Salt Lake Tribune | 1918-05-31 | Page 18 | Signal of Peace is Restored Custodian Cook Tries Art

Signal of Peace Is Restored I n n n n n n Custodian Cook Tries Art j T OHN H. COOK, custodian of the state capitol and "sculptor j , " pro tem.," restoring the replica of Dallin's "Signal of i j Peace" statue, recently smashed by the artist. 1 I ' . , 1 Dallin's Smashed Replica Made "Good as New" by Capitol "Sculptor." THE Cook-Dallin "Signal of Peace" is achieved. The collaboration was accomplished yesterday. Leaving his trade of electrician about a year and a half ago to become custodian of the capitol, John H. Cook yesterday further exemplified his versatility by the profession of sculpture to his other accomplishments. This was in connection with restoring the plaster cast of "The Statue of Peace" in the capitol rotunda, partly demolished recently by Cyrus E. Dallln, author of the original, who attempted the destruction of the copy because it bore his name and was "a wretched caricature," he said. Feeling sufficiently sure of his knowledge knowl-edge of human anatomy, Mr. Cook had no misgivings regarding his ability to restore re-store the Indian rider's leg, torn from the trunk by Mr. Dallin. But having associated asso-ciated but little with horses since childhood, child-hood, Mr. Cook acknowledged a lack of definite idea as to the more subtle contours con-tours of equine proportions. This was a difficulty easily overcome, however, as a brief conference with Dr. R. W. Hoggan, state livestock inspector, proved. Donning an all-enveloping white apron and with plaster of paris ready, Mr. Cook looked every inch the sculptor. "There was a bunion on the right foot of the Indian, and I pared that down so the foot would get by a recruit examiner," Mr. Cook confided to the watching group as he smeared and scraped at the messy plaster. "Too bad Mr. Dallin did not knock off the horse's left fetlock, as it seems spavined spav-ined to me." Mr. Cook, stepping back and critically eyeing his handiwork, continued con-tinued to his appreciative audience. "I have taken off two lumps higher up the mould must not have been smooth. The poor horse evidently was in the last stages of some malignant disease just before be-fore Mr. Dallin took his picture, but I can't remedy that." Other improvements in proportion, perspective per-spective and form were made by Mr. Cook and the cast is to be "as good as new," with no evidences of the recent onslaught of the sculptor, Mr. Cook assures. as-sures. The product of the collaboration will not be placarded the Cook-Dallin "Signal of Peace," as suggested by members mem-bers of the watching group even Mr. Dallin's name, which has been on the side of the statue the last twenty vears, will have disappeared when the "restoration "restora-tion is completed.