DOI Heft:
Nr. 333 (February 1925)
DOI Artikel:Hervey, Antoinette B.: Cathedral of St. John the Divine
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19984#0152
mceRn act oral
persons who go to see the Colos-
seum by moonlight did not
make a trip to some apartment
roof to see their own majestic
arch. Our ruin, however, was
facing forward, and when we
playfully inquired if the com-
pleted structure would not cut
off part of our sunshine, we were
told emphatically that the Ca-
thedral would not be finished
till three generations after us
had rolled away. With the op-
timism of youth we did not be-
lieve this and we still cherish
our early faith that the Cathe-
dral is surely to be completed,
and that in our children's day,
even though its plan is so mag-
nificent that it will be the third
largest cathedral in the world.
Not only the third largest, but
as Prof. Alfred D. F. Hamlin
has said, "as compared with
both Milan and Seville the com-
position of Dr. Cram's nave-
interior is a better design both
in proportion and detail, while
in structural organization it is
more original, more daring and
more logically worked out than
any of the four; it is perhaps in
these respects superior to any
medieval cathedral whatever."
The other two referred to are
the Duomo of Florence and the
Cathedral of Cologne.
When the Chapel of St.
Saviour stood out grandly
foliage against the golden granite. Even in July against the sky, the Cathedral ceased to be called
and August as one looks dismally at the dusty our ruin and was rechristened "our Cathedral,"
trees, suddenly the sky grows dark and lowering on the principle that "he owns the Cathedral
and our much pictured building takes on the tone most who loves it most." For some time the
of time with deep, sombre shadows. The storm Chapel of St. Saviour seemed to be a thing apart
comes quickly and is quickly over. There is an from the big arch, but we heard rumors of huge
afterglow in the west with rays of light gilding and Maine granite columns which were being quarried
glorifying the trees in the park and the Cathedral and would soon stand in awesome dignity around
on the heights. Only those who have lived under the Sanctuary. When these columns, fifty-five
its shadow at all seasons can know its infinite feet in height and weighing one hundred and
possibilities. thirty tons, were brought from Maine, it was
It is now many years that we have lived under necessary to build a special truck to transport
its lengthening shadow. At first we looked up at them from the cars to the Cathedral. The day
what we familiarly called "our ruin"—a huge the columns came, we leaned far out of the win-
rough arch, now covered, which was to separate dows to see a traction engine drag the heavy load,
the choir from the crossing. On a moonlight night for in that day there were no automobile trucks,
this "ruin" was magnificent and we marveled that As the columns were in two parts, the lower
IN THE CHAPEL OF ST. JAMES
jour twelve
FEBRUARY I 9 2 j
persons who go to see the Colos-
seum by moonlight did not
make a trip to some apartment
roof to see their own majestic
arch. Our ruin, however, was
facing forward, and when we
playfully inquired if the com-
pleted structure would not cut
off part of our sunshine, we were
told emphatically that the Ca-
thedral would not be finished
till three generations after us
had rolled away. With the op-
timism of youth we did not be-
lieve this and we still cherish
our early faith that the Cathe-
dral is surely to be completed,
and that in our children's day,
even though its plan is so mag-
nificent that it will be the third
largest cathedral in the world.
Not only the third largest, but
as Prof. Alfred D. F. Hamlin
has said, "as compared with
both Milan and Seville the com-
position of Dr. Cram's nave-
interior is a better design both
in proportion and detail, while
in structural organization it is
more original, more daring and
more logically worked out than
any of the four; it is perhaps in
these respects superior to any
medieval cathedral whatever."
The other two referred to are
the Duomo of Florence and the
Cathedral of Cologne.
When the Chapel of St.
Saviour stood out grandly
foliage against the golden granite. Even in July against the sky, the Cathedral ceased to be called
and August as one looks dismally at the dusty our ruin and was rechristened "our Cathedral,"
trees, suddenly the sky grows dark and lowering on the principle that "he owns the Cathedral
and our much pictured building takes on the tone most who loves it most." For some time the
of time with deep, sombre shadows. The storm Chapel of St. Saviour seemed to be a thing apart
comes quickly and is quickly over. There is an from the big arch, but we heard rumors of huge
afterglow in the west with rays of light gilding and Maine granite columns which were being quarried
glorifying the trees in the park and the Cathedral and would soon stand in awesome dignity around
on the heights. Only those who have lived under the Sanctuary. When these columns, fifty-five
its shadow at all seasons can know its infinite feet in height and weighing one hundred and
possibilities. thirty tons, were brought from Maine, it was
It is now many years that we have lived under necessary to build a special truck to transport
its lengthening shadow. At first we looked up at them from the cars to the Cathedral. The day
what we familiarly called "our ruin"—a huge the columns came, we leaned far out of the win-
rough arch, now covered, which was to separate dows to see a traction engine drag the heavy load,
the choir from the crossing. On a moonlight night for in that day there were no automobile trucks,
this "ruin" was magnificent and we marveled that As the columns were in two parts, the lower
IN THE CHAPEL OF ST. JAMES
jour twelve
FEBRUARY I 9 2 j