Evening star., 1928-04-25

All of a sudden the world is con-
fronted with the word "modernistic. IT
isn't in the dictionary. but 1t plays a
large part In the daily life, just the
same.
We hear of "modernistic" furniture.
"modernistic" lamps, "modernistic" sill
yer pitchers. We feel that 1t has some
thing to do with being very much up to
date. but most of us don't know exactly
what.
AS far as the unsuspecting can see,
anything that Is "modernistic" must be
triangular. If this terribly chic thing
Is piece of furniture, ii has trianglcS
painted on it. If 1t be a lamp the shade
is triangular. If a pitcher, its sides are
constructed on the oblique
The curious part of all this is that
the triangle. far from being modern. is
one of the oldest figures in the world.
One has far-flung notion that Euclid
of Alexandria invented 1t, or at east
had a great deal TO do with bringing it
to popular notice 1000 years or so ago.
The most ancient Egyptians had a
peculiar love and veneration for the
triangle. Three thousand and more
years in the past they founded their
pyramids upon the pattern of this fig
ure, making 1t at once practical and
Symbolical.
The geometrical exactness of the tri-
angle was used by them not only in
connection with their religious beliefs
but also scientifically to determine the
relation of the stars to the earth.
Some very interesting books have been
written to show h,w the main entrances
to the various greater pyramids COIN
cided with the shaft of the sun at GER
tain times of the day and certain stars
at night, and 1t is believed by some re-
search workers that prophecy was made
through the mystic figure of the tri-
angle as worked out in these great con-
structions.
throughout the modern world the tri-
angle, with its neat lines and sturdy
construction, has been long used as a
symbol of life. the three sides, Joined.
making an exquisite whole. representing
the physical. intellectual and spiritual
sides OF mans nature.
X
From the Bulletin Board" of recent
number of House and Garden we take
the following:
To-day we are hearing a lot about
the modernist movement in decorating
and furnishing Enterprising depart
ment stores are devoting valuable space
w 1iiC uioJidy Vi IlUGSIlllSb ueSlRIlS, ana
speakers and writer's are trying to ex-
plain to wondering populace what ii
is all about.
so far modernism is a foreign ex-
preston. 1t has to be translated into
American before the average person can
understand il. We are importing our
modernism. How much better 1t would
be were our American craftsmen and
designers 10 create a modernistic ex-
preston of our national life Since
modernism is supposed TO reflect the
hectic pulSations of cotemporary living
does not our complex American exist
ence inspire some radical expression?
1T will be interesting to see along
what lines American modernism de-
velops. Thus far 1t has merely mir
rored the French, German and Viennese
productions.
One of the principal aims OF some
foreign modernist decoration seems to
be the avoidance of loose furniture
TO most of us furniture is mobilary;
1t can be moved about We can change
over our rooms at viii, creating new
groups and alignments of chairs and
tables and sofas TO suit the seasons or
the vagaries of our taste