The Blandford and Wimbourne Telegram. — 1879-09-19 (Blandford, Dorset, England)

FAN VAULTING.—Gothic architecture, pure and simple. may be said to have been absolutely crushed under the weight of the decorative luxury of the latest Perpendicular style. If we look at such roofs as those of King's College Chapel. Cambridge, Henry VI I.'s Chapel, Westminster, or St. lleorge's Chapel, Windsor, we find instances of the most costly and laboured negation of the law that structures must control decoration. The idea of these roofs is that of work by magic; to produce an impossible effect; to suspend solid pendants from a carved stone ceiling, instead of to raise a lofty vault on slender shafts, was to emulate the grandeur and simplicity of the sky. There can be no doubt of the high structural skill of the architects of these roofs and of similar structures; but there can be no doubt either that this skill has been directed in a very questionable path. The only natural model that could be mentioned as presented to the mind of the artist by one of these wonderful ceilings is that of the cavern. In a very homogeneous rock it might be possible to decorate a natural roof with the fanwork of perpendicular tracery. Even here, however, a sense of insecurity would always be awakened. Such a sense is the reverse of that which the true architect seeks to gratify. The ideas of repose, of safety, of adaptation both of material and of design to their true purpose, are the very guiding-lights of the architect To produce a roof that threatens to crush the spectator, and that actually involves in its form a wholly unnecessary degree of danger, or of labour directed to the express purpose of exciting fear or wonder, may be skill of a high order' hut it is not, in our view, the proper skill of the architect. Such roofs may be magnificent, but they are not admirable as specimens of true architectural excellence.— ilder.  - -  of the Momunds is even said to be Willem*. The ( lavernment is accordingly vigorously preparing for aIL -----I emergencies, and the assembly of the Khyber force is BosinAr, TnresnAr.—Many rumours are current ordered. upon the frontier as to what is passing in Cabul. As regards the official contradiction of the diary Among the natives there are persistent reports that which appeared in the Civil ,erri re and Military the Ameer is deal. Their accounts, however, differ Gazette, the editor is sure that his hiformation was as to the mode of death. Some reports say that he indisputably authentic, awl that his 'IWO cerresponhas been killed by the mutineers, others that he has dent with the Embassy, as early as the Ist inst., sent committed suicide. It is stated that serious riots have him word to say that the position of the English been going on in the city. The mutineers, with the town Embassy in the Afghan capital was preearii N. rabble, sacked the bazaars, and many peaceful traders and citizens were killed. At Candahar the reiStiftiTrit•clit,ii:nts- -.4 Tinee mr.:',ll tilitr‘e'sb'firtitus• :liii'llttet gdria,l ~:-Inletifti'sr. greatest activity prevails. The greater part of His present free is mi,.00 men. General Stewart's division is again concentrated there, The military authorities have decided to increase and preparatiens are being made for an advance to both the Kuram and Khyber columns to P.,C00 mew Khelat-i-Ghilzai. The trading population of the town are delighted at our return, and the general feeling is It has been ,leciiled that there is no pi sail ility if a. excellent. The people of Candahar ciave him; .alianed sudden dash iem Cahill. CI insequently that ialiey, under the yi•ke of Cabul, and hope that the turn of which was at first thought la mssible, has been al manevents may again make their city capital of dmied. Afghanistan. Messages have conie to Cam lahar Fitesen GerNioN. The gist of those article.* front Cabul urging A rising against the British on the 15th of this month. Thereis no fear imf a disturbances on a publishei I Friday on the Odell massacre is that Len) lleaconsfield makes England pay dearly for the goryl large scale at Cambdiar, though isolated outbursts if id having such an accomplished n ovel writer at the religious fanaticisu 'may take place. The interest centres head of her Government. A French senator this upon the ciewse which Ghuzni and the Ghilzais may evening, in discussing the )s hey of the Tory I :overnpursue. I ; huzni, always tine of the most fanatical and ment, said—" I suppse when political rights are turbulent towns hi Afghanistan, will probably go with extended tii ladies you will have a ' Miss Braildon'Cabul. The Candahar chiefs are of i minion that the anti a . ()lima, (mina., Hendee regiments which led the mutiny at Cabal ITALIAN Oemsaime.—Friday's Diritto says : " See acted under the secret orders of Ayoob Khan, I ;over- where Lord Beaconsfield's 'alley has landed us ! For nor of Herat, whim a short time since wrote a violent the Cabul mart-mere is nit the only fact which now letter to the :tweet in mbraiding him bitterly fi.r making disquiets all Europe." And the Ministerial jousteal. peace with the English. He is known to be an proceeds to trace in the growing enmities between the ambitious and unscrupulous man, and tolte jealous of Great P. ,wer,; the consequences of the action of the his brother's suprenutcy.—The Bombay papers having English Government these la-t four years. "These sent a remonstrance to the (Involution against the consequences," it concludes, " which have jeopari limed: edict forbidding any special correspondents to accom- the general peace and prepare,l the ground for patty the anay, the Government have replied : future conflicts, have strengthened the desire ' Every non-combatant accompanying the force, throughout Europe that the direction. of nu:lam-Pe especially if an Englishman, lessens the power of immlicy should return into the hands of the Liberal Government to provide foist and carriage fir the com- party:, batants. No Englishman can in Afghanistan provide RI:SelaN