Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-10

New York. Dec. o.--The recent dis
coycry OF n carving on the facade of
one OF the University Of Pennsylvania
buildings. depicting Woodrow Wilson
In the act OF choking the once Mexi-
tan president. Huerta, would suggest
that cartoons in stone may be fairly
numerous throughout the country.
I For awhile II was thought that 81.
Thomas Church here in Now York
had monopoly on this kind Of decor
alton. but reports Of similar archi-
tccturai eccontrlcities are now spring
ing ID In other cities. while Europe Is
well known TO be full OF them.
Architects are evidently playful fell
lows and an indifferent unobserving
public has given them admirable op-
iportunity to express their satirical
humor. Realizing that their most
magnificent decorative effects receive
but scant attention from the passing
multitude. they get even by slyiy cary
ing a few ffa. has at it's expense.
! The dollar sign, which recently call
cd attention 20 the existence Of such
architectural jibes. has been plainly
visible over the BRIDES entrance 20 ST
Thomas Church for II years. yet even
lchurch officials. II seems, did not know
lit was there until couple Of months
lago when some extraordinarily In
Iuuiative person came along and point
cd il out. New York was delightfully."-
shocked For several Sundays, 81
Thomas had enormous congregations
Through the week. moreover. tbs
steps Of the church were crowded viii
lpsopie. anxious to see the "dollai
sign" and comment upon it's sgnif
lcance. Even now, after the frs
shock has subsided. the church Il
still besieged with sightseers
Other discoveries, equally signih
cant, soon followed. A carving wa
found on the front rail OF the choi
stall which showed three sacks Of tn
noppy kind familiarized by cartoon
lists as money bags" bearing the let
tcrs 81. p. NJ" These were recognize
rs the initials Of J. Plerpont Morgan
who at the time the church was bull
= was easily the most influential Episco
pal church member In New York.
? In the same series with the 'mone
. bags" were found another group {
p intensely modern subjects never mon
{ toned in the Holy Bible. They in
r clude ocean liners. dlrigibles. iocomo
O tiveE. telegraph and telephone line
o modern bridges. automobiles. airplsne
= cotton bales and other articles OF con
I. merce and industry usually not assc
Ciated with the worship OF God.
y Modern Types Portrayed.
, At the. same time Il developed tn;
= the sculptures over the portico wet
u not copies Of early Gothic heads. 8
had been careiessly supposed, but we
i1odcrn types taken from Fifth avenl
J. Of today. or at least Fifth avenue
II years ago. They represent tir,
Ie business men, dlgnihed fiuancie
With important side whiskers and wa
n ried. wrinkled foreheads, drawil
room heroes with mustaches and mo
r. ocles, and smooth-shaven. ciean-c
In men Of the kind appearing in coll
Y. advertisements.
In defending these satrical touc
r? es in the decorative scheme Of q
church.. Mr.. T.. Donald Robb. Who VI
-e head draughtsmah OF the firm tn
l. handled the rebuilding OF the chur
y
ar nothing particularly amazing abo
il, them.
70 Not only Is an artist we'll with
r, mis- rights he said. when he sei7
upon the people and activities
everyday life as the subject for chur
= decoration. but IL would he far b
II ter IL more church architects a
scuiptors used these subjects inste
II OF employing distractions Too ma
II modern artists have been content
4 the decorations Of churches and pI
/ lie buildings to use inventions fOuI
/ ed on old sculptures and to repeat
/ same decoration over again.
/. 1T is the duty OF an artist TO 3,
/ plement the efforts of the preacl
/ by employing such designs as viii
/ the attention Of the people to the
| selves as they are in contrast to
/ Christian ideal. Not all things q
the preacher says in his sermon.
II pleasant Neither should all the 8
: