The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-26
SCOTTISH RUINS SHOW GRANDEUR
 OF OLD CHURCH
Cathedral Of Elgin, 700
 Years Old, Destroyed And Rebuilt Many Times

Elgin Cathedral Wnlcn Is no" cele bratins its seven hundredth anniversary, must rank among the most famous ec- clesastical edifices fl Scotland, By the antiquity of its origin, its many vicissl- tudes, its evtreme beauty, and it's num- erous monuments and relics. it has gathered around it history with many points of national interests. writes A. E., in the Edwinburgh Scotsman.
 Elgin Cathedral, the Church of the Holy Trinity, was founded on July ID. 1224. by Bishop Andrew Moray on l beautiful spot on the side of the River Lossie, the group being granted by King Alexander II. It iS stated to have been completed in IS years.
 In the days of it's pristine grandeur it was no less the glory of Elgin, than the boast of Moray and the pride of the north. Like most other cathedralS, it was built in the form of a Passion Cross, placed due east and west. In ex- tent, in loftiness, in impressive mag nificence, and even ill minute decora- tion, it must have been one of the most Solemnly massive and grand cathedrals iii Scotland. We may presume that under Bish Moray's active and speedy direction it was all of one style. late transitional-as the elegant towers and a part of the south side near where the transept stood still testify. The choir seems to have been almost wholly re- built, being richer in detail than the rest.
 Richly Ornamented Gateway
 The length of the cathedral over all is about 290 feet. In the screen wall, between the west or font towers, is the 1aanlv ronaSSoI l,inb InIlbp- p-Vn lVpI gateway, having eight plain and eight fluted pilasters, beautifully encrusted with lace-like toothed and lowered or naments; between the valves above, and within the large archline, are several niches, doubtless once filled with images of the Virgin and patron saints. Above is the great western or Alpha window, lancet arched and originally fitted with millions and tracery. Over the window still may be seen the arms of the Stewards and Dunbars, two fam lilies whose names are so closely asso- ciated with the civil and ecclesiastical history of the province
 The great gateway is approached by a flight of steps, and through two halves the interior is entered The Hong drawn asles" were separated from the nave by rows of stately pillars rising to support the roof. The foun- dations and a few of the pedestals of the pillars only remain.
 The Chapter house is octagonal, the roof being supported by central pill lar, and is entire, with the exception of the tracery of the windows It shows some choice Work throughout especially in the carved capital of the center pillar with its eight armorial shields, and the bosses of the rib points q tIa A1 hn v1r in walls are where the oaken stalls of the alignified clergy, who sat in council with the bishop, were placed, his being the center one is more elevated than the rest Close by are the remains of the vestry and the small sacristy- In the sacriSty still remains tine stone wash trough that formed the cradle of the baby of I,ocr Marjory Gilzean, who took up her home in the ruins, and whose child became General Anderson the founder of the noble institutions bearing his name
 The Towers
 Of the live towers, the two western ones form the most perfect part of the ruin, and they convey vivid impress sion of what the cathedral must have been in it's original magnificence- They are S4 feet high ruined at their tops, from which a fine view of the sur rounding country is obtained Two other towers or turrets- are on the east and served as staircases to and from the clcrestory - gallery running round the whole cathedral These, and the upper part of the gable between them, are also ruined at the top There are no remains, except the foundations, of the great central tower, or spire. which is said to have been 19S feet TA f.n ;, raSfnra1 in 153S, but fell again with a tremendous crash Easter Sunday, 1711
 It is supposed from the massive style lboard buttresses, and general severity of the architectural treatment in the two great western towers, that these flowers were surmounaed by four smai! 1urrets, raised tapering into spires as In many similar ecclesiastical Struc- tures. The smaller towers at the east end had each pointed spires It ls doubtful. however, whether the central tower, when first erected, had splre although there need be no hesitation in saying that the rebuilt tower had this termiration-
 When hen lays an egg in nest three Californians have patented q door opens permitting her to enter one yard, while if no egg be laid she must igto to another yard. thus separating layers and non-layers.
 Should one lamp fail in a new auto mobile tail light an electro-magnet would turn the current into another until three with which the device lis eqiupped are dark.
 Traffic policemen in a Dutch city wear electric signal lights on their Ikleeyes, into which current from Stor- age batteries on their belts is switched lby pressing buttons on their gloves.
 An inventor has patented bathing scap that covers the nose, ears and eyes of a wearer, being fitted with gog- igles that can be made to correspond ito the lenses of his spectacles if he wears the latter.
 Carried under the running board out of sight when not in use q compact laV- ,oratory for automobiles includes reccp- Etacles for water and liquid soap and faucets to release their contents
 THRIFTY SCOT
 The Scotsman. away on his annual vacation, was head over heels in love -1,-itb nprtait ynIIOu ''rirl he lpft hn-