The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-14
Beautiful Schoolrooms of indianapolis
Shown by Photograph at Worlds air
So
Aesthetic Teachn Having nHuenced Teachers sand
Pupils Decora the ildings

schools, a general similarity of taste is
observable. and a liking for the old stand
bys. Among the pictures most commonly
seen. besides those of the aforementioned
modern artists, are Aurora - Pharaoh s
Chariot Horses" Angel Heads" StratfOrd-
on-Avon, various madonnas. with accession
ally portrait of George Washington, Lin
coin or LOngfellcw.
Several of the schools are in possession
of the beautiful and expressive Luca della
Robbia prizes, and it is the ambition of
many of the others gradually TO acquire
the entire ten panels. These casts are
selected rather than the old Greek statues
on account of their intactness. Their grace
full Juvenile figures, being still possessed of
heads, limbs and noses, naturally appeal
more to children than the older statues
which are often a strain to the magma
ton because they lack these important fea-
lures.
In the assembly hall of the Benjamin
Harrison school is the entire prize, five
panels on each side of the rostrum. heavily
rounded with the same wood. which
produces an imposing effect. There is a
portrait of Harrison in front and one of
General Knefer, presented just before his
death, at the back of the hall. The wall
space within the oak framing is to be COW
cred eventually with denim some suita-
bic material in an artistic color.
The Benjamin Harrison school building is
naturally the most interesting and probably
the richest liz art possessions in the city.
Not only is it headquarters for the normal
department., but it contains the studio and
office of Miss Seegmiller, the teachers art
room and one for the children. Dark fish
net draperies play an important part in the
furnishing of the first two, while in the
ohildrens room the light Sits through beau
tiful feathery plants which fill the window
stills along one whole side of the ROOM The
building aboundS in prizes of old Greek and
Roman buildings, busts and statues, large
palms and other plants. The finest picture
is very large sea view by Guerelle, at the
end of the lower corridor.
In the halls of Shoool 45, at Park avenue
and Twenty-third street, the plants most
used are oleanders. Several tubs of fine
ones are placed advantageously about, and
have spread out at a height above the
average persons head. This school is far
enough out of the city to enjoy some of
the benefits of field and wood and many
treasures gathered In the autumn still orna-
ment corners and window-sills. One old
bare field, ugly In perspective, yielded this
fall beauties undreamed of-miikWeeds with
their pods just bursting, the red berry-like
seed-pods of the wild rose weeds" dried
grasses and birds nests. These, with their
various dull browns became both interest
ing and artistic against the buff walls. But
that which added more to the pleasure
derived from them by the children was the
fact that they had discovered and gathered
them themselves.
There are several fine paintings by
Gruelle at ~" three of them the gift of
Miss Nicholson to one of the teachers. They
were a source of much enjoyment to some
of the classes a few months ago when they
were reading Robinson Crusoe," for they
imagined that in some such wild place as
these pictures represent, Crusoe must have
been shipwrecked. and on such a shore he
must have traced in the sand the footprints
of his man Friday.
The building, most favored by Gruelle pic
lures, however, is No. Is, at the corner of
East Michigan street and Beville avenue.
1t is the school which all of Mr. Gruelle S
children have attended and where one of
them, a son, is now. The numerous ex-
quisite paintings and drawings which he
has presented to its halls are often used
by the teachers in giving their drawing
lessons. Every teacher has the privilege of
using the pictures at any time. One of the
most interesting TO the friends OF the school
represents it's site before it was built.
The children of this institution have, for