Omaha daily bee., 1898-08-30

seventy feet high. one discovers opposite
on the other side OF the bridge. another
arch-equally adequate-of the Administra-
tiou building. Unconsciously one feels how
nicely theese two arches balance one an
other and al the same time accent the short
axis Of the lagoon court by rising as they
do high above the larger buildings.
The Administration Arch. with Its classic
arch below, a loggia above and high. steep
pitched root, with a lantern and corner
pinacles, is very striking and diferentiates
itself from all the other buildings. Although
it. too. is designed in the renaissance style
and is in harmony with its neighbors, it Is
different in character and recalls some ci
the medieval gateways TO old French towns,
or some OF the towers which one occas ionally
sees in northern France-the tour d'horloge
at Rouen, for example. Il Is the central
feature Of the north side Of the lagoon
court, and with its green roof. ribbed with
gold, and pinnacles in green and gold it is
very effective and adds bit of color to
the architectural scheme The vaulted CELL
ing of the first story over the archway,
pierced by the four principal arches, is
brilliantly lighted at night by electric lights
which droOp like luminous pistils in the
dainty fover-like rOsettes.
The statuary by Mr.. Metler OF New York
is so distributed as to give effect to the
whole. The general character Of the build
ing Is reflected back in each detail and in
these groups and figures the sculptor has
not tried to intrude himself upon the pub
lie by making his work predominant, but
rather by the aid OF the plastic art he
I participates in the architectural forms.
! There is no other means OF habituating the
public to the beautiful and making it loved
by them, but by presenting beautiful forms
as the expression Of an idea which arrests
their thoughts, engages and interests them.
! Architecture is, as a certain poet has
/ said "a book in stone" then the sculpture
must be the illustrations. In this case the
embodiment of the administrative idea is
carefully carried out. The lower part OF
/ the Administration Arch, with it's Roman
arch and its simplicity, suggests strength
and power; the upper part-wth the very
pointed roof and pnnacles-lifts the
thoughts above the petty cares which some-
times creep in to disturb the peace of mind
of an administrative board. The same idea
| is again made visible in the central sculpt-
ured group above the loggia where the
genius of administration is calmly seated
waited upon by two youths.
| The Administration Arch and the Arch
Of States were designed by the architects
in chief, Messrs. Walker and Kimball Of
Boston and Omaha, who with such excellent
taste designed the general scheme OF tbs
lagoon court and one Of the most pleasing
OF all the architectural features-the colon.
nades. They gave to the architects th'
scale and general style Of all the build.
ings, thus foreordaining the clearness anC
harmony which delights US without oul
knowing why. We cannot but regret tha
in a short time our Enchanted City viii
be city of Dreams" Still the short
ness Of its life does not diminish the value
Of its influence any more than the "shor
duration of a flower can take away from
the sweetness Of its perfume, the brillianc!
OF its colors, or the exquisite delicacy o
its petals" ETHEL EVANS.