Newspapers / Roanoke News (Weldon, N.C.) / Oct. 5, 1893, edition 1 / Page 2
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TIIE ROANOKE NEWS, THURSDAY, OCTOBER i ANCIENT AKCHITECTUKK Important Discoveries at Cam bridge College, England. ;Urat Intermt Aroused by tlie Unearth. Ing of IComuanU or Walls Krectnd In the Thirteenth Century. Kowadays, in England, if old build ings are touched at all. it is too often with a view to thi'ir restoration a word which in this case is a synonym for destruction. Therefore, when de liberate effort is made, not to give a new version of old work, hut to free that old work from every modern en croachment, the event is one of no small interest to all who are concerned with the history of the past, of no small importance to all who have made a study of architecture. And this is exactly what is happening just now at .Jesus college, Cambridge, says the Xew York Nation. The college, it will be remembered, was not an independant foundation, but sprang from the old nunnery of St. Iladcgundc. The chief portion of the earlier buildings still remaining' is the chapel. Its attraction to the modern tourist, no doubt, is found in the liurne-Jones windows, which, it may be noted in passing, are quite the finest examples of stained glass that artist has yet given us. Hut, to the architect and archaeologist, it is the church itself, with its nave nnd tri angle and its beautiful early English piers and arches and arcades. Of course, Kind's stands alone as the great architectural marvel of Cam bridge; but Jesus chapel, in its own way, is only less fine if at first glance it must seem less imposing, while in historical associations and significance it is supreme. Recently an aged fellow of the col lege, remembering; that when masons were putting a new coat of plaster on the inner cloister forty years ago he had fancied he distinguished the spring of an arch partially concealed in the old stone work, determined to have the plaster pulled off. AVhat he has found proves to be one of the most important architectural discoveries made in England for many years. The arch, which had been just indicated in the stonework, has turned out to be just one of three, and these have been almost entirely set free from the wall during long centuries gradually built up about them. They belong to the purest period of the thirteenth century, good authorities aflirming that they aate hack to 1230, or thereabouts. The reasons for this belief are the capitals, which still show some suggestion of .Norman influence, and the beautiful detached shafts, which later architects never introduced, having learned that preater strength, if less charm, was secured by connecting them to the central shaft with bands. The moldings and the carved foliage of the capitals are in the most wonder ful state of preservation, and the stone is of almost dazzling whiteness a whiteness to be attributed, perhaps, partly to whitewash and destined not long to survive exposure to the foggy English atmosphere and the smoke of Cambridge. Thanks to their chance burial, the arches have escaped the re storer; indeed, they have been brought to light at the best moment, now that a few men, at least, begin to under stand the folly of tampering with the none too many relics and monuments of the past still left. Not so far re moved is the time when the old piscina w as discovered in the chapel; then the one idea was to restore it: now college '" ;:-.itaries are of another way of tninking. The arches form the door r. ay and near windows of the nuns' chapter house. Its floor evidently was much below the level of the present cloister, but the necessary excavations have been made to the very base of the central door, t;o as to show the propor tions of shafts and arches in their origwal grace and purity. 'or will the floor be filled in again. The cloister here is, in term time, one of the very busy thoroughfare of Jesus; but for a little space it will be narrowed, in order that the effect of this beautiful bit of the old monastic building may be seen in all its loveli ness and perfection. In the course of digging, the workmen came upon a fine stone coffin with sculptured top the coffin of an early prioress and this probably will be left lying exactly where it was found, turned to cast and west, even though a part of it must re main hidden under so much of the pavement as utility refur.es to sacrifice to archasology. This discovery rightly has aroused great interest in Cam bridge. A LESSON FflOM LIFE. A Magnetized Cane lued by a frugal Old Man of I'ltlnburirh. (sometimes the simple action of a luun will indicate his character. One of Pittsburgh's wealthiest old gentlemen, according to the Dispatch, was seen walking along the street the other day pointing his cane upon some object upon the pavement every now ami then. What "caught on" he rain d and placed in his hand. lie was col lecting tiny nails that had fallen from merchandise boxes. He continued un til he had gotten s handful. Then, picking up a piece of paper from the the pavement, ho wrapped up the nails carefully and pocketed the package. A bystander asked him what sort of a cane he had. "Oh," he said, "it's noth ing but a steel rod covered with leather." "It must be magnetized, for it attracts nails and saves you from stooping." "Not that I know of, un less the placing of leather over the steel has done it," he replied. "I saw you picking up some nails a short time ago." "Yes," interrupted the old man, "I need some of them." Then looking downward, he exclaimed: "There's one I missed!" and picked It up with his magnetic servant Taking the package of nails from his pocket he placed this last in with the rest As an instance of frugality this incident is interesting, and as a key to the man's success in life it is perhapa likewise. .. THE ROANOKE NEWS Gives the news of the town, county, State and country. In short com pass, it seeks to give a synopsis of the news of the week in an ac ceptable and PLEASING FORM. It has for years been a Regularly MET Visitor to thousands and improves with age. PKICES1.50A YEAK, In- A d v a n c E . Advertising; RATES Low. Send your order with above price to the EOAlsTOKE NEWS, "WETLiDOlT, U. O. 4
Roanoke News (Weldon, N.C.)
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Oct. 5, 1893, edition 1
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