Evening Star Newspaper, April 20, 1930, Page 74

g o . s “The desire to peemote their completion by 1932 is pased on the fact that George Washington is credited with having first voiced the need for a symbol of religion in the Nation's Capi- tal. On the L’Enfant plan, which was prepared during the first President’s administration, ap- pears the suggestion that a great church be built “for national purposes, such as public prayer and thanksgiving.” A distinct contribution to the architectural beauty of the District of Columbia is the Eng- lish collegiate Gothic building which was dedi- cated in November for use of the College of Preachers. Located on Woodley road, near Thirty-sixth street, it is a rambling structure of varying roof levels. From the high plateau on which Washington Cathedral is rising the ground drops away in differing grades to Woodley road and the manner in which the home of the College of Preachers has been adapted to this unusual site is of exceptional interest. Radiating from a central tower are a series of wings that gradually ascend the hillside in a pleasing composition of Gothic structures, intimately related to the cathedral just above. Each wing has distinctive architectural char- acteristics in addition to variations in height which range from three and four stories in the front to the low single-story proportions of the unit, higher on the hillside, which provides residential quarters for the warden. IT has not been uncommon for American architects to seek inspiration from the Gothic designs found so frequently in the re- ligous and educational institutions of England, but it is doubtful if there is another building in the United States that combines so many of the different periods in such natural har- mony. Conceived as a group of structures, each with its specific purpose reflected in its architecture, the College of Preachers Building embraces a wide variety of Gothic designs and contains elements of virtually every period. The architects were not following any parti- cular precedent in evolving this 8esign. They were confronted with the problem of meeting the ultimate needs of the institution by group- ing domitories, conference rooms, a refectory, a common rcom, cloisters, a chapel and a serv- ice wing into a comfortable and harmonious whole, and they found that Gothic architecture of the collegiate, monastic and domestic types particularly suitable for their purpose. The result is a building of unique charm which admirably reflects the unusual nature of the institution which it shelters. The College of Preachers aims, in brief, to stimulate the Christian ministry by providing post-ordination training in the art of the pulpit. Its sponsors believe that a Nation-wide revival of Christian- ity can be effected through the power of preaching, and that the gospel message when properly presented will have a tremendous appeal to the great masses of people who are out of touch with present-day religious move- ments. ; THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., APRIC 20, 1930. Crowd entering Washington Cathedral on the annual Pilgrimage. Of variegated stone, with limestone trim, the College of Preachers Building contains accom- modations for 25 resident students and, with its great refectory and spacious common room, is in a position to entertain gatherings of between 100 and 200 persons. The refectory provided an excellent gathering place for the breakfast held on Washington’s birthday following the annual corporate communion service of the Brother- hood of St. Andrew. The charm of the building is further en- hanced by skilfully conceived and well executed landscaping. Picturesque masses of holly, yew and large masses of tree box have been used with appealing effect. The walks and steps of the dignified approach are softened by irregular forms of old English boxwood, and an ancient wistaria vine climbs the height of the tower. The most delightful development is at the heart of the buildings. It is a little court or cloister garth. Instead of the usual square, the shape is irregular, with three points of garden interest. Onme is a little round pool, just out- side the mullioned windows of the common room. The other is an ancient magnolia tree, its branches overhanging the roof and creating shadow patterns on the walls and level lawns, while the third is an Irish yew near a buttress in the north cloister. A remarkable phase of this landscaping was that the trees were transplanted after a pore tion of the building had been erected, so that it was necessary to lift one of them over a 15-foot wall during their laborious trip to their present homes, College of Preachers building, with its chapel, its furnishings and its landscape developments, represents a $450,000 benefaction, all provided by the late Alexander Smith Coche ran, a member of the Cathedral