Evening star., 1937-07-24

states, furnishes the Jneme Tor the
motif over the entrance to the school
building. With the Capitol dome in the
center of the design, the different fig
ureS of industry represented in this
community pass in review-science, a
farmer holding bag of grain and fork,
miner with pick over his shoulder, a
stenographer with note book and pen
Gil and children playing on the Capitol
steps complete this first group.
The five panels in sequence around
the frieze are entitled To Form a
More Perfect Union" Establish JUS
tice, ''Insure Domestic Tranquility"
Provide for the Common Defense"
and Promote the General Welfare -
Figures representing various types OF
Americans, some with books of learn
ing, others with mechanical tools and
the laborer with his lunch box are
carved in the latter group; the panel
for Common Defense" depicts Uncle
Sans Army protecting the American
home.
In the early stages of construction
4NAhNo liollldsS Nho tdIiSu Ill SOIlSlllId
ton to solve the problem as to what
type Of sculpture and subject matter
would be more appropriate for the
school building,
knowing that the first venture OF
Government housing was very near
the Nations Capital and realizing that
Washington is now Constitution
minded" especially as this is the l5Oth
anniversary Of that august document,
Miss Thomas decided on this design.
~ believe" said the sculptor, that
the subject matter for culture should
be very closely related to the people
living In that community and archi
tectural surroundings. In this man
ner it forms an important element in
the architectural design as whole
and lends harmony when properly
planned"
TO FURTHER illustrate, Miss
Thomas mentioned having carved
large limestone statue of woman at
her sewing Misunderstanding the
spirit of that community-which will
stand on the school campus at Hights-
town. N. J. The sculptor displayed an
other carving inspired by life in a
community, the figure Of a mountain
woman fashioned from black walnut
which Is indigenous to the Tennessee
mountains. THE subject is typical of
thu ropior
project at the Cumberland home
stead she explained. Il chose this
model. a familiar one to them. in an
effort to stimulate interest in carving
among the adults as well as the chill
dren"
Before coming to Washington, Le-
more Thomas lived on Princess Bay,
Staten Island. In little shack" where
she experimented in new sculptural
media. MY recreational hours" she
said with apparent pleasant recollec-
tons, were spent sailing my boat on
the bay, which was great fun. Even
now I spend a great deal Of time
canoeing on the Potomac near my
home at Accokeek. My two Irish set
tiers, now being trained to hunt birds,
are as keen about the sport as l."
As child, Miss Thomas told Of
spending the greater part Of her life
in the open and at times her parents
despaired OF her ever being anything
but ''tom-boy!' II had strong am
bition to become a carpenter" she
said. MY dad could not keep a box
or orange crate intact. for 1 was always
dismembering them to construct little
huts. Then at the age OF l8 I studied
sculpture and have been at it ever
since"
A S MISS THOMAS vigorously ap-
piled the pneumatic hammer to
her design. We asked her how she
keeps her complexion free from lime
stone dust, which is devastating to the
skin. 4 don't" she replied. by one
of these queer quirks of fate I am
-.