Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14

commodate $1,000 when all standing space !s
occupied while $500 can be seated comfort
ably for ordinary services and religious celebra-
tions., ~
The exact cost Of the washington Cathedral
and its 80 subordinate structures will not be
known definitely until the last bill is paid.
Suffice to say that approximately 100000 has
been spent to date on its fabrication. The goal
of the present drive for funds is focused on
potential contributions amounting to about $10,-
oeeeoo for actual construction work, $l5000,-
600 additional desired for endowment and for
the building Of associate institutions. Which
represents building campaign only outrivaled
in Washington by that fostered by Uncle Sam
himself.
The art Of current architecture, appreciatiye
of its shortcomings, Is not backward about COM
ing forward to admit the remarkable skill of
antiquity's masters Of fabric. In the Middle
Ages art was instructive, although professional
architects were lacking The master masonS
of that period served not only as adept artisans
but they also filed the shoes of the modern de-
signers These talented workmen of the earlier
ages not only knew the technical value Of the
straight line as the shortest distance between
two points In building. but they also knew when
to detour from the mon0tonous use of straight
lines. They Intentionally deviated not only
from rigid straight lines, but also from perfect
right angles. as the architectural desirabity for
such actions developed. Thus they added 10
the beauty Of their buildings without under
mining their strength and durability. Men
lions Is made Of these historical facts because
the same practices have been followed in the
construction Of the washington Cathedral.
Prof. William Goodyear of the Brooklyn Mu-
scum Of Art. who has made an exhaustive study
of medieval construction, has discovered an
even dozen refinements or variations from pre-
else exactness. These refinements, which in
many respects are fundamentally important in
Gothic architecture. merit enumeration for they
all are stressed In one way or another in the
design and fabrication Of the cathedral. They
include such factors IS curvature in plan curva-
ture in elevation, Irregularities in intercolumnar
spacing, deviations from parallel lines and right
angles. slopng floors, variations in the diameter
of columns, asymmetry Of apparently SYM
mstrical features, leaning facadeS. piers and
columns, and deviati0ns In windows and arches
These variations in large edifce such as the
Washington Cathedral enhance beauty and an
parently increase size and stability. In Gothic
construction with cut and molded stones these
principles can be applied without increasing net
costs greatly.
THE 5000 tons or more of cut and nodded
stone which win be used in building the
cathedral makes possible the construction Of =
sterling edifice Of fourteenth century design
which is unlike any other religious temple which
ever raised its spires or towers skyward The
Washington Cathedral is being built in the
form OF a cross with q conspicuous and dignined
exterior tower. This tower will be the lofties.
work OF masonry on District soil, as it will rise