Chapter, in memory of his mother, the late Mrs. William F. Cochran. The donor also provided $1,000,000 by bequest to be used as an endowment for the support of College of Preachers activities. The new building constructed for use of the lower school department of St. Albans, the Na= tional Cathedral School for Boys, is likewise of collegiate Gothic design. Of Potomac blue stone, it is three stories in height and is cone nected with the main building by a graceful cloister, The site, which faces Massachusetts avenue, was selected in accordance with the landscape development program of the entire Cathedral Close. Planned to meet the most exacting educae tional requirements, the structure provides ace commodations for 105 boys attending classes., There are six class rooms, masters’ living quar- ters, three music practice rooms, a manual training room and a large play room, which is to be used temporarily for recreational active ities until the permanent gymnasium, provided in the ultimate plans of the school, is built. Ranking high among the preparatory schools of the country, St. Alban’s has grown from an enrollment of approximately 50 students when it opened in 1909 to a present student body of 170 boys. The Rev. Albert Lucas, formerly ase sociated with Episcopal Academy, at Philadele phia, is the headmaster. Continued progress in the building of the cathedral and the development of its educa- tional institutions is the desire of all those who have the great endeavor at heart. Toward this end several important national committees are functioning. Gen. Pershing is national chair- man, former United States Senator George Wharton Pepper is executive chairman, and notable men and women residing in all sections of the country are committee members. Gifts and offerings may be made for a wide variety of purposes. Noteworthy among these is the opportunity to provide for individual stones such as are daily placed in the cathedral fabric. The architects have estimated the cost of quarrying, fabricating and placing single stones, and many individuals and organizations are providing for these as expressions of their interest. There is something inspiring about a cathe- dral, and many of the pilgrims who will travel to Mount St. Alban on Easter are not only availing themselves of the opportunity of seeing one built, but are through their gifts actually helping to build it. “Some Doubt Concerning Musical Charm”—B8y Sam Hellman &€ ELL,” I growls, “if you think you’re showing the old pro- vider a treat by dragging him off to Mrs. Lacey’s mu=- sicale—" “I'm not trying to show you a treat,” cuts in the missus, snippish. “I'm merely trying in my feeble way to improve you. I suppose you'd prefer to sit up all night with sick poker hands.” “Und wie!” says I. “A chamber music ree cital is life's low in amusements, as far as I'm concerned. What do you think, Joe?” “There’s a great deal to be said on neither side of the question,” comes back Davis, adroitly. “Some hold that it is the rimless zero in di- vertissements, while there are others who claim you could go no further and do no worse. Per- sonally, I prefer spinach.” “Don’t you men like any kind of music?” in- quires Minnie Mellish. “Oh, yes,” says I. “One of my favorite mel- odies is Bach’s song without notes——" “You mean without words, don’t you?” she interrupts. “Without notes,” I repeats, sternly. “You must get an earful of it some day. There's nothing to be compared to that opus, especially when played by a sextet of muted flutes in A flat.” “I'd much rather have my Bach in an apart- ment,” observes Joe. “Bach in a flat loses that ‘ah’ for me. . . . How'd you boys and girls like ::q?supmemudedeandukemamm ub?” “An idea not without merit,” says I. do you react to the notion, Ira?” “Not any,” growls Minnie’s meal-ticket. *“I like my music played on musical instruments, not through a derby hat.” “Spoken like a true son of the three graces,” I admits. “But do you know what chamber music is?” “No,” he snaps. “I don't either.” “Chamber music,” I explains briefly, “is the sort of music we don’t care to hear.” “Pete’s right,” chimes in Davis. “Chamber music as a pastime can only be compared to going to the wrong funeral in the rain. It has been estimated by the East Rahway Beagle Hunt that, if all chamber music performers were to be placed end on end, Chillicothe, Ohio, would still need more paved streets.” “Oh, stop it,” says the wife, wearily. “Very well,” I shrugs, “I'll go, but don't be surprised if I rise in a fine frenzy while a suite for oboes is being negotiated and heave the bass viol at the Ming vase.” “Have the Lacey’s a Ming vase?” inquired Davis. “I don’t know,” I tells him, “but the last time I saw Mrs. Lacey she had that Ming vase look.” “Probably a touch of sinus,” suggests Joe. “Both give you a somewhat similar appearance.” “How Tm:'s no kidding ourselves out of the : shindig, and we're finally led off by the ear to the Lacey’s. It's a mangy crowd they've eollected. In the shuffie for seats I finds myself The Humorist Decides He Would Rather Sit Up All Night With Sick Poker Hands Than Attend a Musicale. “‘Don’t you just adore Wagner?’ gushes the old gal” parked between Davis and an antique Annie, who must've begged buttons from the soldier boys marching to the Mexican War. The first selection thrown at us is a wallop from Wagner that sounds like a caterpillar tractor pounding its way through a boiler factory during a heavy hailstorm. “Don’t you just adore Wagner?” gushes the old gal. “Sort of,” I returns, “but I've always re- garded his work as inferior to Cobb’s.” © “Cobb?” she eyebrows. “I don’t think that I'm familiar with any of his compositions.” “What!” gasps Joe, turning upon her a look of horror. “Surely,” says I, pityingly, “you’ve heard of “The Stolen Base.’” “Oh, of course,” titters the relic. “Personally,” I goes on, “I regard his scherzo movement in the lower andante register as per- haps the greatest tour de force in the American Pharmacoepia. What is your opinion, Mr. Damrosch?” “I thoroughly agree with you, Mr. Gersh- win,” comes back Davis, “though I've always considered the phrase for piccolos in the Elf- King interlude as possibly the highest point in lyrical pianissimo. As for Wagner, T never could see ear to ear with him on account of his morals.” “Were his morals bad?” inquires the ancient, not without a trace of eagerness. “Bad!” exclaims Joe. “Didn’t you know that ‘Wagner ran away with his own widow? My contention is that genius and good morals go together and I'm sure the Congressional Rec- ord’ll bear me out.” “How about Shelley and Keais?” I inquires boyishly. “I hear they were thrown out of some of the best homes in——" “Shelley and Keats,” interrupts Davis, “are just a couple of rhyme mongers. Their work isn't in the same class, for instance, with——" “Will you two stop talking?” snaps the missus, who's sitting behind us. “Some of us may want to hear the music.” “Let’'s take a vote,” suggested Joe, “on whether the crowd’d rather hear the music or play kissing games.” Homm,weupedo'nloravmle.nd listen to the program. I'm a lot less than being a shark at the classical rag-time, but, if the bunch they've got sawing the air at Lacey's are artists, I'm the King of Armenia’s favorite harpist. But the program doesn't really get good until the fiddle player in the troupe announces a composition of his own. “Didn’t you forget to turn off the water in the bath room?” asks Davis, at the tuning up. “No,” I tells him, regretfully, “but I do think I watered the cat and put the rubber plant out- side. Let’s go see.” I starts to rise, but I confronts a glare in the frau’s eyes that causes me to change my plans. But how Joe and I suffer during the rending of the original piece! “Great!” I enthuses at the finish. “That makes all the rest of the music in the world look sick.” “A masterpiece!” agrees Joe. “I must shake the hand of the man who gave it to the world.” And he rises hurriedly from his seat. “I'm with you,” I announces, following suit. “Where are you going?” demands the wife. “Outside,” says I, “to send a telegram cone gratulating that bozo on his composition. (It's barely possible that one may not become a famous writer of music through a study of the above article, but it must certainly be help- ful as a guide to conduct at musicales of the better sort. Only lack of space prevents us from going further into the argument as to whether Beethoven composed “Keep the Home Fires Burning for Daddy’s Getting Cold,” or whether it was worth composing at all. (Copyright, 1930.) Old-Time Working Student. "THE student who works his way through cole lege is no fairly recent phenomenon. He can go way back to 1657 in this country and find a precedent at Harvard. Incidentally, the child prodigy can find a precedent in the same case, for the student in question, Zache- ariah Bridgen, entered Harvard at the age of 14 and graduated four years later, at the age at which many are just getting through high school. Zachariah, according to information re- ceived by Federal educational officials, served as & waiter and rang the school bell. The steward’s books show him charged with “come mones and sizings” (board, together with drink ordered from the buttery) tuition, “study-rente and beed” (room and bed), “fyer and candell” (fire and candles), “wood, etc.,” and a charge for “bringing corn from Charlestown.” He was credited on his account with “silver, sugar, wheat, malt, Indian (corn) hooge and & bush of parsnapes.” He was also given, on December 31, 1654, credit for “ringinge the bell and waytinge” 1 pound 2 shillings and 6 pence. ‘The total cost of an education st college in those days ran from $100 to $200 in silver and groceries.