New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-21
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
MIR. JONES. OF PROSPECT PARK.

HE is ASSURED BY MR.. W. HAMILloN oiooo'
THAT THE ARTISTS HAVE NO DESIRE TO
TRANSFER HIS BRUTALIT1Es TO CANVAS.
TO the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your recent article on the exclusion OF
artists from Prospect Park. your informant per
perated an error, which ! would like to correct 10
the effect that had been refused the privileges OF
the park"
woud not 20 on the record as having been - re
fused any such privilege by the Brooklyn Park Com
mission The idea is ludicrous. have never asheu
permit nor privilege at their hands. nave Always
followed my own sweet will in Prospect Park
skctched botanzed, ornithologzed, entomoiogzeh d.
nv whim dictated and my whim dictates stronger
than ever In the present emergency, could oliS DC
on hand to humor IT, That the artist should no"
be excluded from the park would at first blush appear
more consistent than some OF the acts OF previous
Commissioners for perhaps II the pubic couio pu'
see on canvas presentment OF the results Vi 'iio
peculiar sort Of landscape gardening" which has been
In vogue there, and is now in vogue ana Is hhey 7"
be in vogue-Lord how long the z" artist mgho III
deed prove philanthropist and missionary ana our
easy going citizens get some realizing seh9o vi h
our park is being improved
But II such fears the incentive 10 tnis ia9o
edict of Mr.. Aneurn Jones, let me assure HIN '
his soIcitude was groundless and that he has more
over shown great want Of policy through 'hlS NM
conception. II is not snch Dcautlnen Pio'"i'''
these that the "artist" would naturally seek Tor III
spiratlon or pictorial presentation. But whac io
should suddenly In one Of those noble flights 10 "hich
his fraternity is occasionally addicted, conclude 10
sacrifice hi, art TO the common veal and use Ills
pencil or brush simply as cluzeh od'i '
template with no little disgust and humillauoh "i'
a remarkable portfolio of subjects he might get W.
gcthcr as historical epitOme OF our park Oh sro'o.
of noble trees already bazed' for the woodplie' OF
pools so stagnant that the nauseous scum hhS ,io
nostrils of the peasureseeker' and so pu'rd tha'
tho fish die and mould and rot in them OF formerly
beautiful shrubs hacked into fagots aud stumps throush
a system Of pruning yet to be matched outside OF
pioneers clearing; of the most beautfui oofuer VI
dense droOpy hemock boughs, trailing inc eiou'u'
sawed of six feet up tho uuhh " "'"O
room for barbed-wire fence upon "n'oh "
child is anon writhing ana Hiansf'u "l
be It known, fond mothers, the barbed-wlre renee
l. the a,est attraction TO the chdrens playground
and its miles Of fangs Turk In the tall grass OF cry
no thoroughfare' in many other haunts Oh Vllo
peoples pleasure ground Occasionally theS saiS
stand guard upon of those impossible mud paiAs
Of spring. everywhere in the woodsLanother a'urao
ton to our pictorial historian-banks winch WIZ
formerly beautiful natural gardens ana one OF .llc
unique gories Of our park, but where hature nds
been outraged and is never allowed 10 heal er WOUNDS
where the rains Of every spring wash deeper anu
deeper burrows in the barred SOIL covering tI'e Low
lying neighborng asphalt paths with mtd ana gradu
ally killing valuable trees by the Increasing exposure
OF their roots. 80 .o,
And then there IS that other rare bit-for vernal
subject Who shall deny that our Prospect faTh
offer, UNIQUE attractions to the artist1 lie! MT.
Aneurln Jones shut out from such an inspiring
theme as this, Where can we find another such
prospect a. that which smiled upon 50 many OF our
citizens for weeks during the last spring season when
the pretty grass waXed and rejolced beneath your
kindly welcome. l allude to that unique top dress
ing which lent such variety to the open landscape
and which presented possibly per cent soluble IN
crcdlcnts-for this let be duly thankfu-the remain
in. % per cent being composed Of Old rubber boots
and shoes tomato cans stones by the million broken
bottles, fragments OF crockery, sardine boxes, etc. etc.
scattered hthcr and yon over all the park. all sub
scqucnty rabcd up at the expense OF small army
Of retainers-ave. there's the rlb-and presumably
carefully stored away to lend their essence 10 u'e
compost II another spring. ~
50 much for past and present opportunities:
Who knows what possibilities that great scheme OF
Improvement now said 10 be on the taps may not
Involve for us IN the futarc with it, proposed open.
Inc IF fresh "vstas," and consequent slaughter OF
noble trees - ,
NO no Mr.. jones. you have misjudged us: 1t IS
not sort Of things that we are after Whatever
~ poetic quality We might contrve to infuse into
should choose 10 leave 10 postertv.
In its improved sections Prospect Park Is null
~ attractive haunts for the artist. have sketched
them all nv life. and shall continue TO do So And
were 7 in The city should find the present a most
opp0rtunc time 10 resume. Mr.. Chase has grand
opnorfnntt which I covct MIR. Chase arrested for
stetchlnc In Prospect Park What distinction!
such an might set ball rolling which perchance
'"'s''' - W. HAMILTON GIBSON.
Washington, Conn, June 10, 1890.