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type and it's a good type to be held up to us for our admiration； better than the conventional ideal of success embodied in the Adventurous Bowman； for example。〃
The proportions of the domes we could see at a glance had been well worked out。 Earl Cummings' figure of the Youth had a really youthful quality； but there was some question in our minds as to the wisdom of repeating the figure in a semi…circle。 〃After all；〃 the architect remarked； 〃in this country art owes some concession to habit of mind。 We are not trained to frankness in regard to nudity。 On the contrary； all our conventions are against it。 But our artists； through their special professional training； learn to despise many of our conventions and they like to ignore them or frankly show their contempt for them。〃
That elaborate Sienna fountain was well adapted to the Dome of Plenty； though it was by no means a fine example of Italian work； with its design built up tier on tier。 〃It's the natural expression of a single idea that leads to beauty； isn't it？ The instant there's a betrayal of effort； the charm begins to fade。〃
There was no criticism to be made； however； of the Italian fountain in the Dome of Philosophy； the simplest of all the fountains； and one of the most beautiful； the water flowing over the circular bowl from all sides。 〃It makes water the chief feature；〃 said the architect approvingly； 〃which is the best any fountain can do。 Is there anything in art that can compare for beauty with running water？ This fountain comes from Italy and these female figures； above the doorway； with books in their arms； are by one of the most interesting of the sculptors represented here； Albert Weinert。 We'll see more work of his when we get to the Court of Abundance。〃
At sight of the curious groups in the niches I expressed a certain disappointment。 It seemed to me that； in the midst of so much real beauty； they were out of key。 But the architect had another point of view。 〃They are worth while because they're different；〃 he said。 〃They ought not to be considered merely as ornaments。 They have an archaeological interest。 They are related to those interesting studies that Albert Durer used to make； and they are full of symbolism。 When Charles Harley made them he knew just what he was doing。 The male figure in 'The Triumph of the Fields' takes us back to the time when harvesting was associated with pagan rites。 The Celtic cross and the standard with the bull on top used to be carried through the field in harvest time。 The bull celebrates the animal that has aided man in gathering the crops。 The wain represents the old harvest wagon。 That head down there typifies the seed of the earth； symbol of the life that comes up in the barley that is indicated there； bringing food to mankind。 The woman's figure； unfortunately； is too small for the niche； 'Abundance。' The horn of plenty on either side indicates her character。 She's reaching out her hands to suggest her prodigality。 The head of the eagle on the prow of the ship where she is sitting； gives the idea an American application； suggesting our natural prosperity and our reason for keeping ahead in the march of progress。 In one sense； those figures represent a reactionary kind of sculpture。 Nowadays the sculptors； like the painters； are trying to get away from literal interpretations。 They don't want to appeal to the mind so much as to the emotions。〃
X
The Palace of Fine Arts at Close Range
The path leading to the northern end of the colonnade attracted us。 It brought us to the beautiful little grove of Monterey cypress that McLaren had saved from the old Harbor View restaurant； for so many years one of the most curious and picturesque of the San Francisco resorts； one of the few on the bay…side。 Though the architect frankly admired Paul Bartlett's realistic 〃Wounded Lion；〃 the pieces of sculpture set out on the grass bothered him somewhat。 He couldn't find any justification for their being there。 He wanted them； as he said； in a setting。 〃I think I can see what the purpose was in putting them here； to provide decoration that would be unobtrusive。 But some of these pieces； like Bartlett's； stand out conspicuously and deserve to be treated with more consideration。 Besides； there's always danger of weakening a glorious conception like Maybeck's by putting too many things into it； creating an artistic confusion。〃
We began to see how the colonnade in Gerome's painting had worked its influence。 It was easy to imagine two chariots tearing along here； between the columns； after the ancient fashion。 And those bushes； to the right； rising on the lower wall； between the vases； surely had the character of over…growth。 They carried out Maybeck's idea of an abandoned ruin。
The architect pointed to the top of the wall： 〃The little roof…garden on the edge of the upper wall gives the Egyptian note in the architecture that many people have felt and it is emphasized by the deep red that Guerin has applied； the shade that's often found in Egyptian ruins。〃
Above the main entrance of the palace we saw Lentelli's 〃Aspiration；〃 that had been the cause of so much criticism and humorous comment during the first few weeks of the Exposition。 〃Lentelli had a hard time with that figure。 It drove him almost to distraction。 Perhaps a genius might have solved the problem of making the figure seem to float； but I doubt if it could have been solved by anyone。 The foot…rest they finally decided to put under it didn't help the situation much。〃
Directly in front of 〃Aspiration；〃 on its high pedestal； stood Charles Grafly's monumental statue of 〃The Pioneer Mother。〃 〃I suppose the obvious in sculpture has its place；〃 the architect remarked； 〃and this group will appeal to popular sentiment。 Its chief value lies in its celebrating a type of woman that deserves much more recognition than she has received in the past。 Most of the glory of the pioneer days has gone to the men。 The women； however； in the background； had to share in the hardships and often did a large part of the work。 It's a question in my mind whether this woman quite represents the vigorous type that came over the plains in the prairie schooner。 However； just as she is； she is fine； and she has a strong hand that looks as if it had been made for spanking。 I wonder why the sculptor gave her that kind of head…covering。 She might have appeared to better advantage bare…headed。 The children are excellent。 Observe the bright outlook of the boy and the timid attitude of the girl。 There's a fine tenderness in the care the girl is getting from her mother and from the boy； too； suggesting dawning manhood。 Altogether； the group has nobility and it's worthy of being a permanent monument for San Francisco。 By the way； there's the old Roman idea of the decorative use of the bull's head again； at the base of the group。 It has a very happy application here。 It reminds us of the oxen that helped to get the Easterners out to California in the old days before the railroads。 A good many of them must have dropped in their tracks and left their skulls to bleach in the sun。〃
The other ornamental design we found very appropriate and direct； as we studied the pedestal。 There was the ship that used to go round the horn； with the torches that suggested civilization； and； at the back of the pedestal； the flaming sun that celebrated the Golden Gate。
In the rotunda we found Paul Bartlett； represented again by the equestrian statue of Lafayette； in full uniform； advancing sword in the air。 It unquestionably had a magnificent setting； though it suffered by being surrounded by so many disturbing interests。 〃The director of the Fine Arts Department cared enough about this figure to have it duplicated for the Exposition。 It's a good example of the old…fashioned heroic sculpture； where the subjects take conventional dramatic attitudes。〃
The ceiling of the rotunda displayed those much…discussed murals by Robert Reid。 Up there they seemed like pale reflections。 〃You should have seen them when they were in Machinery Hall。 Then they were magnificent。 But the instant they were put in place it was plain that the effect had been miscalculated。 At night； under the lighting； they show up better。 Judged b