guns have been bonn
harding the ancient capital of Picardy
for several weeks. is almost as great ..
loss to the art world as the demolition
of the most historic Cathedral Of
Rheims" says a war geography bull
letin issued today from the Washing
ton headquarters of the National Geo
graphic Society.
"The Amiens Cathedral enjoyed the
distinction of being the largest eccle-
siastical structure in France and was
one of the finest examples of Gothic
architecture in the world.
Unlike the great majority of me-
dieyal cathedral. the erection of which
extended over periods Of several hun
dreds of years, the Amiens Cathedral
was practically completed cat least
roofed-inl within the span of a single
lifetime, having been started in 1920
and finished in 1888. Robert de Lu-
zarches was the great architect who
began It's construction and his work
was carried on by Thomas de Cormont
and the latter's son Renault 1t would
probably have been completed in an
even shorter period of time had not fl
nancial difficulties been encountered in
2187, followed by a serious fire some
years later.
Strange as it may seem, there is
considerable discrepancy on the part
of generally accepted authorities as to
the exact dimensions of this edifice,
one giving it's length as ATS feet, an
other 470 feet, a third at AGO feet and
fourth 442 feet There is an equal
diversity of opinion as to the length
of the transepts, which approXimates
215 feet. while the great nave is in the
neighborhood of 40 feet in width with
an Interior height of perhaps a few feet
more than that the Yauting being sup
ported by 126 great columns.
There is Cor Was) a slender central
spire which lowered to a height of
more than $50 feet. The two side tow
ers of the western facade are without
spires.
This cathedral is notably rich in
its external sculpture, many pieces of
statutry approaching in beauty of
form and grace of design the marbles
of the ancient Greeks. The sculpture
of the famous western facade tells al
most the complete story of the Bible
in the only universal language-the
language of pictures, in this instance
marble pictures.
I'm view of the destruction which
HAS ONGtldhGA lIllS GREAT SulllCS uuF=
ing the last few days, 1t is pathetic to
read the following comment of ia
nous authority on Cathedrals, writing
in 1910: AT Amiens we see what is
rare in France. a cathedral finished,
and one, moreover, that seems alto
gether to have escaped the ravages of
revolutionary fanaticsm. None of the
sculptures, which are so numerous and
so interesting. has received any other
jy1iyI hon hot nd hav
have effected in exposed spots
Perhaps no better idea of the beauty
and grandeur of Amiens can be gained
than from the following description,
written so years ago:
If you have never heard and seen
1t, you cannot imagine the sublimity
of a procession in such a church as
that of Amiens. l can almost fancy
that see 1t now as / saw 1t for the
first time The stupendons height of
the vsalted roof. the rich foliage of the
piers the tall lancet arches throwing
themselves upward, the interlaCings of
the decorated window tracery-the
richness of the stained glass, the glow
of the sunlight on the southern chap
els,--the knotted intricacieS of the
vaulting ribs,-the flowers, the wreaths
and holy symbols that hang Self-pois-
ed over the head-the graceful shafts
of the triforium,-the carved angels
that with ut-stretched wings keep
guard over the sacred building.-the
delicately carved choir stalls. the gor-
geous altar seen family beyond,-the
sublime apse. with its inimita, slim
lancets, carrying the we up, higher
and higher. through the dark triforium
gallery, through the blaze of the Grim
son clerestorey to the solemn grandeur
Of the vaulted roof, lights and cary
ing. and jewels and gold, and the
sunny brightness Of the nave. and the
solemn greyness of the choir,-these
all are but accessories of the scene.
The huge nave piers rise from the
midst of a mighty multitude-the
high-born lady, the peasant mother
with her infant, the gray-haired lab
orer, the gay bourgeouisie, the child
that knows only the sanctity of the
place, the strong man and the cripple.
the wise and the unlearned, - the
great man and the small,-he rich and
the poor,-all meet at equals
"That scene is gone forever for
Ap,ieDs Her noble and ancient place