At the very period when the Mohammedan conquerors of Spain were building their palace of the Alhambra, the Christians of northern France were erecting those vast cathedrals which stand today as the crowning achievements of the builder's art. Paris, Chartres (shahrtr), Bourges (boorzh), Rheims (reemz), Rouen (roo-ong´), Le Mans (lee-mong´), Beauvais (bo-vay´) and Amiens (ah-mee-ong´) are but a few of the long list of French Gothic cathedrals of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. From such a list it is most difficult to choose. Each one has its distinctive claim to recognition, and its distinctive features which are not surpassed in any of the others. This fact, indeed, has caused it to be said that the ideal cathedral should have the façade of Rheims, the spires of Chartres, the nave of Amiens, and the choir of Beauvais. But even such an ideal cathedral would not be perfect without the addition of features from each of the other churches in our list. Since, however, it is necessary to choose, let us choose Amiens; for perhaps this church is most widely acknowledged as the finest example of the Gothic style. Its façade is a masterpiece of decoration. Three deeply recessed portals in the lower story are covered with a wealth of sculptured figures in the round and in relief. Bible lessons and the events of human life and history, carved here in stone, taught the terrors of sin and hell and the joys of a godly life as preached in the church beyond these lofty doors. Nor is the decoration confined to sculpture; for the whole façade, and in fact the entire church, is a tracery of stone. THE GOTHIC GLORY OF AMIENS [Illustration: SOUTH PORTAL OF AMIENS CATHEDRAL _The statue of the Virgin which stands in the portal replaces that of St. Honoré, which was moved to the north transept. The carvings about the south portal are taken from the life of St. Honoré._] [Illustration: NAVE OF AMIENS CATHEDRAL]