Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-10
ARCHITECTURAL CARTOONS
BY Frederic ). Hsskin

jects employed by an artist IN tho
decoration Of church be- pleasant
Those who think that the artists
who decorated 50. Thomas have iahen
unusual liberties are evidently npt
very familiar With mueh ~ the cafs-
ing OF the miscrerrs ln medieval
churches. On those parts ~ the choir
seats against which the boys leaned
during long service. the oid srchi-
tects played many jokes. They cnrysd
carcicstUres even 81 bishops and of
the pope himself on these small ami
/ little seen miscreres. and some ~ ne
scenes which they depicted were not
only profane. but obscene
World History in stone.
An almost literal history ~ the
world Is to be found IN the carvings
and sculptures of tho churches. fon-
pies and cathedrais OF various poo
pies, and It is highly desirable that
modern architects should continue f0
record events in this way. Search fnr
carvings shedding light on the iifo ~
ancient times r. constantly going on,
especially In tho dim nooka and crane
nies Of medieval churches. which often
conceal specimens ~ n most sardonis
character. As the meaning is often
conveyed BY means Of animals.
knowledge ~ animal symbols is me-
cessary In order 10 understand a god
many Of them.
. In the eleventh and twelfth centur-
les syrnbolical animals played n con-
: spicuous part In church furniture ard
architecture. This was largely because
: the congregations ~ those days coui1
e. l. H. q a
I absorb religious and other instruction
$ was through symbols Of commonly uu-
derstood meaning Thus. the lamb. tha
Z lion the wolf. the horse. fox. ass and
3 eagle all had their signifcance Tho
r church was frequently represented as
e a flock Of sheep or doves the soul n
. man by "A serpent or butterfly. ths
= eagle Was a symbol Of protection and
4 the swan. not often used. was. liza
}. the fox, symbol Of hypocrisy and
L cunning.
j. Swans acquired this meaning be-
cause, according 10 medieval writer.
Y they have fine wings and yet can
u scarce raise themselves from the
l. earth, 80 that they are ~ no use ~
j. them: besides the featherssof swa y
y are white, IN perfection. but their
s. flesh is very black. az are hyp0crites,
s, appearing outwardly virtuous and be-
J. ing inwardly wicked"
, The fox won his reputation for cum
ming owing TO the legend that "wher
fox is hungry. II lies down in a fur
row Of the field and covers itself part
~ ~ with earth as though q had beer
re long dead. Then the ravens and Other
~ rapacious birds come 20 devour o.. al
re which II suddenly leaps up and tear
BE them 20 pieces"
OF These symbols, so useful IN IN
ed teaching Of Christianity. were equaii'
RS potent when directed against lt. a
r. that. az +. 2. Evans tells us In hi
ng interesting book. animal Symbolism
n In Ecclesiastical Architecture" WIFI
NJ the growth Of religious s<epticisrn an
ar schism this syrnboIogy gradually an
almost imperceptibiy merged into "a
n tire This reached its most marye
nc phase about a thousand years ago an
as to this day satire has been used *
at tensively IN church design, Derhap
en- with malicious intent IN some n
az stances. but more generally 70 poin
ut a quickly grasped moral"
One of the most interesting spec
In mems OF medieval satire Is a carvin
,es on the stall IN the cathedral Of Amien
OF showing fox preaching 20 a flock q
ch domestic fowls. The pulpit is in th
ct form OF a tray. and the preacher
nd reaching over the edge. as n jealous
.ad ly expounding the Scriptures. hu
NY really for the purpose OF seizing a hei
In whose deyout interest in the sermu
ib- has brought her into dangerous pro,
nd unity to the eager-eyed and rapaciot
'ne gospeler.
Another specimen which shows ~
up men mounted. one on goose and %
her other on a hog. and each armed wit
,all a spear. undoubtedly the carlcature
m a tournament, proves that the o
the architects did not always Conflne tho
hat jibes 10 the church but poked fun
are other generally respected institution
ub- Of their day.