Evening star., 1925-02-05
THE NORTH WINDOW
BY LEILA MECHLIN


those who gave their lives in the
Civil War, and without doubt one
Of the finest memorials yet erected in
this country to the heroic men who
participated in the Great War has
lately been erected in Laramie, Wyo
In neither instance Is the memorial
very costly, and both were the col
laborative works of architects and
sculptors.
The memorial at whitinsville, Mass
achusetts was designed by A. d. F.
Hamlin, professor of architecture at
Columbia University, in collaboration
whose Sun Vow" in the Corcoran
Gallery of Art is well known to
Washingtonians. 1t stands In the CEN
ter of the little village on a small
plot of ground and Is in perfect ac-
cord and scale. with Its surroundings.
1t consists of three Ionic columns, up
holding a triangular shaped entabla-
ture on which is a ball surmounted
by an eagle with wings upsprsad. The
base Is triangular and at the inter-
section of each plane is built cut a
division which In turn forms a wing
for a low semi-circular seat. The I'M
pressive beauty of the work is its ex-
quisite proportioning, beautiful flow
Of line, and the fitting application OF
ornamentation. OF course, it is ap-
propriately inscribed.
The memorial at Laramie is the
work of Thomas, Martin & Kirk
patrick, architects of Philadelphia,
who have associated with themselves
Louis Milone, sculptor Of that city,
pupil of Charles Crafty. It consists OF
a cross surmounted on a shaft of
limestone % feet high, at the base of
which are grouped four figures in
bronze representing a soldier, q sail
or, an aviator and St. Michael. These
figures, contrary to custom, have not
been added to, but are a part of the
design, as much a part as the sculp-
tured figures on the facade of a great
Gothic cathedral. They are subsidiary
and yet an essential part. They make
the memorial specific and give the
surmounting cross its correct signid-
canoe. But who would expect to find
such a. work in far-of Laramie?
n X
When the Great War was scarcely
ended there was much talk of war
memorials, of what form they should
and probably would take, and there
was much conjecture as to what ef-
feet the great happening which rent
the order Of life asupder for the peo-
pie of the nations concerned, would
have upon art. Some seemed to think
that Immediately great results might
be expected. but they forgot that
what disrupts life disrupts art. and
that in the face of such tragedies
their real significance cannot be com
prehended-the horrors, the sacrifices,
the heroism of war times require per-
spective to properly estimate. The
time is now coming, however, when
many memorials will be erected and
the gifts of our artists called into
play. If they have great gifts and
are given opportunity, we shall have
great monuments. Much will depend
upon whether those who are RESPONSE
BILE for the selection of design are
wise enough to avail themselves of
expert advice and place the work in
the hands of those most richly en-
dowed with talent,
X y X x
The years following the Civil War
brought forth group of monumental
horrors-lead soldiers, factory made,
little better, perhaps not SO good, as
the ancient Indian cigar sign, or the
famous Capt. Jinks, an effigy of
whom, by the way. has lately been
rescued from obscurity by the New
ark Museum, not, let us believe, be-
cause of its merits as work of art.
lIupSTlSuaDle
horrors in the way of commercial
bronze soldier statues now threatens
our country. At least two, and pos
sibly more, firms are manufacturing
these and advertising them extensive
iy for sale. They are of a price
which almost any small town can
afford. They are lifelike and ex-
tremely spirited; that they consent to
remain on their pedestals at all is
one OF these statues is given a choice
of headgear-helmet or hat, and the
material from which the statue is
cast Is standard bronze. These statues
are no more works of art than Cant
links, the Indian cigar signs, the wax
clothing store figures, and those who
set them up by so doing expose their
own ignorance.
There seems to be a renaissance
today of cathedral building. On
Morningside Heights, New York. and
mere on our own Mount ST. Alban
great Gothic cathedrals are at the
present time being reared. There are
rumors Of others to be built in other
american cities. and across the seas
In Liverpool, England, one of equally
large proportions and great artistic
beauty Is even now nearing COM
pletion- In the old medieval times
when the French cathedrals were
built the people. tradition has It. all
went out and lent aid to the work.
hauling the stones, carving the fig
ures, manual labor. In the building
of our American cathedraIs the
masses are again taking part, con-
trlouting to an extent labor and the
means or recompense,
SD6AktnR he hyi
New York cathedral recently Elihu
Root referred to the miracle of art''
which made such building possible.
He was right; through art alone can
great cathedrals come into existence.
and art, true art, is nothing less than
a miracle.
So much ia said derogatory to the
art OF today that it Is very refresh
Ing to come across a little praise
now and then, particularly when 1t
comes from overseas and from our
most critical English cousins. In a
magazine entitled Architecture. the
journal of the London Society of Arcbi-
tects. there Is being published at the
present time series of articles entitled
where Architecture Is Alive" A
familiar look TO the illustrations
caused examination of the text. and
oehold, the place where architecture
is alive. according to the author, Ar
thur ]. Penty, a British architect, is
none other than the United States.
Obviously the articles are written
for the British architectural frater-
nifty, but to q great extent this makes
them much more entertaining read
ing to us. The whole intent Is to
demonstrate the fact that we have
been going along in this field while
the British have been standing still.
1t Is good reading for Americans and
should open our eyes to some of the