Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-03
The North Window
BY LEILA MECHLIN


only completed in 1897, less than
twenty years ago. It's inspiration was
the Worlds Fair Of Chicago and it's
decorators were the men who won
their laurels and demonstrated their
ability in decorating the buildings OF
the White City.
But the influence OF the Library Of
Congress has been widespread and Is
yet continuing. The newest example
of a public building so decorated by
mural paintings is the Missouri State
Capitol. wherein this summer a series
of paintings by Frank Brangwyn, the
great British artist, has been install
ed. These take the form of four his
torical pendentives. each measuring
forty-nine by over twenty-three feet.
Previously decorations in the form Of
mural paintings by Oscar z. Bern
inghaus, Fred G.. Carpenter. Nathan c.
Wyeth. Carl Melchers. Richard E.
Miller. Adolph Blondheim and Henry
Reuterdahl were executed some time
ago and installed. The majority Of
these are historical themes and have
direct bearing upon life In the state
of Missouri. Like the Minnesota
State Capitol. this building has be-
come place of pilgrimage because of
its artistic decorations.
y ~
Mural painting has not, however,
been restricted merely to the decora-
tion OF public buildings Within the
past two years Barry Faulkner and
Ezra Winter. both Academy of Rome
men, executed extremely handsome
and decorative wall paintings for the
Eastman Theater in Rochester. y. Y.
And the Cunard building, in New York
city. one OF the finest commercial
structures in modern times, has been
superbly decorated by paintings in
it's rotunda by Ezra Winter. For the
Detroit Public Library Carl Melchere
has executed a series of historical
produced an allegorical series. At
the extremities OF the Burnham Lii
brary, in Chicago, are to be seen re-
cent wall paintings by Frederic Clay
Bartlett; and among the sights of
Boston are the new Sargent decora-
tiOns in the Art Museum and in the
Harvard Memorial. In many re-
spects painting in this field is most
virile, partly. perhaps, because it
meets a specific need.
The unknown soldiers monu-
ment-the Cenotaph-in London is d
sacred spot. hallowed by all who pass
Certain members of parliament have
suggested recently that the Ceno-
taph be crowned with a permanent
light shining skyward from its upper
surface. The official journal of the
London Society Of Architects SAYS:
The idea is a fascinating one. The
symbol of a never-extinguished lamp
is associated with the highest cere-
nonial refnements of most of the re-
ligious cults OF the world" But il
urges that the architect be consulted
and that the experiment be tried else
where first The Dewsbury War Me
surmounted by a metal urn or brazier
in which a precisely similar light is
to be fixed
This is of particular interest here
on account Of the numerous war me-
tion and also because the idea is
identical with that being carried into
effect in connection with the Kansas
City War Memorial. the most impps
ing and original yet authorized I'm
doubtedly the idea is appealing. but
it is questionable whether the thing
itself Will in this day and generation
convey to the average mind the
thought intended. Incense typifed
by smoke is in danger OF being re-
garded merely as smoke, and in the
case of the Kansas City Memorial,
where the urn is OF gigantic size and
to top high column, the factory
stack would seem to be glorified
rather than the Greek ideal put into
effect. However. the Journal of the
Society Of Architects says "one can
but wait the outcome of the expert
ment."
This year has been marked by the
Tooth anniversary of the death of Sir
Christopher Wren. the famous British
architect, whose great memorial is
st. Paurs Cathedral, which he design
ed and where he was buried. America
owes much to Wren for the inspira-
tion which his work gave to our
church builders OF early days. for it
was from his designs that many of
our colonial church towers were
copied, and ii Is these towers which
give beauty and lend attractiveness
to many of our small villages as we'll
as large cities.
Unless one has given the matter
thought one does not often realize
I,< - ut
a city is due to its towers and spires,
yet II one were asked to name great
Londons greatest charm, without
hesitation one would say it's church
spires. and these. for the most part,
Here in America they were copied
and re-copied, for example. the old
church In Charleston, s. C., the two
little churches in New Haven, the
Gloucester, Mass. and so on. ad in
fnitum. Fortunately. many have
stood the ravages of time and their
spires are still pointing heavenward
Occasionally today new spire or
tower is reared, but not frequently
enough. partly perhaps because there
has been an increase in economy, and
towers and spires are adjudged i'm
practical things, adding beauty but
afording no useful" purpose. Hap
PLY the cathedral which Is now being
reared on Mount st. Alban is to have
spires which will make more beauti-
full the ediflce, moro inspiring our
city picture.
Curiously enough. our towers today
take the form Of skyscrapers, or vice
versa The great buildings in New
York are in many instances but mag
nified towers and as such have more
than an element of picturesqueness
The West Street building. best seen
from the river front, is one of the
finest Of these. 1t was designed by