The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-18


As education IS to occupy a more prom
inent part in the Louisiana Purchase Ex-
position than at any Of the previous events
OF its kind, Superintendent L. Louis Sol
dan of the St. Louis public schools is de
sirous that the display OF ST. Louis sur
pass the exhibits Of other cities.
In furtherance OF this desire, the Super
intendent Of Instruction has presented 10
the Board OF Education an outline Of a
plan for Worlds Fair exhibit. which
was accepted by the board last Tuesday
night.
The plan calls for an expenditure Of S25.-
90. The board did not hesitate at spend
ing this sum when the reputation Of st.
Louis, the beauty OF its schools and the
display OF the chIldren's talents were at
stake.
The space allotted for the St. Louis Pub
lie School exhibit is one OF the best in the
Palace OF Education. It is near the main
entrance. Upon entering from the north
by the main corridor the space extends
along the second aisle at the right. and IS
located on the south side OF. the aisle. eX-
tending to the interior wall Of the court.
DIMENSIONS OF SPACE
The space is approximately 1l3 feet long
by q feet in depth. Opposite it will be
the display OF the other schools Of the
State OF Missouri, and on the same aisle.
on the left Of the main corridor, will be
the display Of the schools Of the State OF
New York.
Seven windows give light 10 the space
allotted TO ST. Louis. So well pleased is
Superintendent Soldan that when he went
to the board with his plan, augmented as
Il was with his glowing descriptions OF
how the space should be decorated. the
members capitulated at once, satisfied
that he would have display that the city
would be proud Of
The general aim OF the exhibit IS to give
TO visitors and students a complete and
systematic view OF the work actually done
by the public schools OF the city and their
administrative and financial conditions
There is nothing to be admitted TO this
exhibit that Is merely decorative. Every
thing must tend to show actual facts; but
the mode of presenting these facts must
be graphic and artistic.
Superintendent Soldan's first impress
sion OF what the general scheme OF deco
rative work should be was the erection
Of an ornamental facade. which would
mark or the exhibit and make It. as It
were. a room by itself. It is also 70 serve
the purpose OF ornamenting the pillars
and VIII enhance the impressive and ar
tistic character OF the display. A sketch
of this facade has been drawn by the
Building Commissioner in accordance
with the suggestions made.
FACADES DECORATIVE FEATURES.
OF the facade are elaborate.
On the Interior side Of each arch. and
also back OF the arch. there is 70 be
placed panel Of ground glass. perhaps
SKA feet in size. On these panels trans
parent photographs OF school buildings.
scenes in schoolhouses. pictures Of groups
Of children, etc, will be placed. Back OF
these glass transparencies. electric lights
are 10 be kept burning
In the triangular spaces right and left
OF the top OF the arches facing the aisle
large heads OF children will be presented
in transparent photographs. which. like
panels below, will be Illuminated all the
time.
Facing the facade there will be. at the
left, the Kindergarten exhibit. and further
to the right the primary anc High School
work The picture OF children's heads in
the transparencies in the panels and span
drels OF the arches indicate and suggest
the character Of the exhibit found in the
space behind them.
The interior decoration OF the space dss-
tined for the exhibit Will present I'm a
general way the appearance OF a quiet and
refined library. with carpets. furniture
and plants The color-tone Of furniture.
carpets and the decoration will be fairly
dark on account OF the great amount Of
light derived from the large windows i'm
med!ately back Of the exhibit The fur
niture, tables. settees. chairs. etc. will
be OF the plainest. but at the same time
artistic and solid character. The Art
Crafts style is 70 be used.
To witness the display OF the public
school system OF 81 Louis at the Expo
sition viii be thorough insight into all
its workings From the crude creations
Of child upon its first days attendance
10 the workings OF the School Board in
accomplishing an up-to-date system will
be incorporated Ia the exhibit Deaf-mute
instruction and the teaching Of instructors