FLORENCE. 55 



Hardly. Although the thing was to be made a lottery, and 

 fair, fat, well grown, golden coins were to be put among the 

 copper ones. Then did men turn to the great Brunellesco, 

 who stood forth and said: "My master, Arnolfo, has built 

 piers which set thrust at defiance, and I will turn the vault 

 without centering." 



I was caused to understand somewhat in the following 

 manner how he made good his words. 



Conceive a series of rings, automobile tires if you choose, 

 the second a little smaller than the first, the third a little 

 smaller than the second, and so on, the decrease not being 

 sufficient to allow one to fall through the one preceding. Pile 

 these up in their order, and a beehive shaped erection will 

 result, which may be crowned with a ball. The " rings " of 

 the masonry vault are circular construction in arch fashion, 

 each voussoir inclining downwards to the proper extent, but 

 prevented from falling through by its wedge shape. This is 

 the whole matter. Modifications of detail are introduced as 

 occasion serves. The fact is that the cupola is a double 

 shell, probably because in this form it is stronger and lighter. 

 But the soul exalting fact is that this dome is as nearly in a 

 condition of stable equilibrium as such a fabric can be. It 

 stands of itself, and is in no peril at all. Whereas the dome 

 of St. Peter's is for necessary security bound about with links 

 of iron so titanic that it is almost a wonder how they could 

 be forged in days when steam hammers were unknown. 



You should hear the affectionate intonation with which a 

 Florentine will talk of Padre Arnolfo, Padre Brunellesco, 

 Padre Alighieri and the other great masters which his cit}- 

 has evolved. 



And now to show that some things can be done as well as 

 others. 



In 1876 I made a visit to Florence. At that time the 

 arches of the Loggia of the Uffizi required repair. The city 

 'government was on the point of shutting up and boarding off 

 the whole place for a season. But some one was found who 



