Cleveland High School - Beacon Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

Page 17 text:

Ae jgonfiapiece The frontispiece of the Nineteen Forty-One Beacon is a Night Study of the Courtyard of Christ Church Cathedral . Mr. Alexander Piaget, the artistic photographer of this beau- tiful picture, has captured the historic spot while it was in a particularly poetic mood. For Christ Church Cathedral is, indeed, wrapped in the history of St. Louis. The congregation, the first Episcopal one west of the Mississippi River, met in the Riddick and Pilcher store in 1819. Later services were held in the Long Building . The Present Church was erected in 1867, but was not completed until the early part of the twentieth century. Christ Church Cathedral stands in the very heart of the downtown section. Here amid the strife and toil, the hurry and scurry of every day life, is a haven of rest, peace, and beauty. Nowhere in the United States can there be found more exquisite and delicate sculpturing than that of the Reredos. It was designed by the eminent Henry Hems, of Exeter, England, after a design by Tully. It is of Caen Stone and cost S50,000. The lovely grille gateway symbolizes the theme of our year book. Beyond this entrance there is much that is artistic and beautiful. As you peer through the wrought iron gate you can see the churchyard bathed in light, and you can see, too, the exquisite detail of the church itself. This idea of the grille through which one may see beyond furnished the motif for the decorative pages made by the art students. Cast iron used as an architectural material is one of the most artistic expressions in American decorative arts. Wrought iron was used in the early days but it was not until 1819 that the first foundry for casting was established in St. Louis. About 1839 newspa- pers carried advertisements for iron railings, balconies and columns. Many fine examples of wrought iron work can be found in St. Louis. For example, there are the intricate trimmings on the Bacon House, -sometimes called the Lace Houseg there are the porches and fences of the DeMenil and Campbell homesg there are the many little balconies on the houses in the older sections of the cityg there are, too, the entrances and balconies to many of our newer buildings. After the fire of 1849, the business section along the riverfront had to be rebuilt and the use of architectural cast iron was used in quantity. Although New Orleans has been famous for its iron porches and balconies, St. Louis may well be proud of its beautiful grilles and other decorative iron work. J' WIA . H iff i .MQff'Qf55'f

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Q., cf...fL.,.. One of the most emblematic spots of our city is the statue of Saint Louis on the top of Art Hill. This statue which stands directly in front of the Art Museum, seems to lead our city on to bigger things. Built as a monument to King Louis the Ninth, a patron saint, it portrays Saint Louis riding off to the Crusades with a challenge, a challenge to unbelievers. With the hilt of his sword held high in salute, while sitting tall and proud on his beautiful horse, he seems to be blessing our city, which stretches off in the distance. Behind this statue stands our Art Museum, impressive and beautiful, its portals open at all times to those who would enter. Within these walls is enclosed a collection of art which is fast gaining prominence for it is one of the finest in the world. It seems fitting that an institution which is so rapidly advancing be led by as noble a saint as Saint Louis. At sunrise the spot is loveliest. As the first rays of light streak the eastern horizon, the statue stands a beautiful black silhouette on a grayish red sky. Below it, stretched in silent slumber, lies the lagoon, the stately trees, and far to the north, the city. Now and then a soft breeze blows through the trees causing them to sigh to the waters which answer by little ripples but the statue remains immovable, straight, and strong. To see this sight in the early morning, is like putting the Amen to a prayer, so breathtaking is the beauty of it. So perfect is the sculpturing of the statue, that while admiring the view from an angle directly to the side, the sword is just a thin, straight line. As the sun rises higher in the sky, the statue in turn lights up in full glory and seems to shine forth in a reddish brown hue. Off to the right are some japanese cherry trees. The soft pink blossoms whisper in the morning breeze and send forth delicious odors of a fresh spring morning, just below are a clump of white skirted birches that seem to lend themselves to the coming of day, and sway exultantly with the rising winds. A brown thrush answers her mate's call in the dis- tance. And looking out over all this peaceful scene is Saint Louis, an impressive statue challenging us, the citizens of this city. Yes, our city must look upward and onward, for Saint Louis with his head high, and sword held up in the air, seems to be shouting, Follow me to bigger and better under- takings. Follow me toward the more beautiful things in life. Follow me toward a better understanding of humanity, a fellowship of mankind, a spiritual peace, a sublime contentment. CLAIRE MOORE 13 Photograph by Alexander Piaget