Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-09
BY Frederic j. Haskin.

''J 4AShCil IL hAoShiii.
New York City, Dec s.-The recent
discovery of a carving on the facade of
one of the University of Pennsylvania
In the act OF choking the once Mexican
president. Huerta, would suggest that
cartoons In stone may be fairly numer-
GUS thruout the country.
For awhile it was thought that st.
Thomas church here in New York had
a monopoly of this kind of decoration,
PVT reports of similar architectural
eccentricities are now springing UP
In other cities. while Europe is we'll
known to be full of them.
Architects are evidently playful fell
lows, and an indifferent, unobserving
public has given them admirable op-
portunity to express their satirical
humor. Realizing that their most mag
nificent decorative effects receive but
scant attention from the passing
multitude, they get even by slyly cary
ing few Ha, Has! at its expense.
The dollar sign. which recently
called attention to the existence of
such ARCHITECTURAL jibs, has been plain
ly visible over the brides entrance to
st. Thomas church for IL years, yet
even church officials. 1t seems, did
not know it was there until couple
OF months ago when some extraordi-
narily inquisitive person came along
and pointed it out, New York was de-
lightfully shocked. For several Sum
days st. Thomas had enormous con-
gregatons. Thru the, week, moreover,
the steps of the church were crowded
with people. anxious to see the dollar
sign and comment upon its signifl-
canoe. Even now. after the first shock
has subsided. the church is still be-
sieged with sightseers.
Other discoveries, equally significant.
soon followed. a carving was found on
the front rail of the choir stall which
three sacks of the foppy kind familiar
i2ed by cartoonfsts as money bags.
bearing the letters y. P. NJ" These
were recognized as tho initials of J.
Pferpont Morgan, who at the time the
church was built was easily the most
Influential Episcopal church member
In New York.
In the same series with the money
bags were found another group of
intensely modern subjects never mem
toned in the Holy Bible. They include
ocean liners, dirigibles, locomotives.
telegraph and telephone lines, modern
bridges. automobiles, airplanes, cotton
bales. and other articles of commerce
and industry usually not associated
with tho worship of God.
MODERN TYPES PORTRAYED
At the same time 1t developed that
the sculptures over tho portico were
not copies of early Gothic heads, as
had been carelessly supposed. but were
modern types taken from Fifth Avenue
of today, or at least Fifth Avenue of II
years ago. They represent tired busi-
ness men. dignified fnanciers with i'm
portant side whiskers and worried,
wrinkled foreheads. drawing room
heroes with mustaches and monocles
and smooth shaven, clean-cut men of
the kind appearing in collar ADVERTISE
mcnts.
In defending these satirical touches
In the decorative scheme OF the church.
Mr.. 4. Donald Robb. who was head
draughtsman of the firm that handled
the rebuilding of the church II years
ago, declared that there was nothing
particularly amazing about them.
Not only Is an artist well within
his rights" he said. when he scizes
upon tho people and antiviues OF
everyday life as tho subject for church
decoration. but II would be far better
II more church architects md sculptors
used these subjects instead of employ
ing distractions. Too many modern
artists have been content in the deco
rations of churches and to repeat the
same decoration over again.
1T is tho duty of an artist to supple
ment the efforts of the preacher by
employing such designs ms will call
the attention of tho people to them
selves as they are In contrast to the
Christian ideal. Not all things tina. the
preacher says In his sermon arc pleas
ant. Neither should all the subjects
employed by an artist In tho dccora-
ton of church be pleasant
Those who think that tho artists
who decorated ST. Thomas have taken
unusual liberties arc evidently not
very familiar with much OF the cary
ing of the misereres In medieval
churches. OF those parts OF the choir
seats against which the boys leaned
during n long service. the old archi-
tects played many Jokes. They carved
caricatures oven Of bishops and of
the pope himself on these small and
little seen miserercs. and some of the
scenes which they depleted were not
WORLD HISTORY IN STONE
An almost literal history OF the
world is to he found In tho carvings
and sculptures OF the churches. temples
and cathedrals Of various peoples. and
IL is highly desirable that modern
events in this way Search for carvings
shedding light on the life of ancient
times Is constantly going on, especial
ly in tho dim hooks and crannies of
medieval churches, which often con-
ceal specimens OF most sardonic
character. As the meaning ts often
conveyed by means OF animals n
knowledge OF animal symbols is neces-
sary in order to understand n good
many OF them.
In the eleventh and twelfth centuries
symbolicnl animals played a conspicu-
GUS part In church furniture and srchi-
lecture. This was largely because the
congregations OF those days could not
read. and the only way they could alb
sorb religious and other instruction
WAS thru symbols OF commonly under
stood meaning. Thus. tho lamb, the
lion. the wolf. the horse. fox. ass and
eagle all had their Significance. The
church was frequently represented as
n flock OF sheep or doves: the soul Of
man by n serpent or n butterfly. tho
eagle was a symbol OF protection. and
the swan, not often used. was, like tho