Evening star., 1923-02-11
Symbolism Is Striking Feature
To Visitors at LincOln'S Shrine

- IA.
tions on the face OF the earth, awed
and inspired before that inscription,
to marvel at the divine inspiration
that made the words Of Lincoln words
Of wisdom and of prophecy.
Xxx x
DIREcTLY above the second inau-
~ gural address. running the full
length Of the north wall, is one of
the two mural panels. done in colors
by Jules Guerin; exquisite allegories
are they that reveal the living prin-
ciples of Lincoln and his work. They
are the one bright thread in the one
tone tapestry of the whole creation.
"rich, tempered, insistent, unusual"
, a revelation and a mystery. The col
ors employed are rich and mellow as
autumn tones, dull reds and blues and
green's and soft browns and tans.
There are in the panels six groups in
an enchanted grove, each group hav-.
ing for a background cypress trees.
an emblem Of eternity.
In the central group, incorporating
as it does the paramount theme of
the second inaugural below 1t. is
the effulgent figure Of Truth, with
. wide, white wings outspread as she
! joins In a union that no cause may
ever disrupt the laurel-crowned flS-
ures Of the north and the south. The
attendant, half-nude figures bear in
their hands the symbols of the arts
Of painting, philosophy, music, arch
itecture, literature and sculpture and
the science OF chemistry. Immediately
behind the figure of Music stands the
veiled figure Of the Future. AS one
looks upon this group, he sees why
these dead shall not have died In
vain" North and south indis-
solubly united through the steadfast.
heart breaking purpose Of this man
whose vision was from God.
The smaller group to the left holds
within its mystic symbols tho spell
Of Fraternity. In her encircling arms
the central figure holds together the
man and woman, the symbols OF the
family developing the abundance OF
the earth, richly manifest in fruits
and vegetables. On one side is the
vessel OF wine and on the other the
vessel Of oil, symbols Of everlasting
life.
The third group in this northern
wall panel radiates the spirit OF the
last paragraph Of the Address
charity with charity for
ALL" the greatest Of these is char
ity. What infinite charity this man
Of tho people possessed, greater
assuredly IN his hour OF triumph than
1T any other time in his public life,
save perhaps when Joined with mercy
IL granted reprieves to condemned
soldiers. The gracious tender figure
of a woman rs Charity, attended by
her handmaidens. gives the water OF
life to the halt and blind. while she
cares for the orphans, who by des-
tiny are wars heaviest burden bear
ers.
Unity, fraternity, charity, and one
lets his eyes fall once more upon the
address and sees it whole, as 1t were.
Just before he leaves the small sane
tuary, he lifts his eyes once again to
the exquisite panel and secs, in It's
soft band OF gray against which the
golden, Ereen-brown trees stand in
the evident majesty Of eternity, while
the warmly tinted figures in their
groupings symbolixe the essence OF
the Inaugural" . perfect blending Of
| Inscription and mural q oneness OF
theme whose utter harmony is Creek
Then supremely we'll satisfied, he
turns and crosses the larger chamber
to its southern end that he may
study there tho companioning in
scription and mural.
! In this second panel the same COL
ors are found, the same enchanted
| xrove with its cypress trees of eter-
/ nifty, for Lincoln was not of one time
| or place, but belongs to the ages to
be a moderating force in the lives Of
| nations lest they forget ths divinity
that shapes them. Three groups
above an inscription and thu
eye and mind forssks the allegory
for tho nonoe to study that. perhaps
most perfect ptsos OF English COM
| position In the world today, the
~GsktysburE addFsss." In . single
column Of tablaturs. thanked not by
fasces, but by palms Of victory with
wing spread eagles at their base. In
soribed in the Same simple symbols
of strength, glows, like tho light
from the Grail, Lincoln's passion for
] dedication to the service of ones
I country. In its.searching light. one:
slightsst disloyaity 10. Transmitted to
staunohest allegiance, and ones eyes
are . bit moist with the sense Of the
glory of sacrifice, in whose blood a
! nations unity and endurance are Sc
cured, as he lifts them again to the
mellow, autumn-toned mural above.
! In the central group the angel
: of Truth, with uplifted hands and