Eucalypti, acacias, English laurel and veronicas are banked close
together in this court. Great beds of orange eschscholtzia, the
California poppy, make this court a veritable Field of the Cloth of
Gold.
The creeping juniper is the border used.
Sherry Fry's "Listening to the Sound of the Ages" stands in this court
with her shell to her ear. She listens to the stories that the sea has
told the shell, and wonderful, very wonderful, is what she hears.
-
Since the first issue of this book I have received in written form Mr.
Mullgardt's own wonderful interpretation, which I hereby append with his
kind permission. I shall not correct my work, for it will be interesting
to compare the work of a layman with that of the initiated:
San Francisco, April 19, 1915.
The Court of the Ages
A Sermon in Stone
"The Court of the Ages" is 340 feet square. The surrounding walls are 75
feet high. The Tower is 200 feet high. The floor of the Court declines
to the central Basin, affording the observer a full view of the
surroundings. The arcaded and vaulted Ambulatory extends continuously
around the four sides. The floor of this Ambulatory is elevated above
the upper floor level of the Court for the convenience of observers. Its
architecture has not been accredited to any established style.
The Court is an historical expression of the successive Ages of the
World's growth. The Central Fountain symbolizes the nebulous world with
its innate human passions. Out of a chaotic condition came Water (the
Basin) and Land (the Fountain) and Light (the Sun supported by Helios,
and the Electroliers). The Braziers and Cauldrons symbolize Fire. The
floor of the Court is covered with verdure, trees, flowers and fruits.
The two Sentinel Columns to the right and left of the Tower symbolize
Earth and Air. The eight paintings in the four corners of the Ambulatory
symbolize the elements of Earth, Air, Fire and Water. The Central Figure
in the North Avenue symbolizes "Modern Time Listening to the Story of
the Ages."
The decorative motifs employed on the surrounding Arcade are sea plant
life and its animal evolution. The conventionalized backbone, the symbol
for the vertebrates, is seen between the arches. The piers, arches,
reeds and columns bear legendary decorative motifs of the transitional
plant to animal life in the forms of tortoise and other shell motifs -
kelp and its analogy to prehistoric lobster, skate, crab and sea urchin.
The water-bubble motif is carried through all vertical members which
symbolize the Crustacean Period, which is the second stratum of the
Court.
The third stratum, the Prehistoric Figures, surmounting the piers of the
Arcade, also the first group over the Tower Entrance, show earliest
forms of human, animal, reptile and bird life, symbolizing the Stone
Age.
The fourth stratum, the second group in the Altar Tower, symbolizes
human struggle for emancipation from ignorance and superstition in which
Religion and War are dominating factors. The kneeling figures on the
side Altar are similarly expressive. The torches above these Mediaeval
Groups symbolize the Dawn of Understanding. The Chanticleers on the
finials surrounding the Court symbolize the Christian Era. The topmost
figure of the Altar symbolizes Intelligence, "Peace on Earth, Good Will
Towards All" - the symbols of Learning and Industry at her feet. The
topmost figure surmounting the side Altar symbolizes Thought.
The Arched Opening forming the inclosure of the Altar contains
alternating Masks expressing Intelligence and Ignorance in equal
measure, symbolizing the Peoples of the World.
A gradual development to the higher forms of Plant Life is expressed
upward in the Altar Tower, the conventionalized Lily Petal being the
highest form.