The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-04-13
MISPLACED MONUMENTS.
CAN'T SOMETHING BE DONE TO SET
THEM RIGHT?
The Lafayette Monument, the Bartholdi
Fountain, and the Peace Monument
Works of Art That Need Correction and
Revision.

1t seems hardly possible after the outburst OF
indignant protests, that the Lafayette Monu-
ment will be set up in front of the jackson
Statue in Lafayette Square. Still, it need cause
no violent surprise if it is done. 1t will be in
line with the traditions of those who are clothed
with little brief authority over us in art as in
all other matters. To their ignorance of art and
of local sentiment generally they add an indif-
ference to both that is very edifying to behold,
though it is essentially un-American.
Setting up the Lafayette Monument in Lafay-
ette Park will only add one more to the MANY
misplaced works of art in this city. The old
resident contemplates the prospect with horror,
for he must endure it for years to come, while
the man who sets the statue up feels, no doubt,
that as he is liable to be knocked out of Office
any day he may not have to suffer long. There
seems to have been curious fatality about put
ting our local monuments just where they would
show to the least advantage. Take what is
known as the Peace Monument, located on the
public highway, amid bewildering network of
car tracks, at the entrance to the Capitol grounds
from Pennsylvania avenue. more misplaced
monument could not be found, probably, If the
world was searched over. Strangers never pause
to give it a glance, for when they arrive at this
point on their journey to the Capitol all their
attention is absorbed by the magnificent struc-
ture that crowns the height. The monument
should stand somewhere in park or reserva-
tion, with grass at its foot, pines, willows, and
leafy foliage growing about it, spot sacred to
contemplation, where the very moderate merit
of the group might haveits effectiveness in some
degreeheghtened by an appropriate background.
Proba bly, the most outrageously misplaced
work of art in Washington is the beautiful Bar
tholdi centennial fountain, which is hid away
from view in the Botanical Gardens. Thou
sands of residents of Washington never
heard of this beautiful fountain; thousands
more who know of its existence and
location never have time to make the
journey to the Botanical Gardens to see it, and
never will while it remains in this place of con.
cealment.
This fountain should stand in one of the res
ervations on Pennsylvania avenue, and should
be kept playing all the long summers day and
evening, and then it would be thing of beauty
and joy forever, especially when its dancing,
leaping waters sparkled under the electric
| lights. lady who has travelled extensively
says that in all Europe there is no fountain that
surpasses the Bartholdi fountain in beauty and
grace Of the three figures, or in magnitude, and
yet a committee Congressional, artistic or
otherwise have set it where no one sees or en-
joys it only at rare intervals.
DO let us, since the subject is before the pub
lie, overhaul our works of art, and let us begin
by building retreat to hide the statue of Gen.
General strides can have new tail, or the old
one renovated and placed in natural attitude.
With it should go the equestrian statue of
Washington, now in Washington Circle, for
that needs some artistic grooming too
Find a square suitable to the needs of the
Lafayette Monument, and change the name of
Lafayette Square to Jackson Square. Then the
Farragut Statue might possibly be induced under
friendly chisel to strike another attitude less
suggestive of gardener with hand syringe
about to water the plants All these misplaced,
misconceived, and somewhat crude attempts at
high art where they now stand speak more
eloquently for our ambition than for our taste
fault that might still be remejied if Congress
when selecting committee to locate a work of
art took into consideration the qualifications
necessary for such delicate duties. Persons
should be selected who had at least had some
artistic experience supplemented by travel, and
who had seen the best works of art in the Old
World and would thus be enabled to compare
and decide from some standard higher than
caprice. No doubt some day-in the nebuous
distance-we shall possess and be able to turn
out creditable works of art that will not make
us blush, or we may even arrive at such a
height of greatness that Congressional and
District committee may be able to see that Gen.
Jackson on rearing horse and Gen. Lafayette
ideally posed amid historic and allegoric
group will not harmonize if brought into juxta-
position on a straight line in front of the White
House.