The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-01
SOME QUESTIONS OF ARE
Diana Of the Tewep.


Miss Diana has stood only a few weeks on
top OF the beautiful yellow tower Of tho Madi-
son Square Garden. and her swaddling clothes
have only Just been removed. Nevertheless.
she Is already one OF the most famous Of New
Workers.. and certainly one Of the most popular.
Sheis good deal bigger than was perhaps ex-
pected. but all the better So Why should che
have been nothing but conventional append-
age. finishing touch. wholly subordinate TO
the general architectural effectf Why should
she not assert her own Importance and the i'm
portance OF the sculptor's art, since at the same
time she 30 greatly assists architectural Of.
fectf II would have been blunder to make
the tower look like q mere pedestal for the
statue: but 1t does not look thus any more than
the statue looks like mere final for the tow
or. They have equal rights and equal signifi.
canoe. and each is Just what It should be to
help the significance Of the other. The whole
construction is marvel OF beautifully calcu-
lated proportions. beautifully contrasted
effects. beautifully disposed details Even the
slight canting Of the silver crescent on which
the Young lady is poised Is no unimportant do.
Vice. It obviates any look Of rigidlty In the
succession OF horizontal and vertical lines and
gives q charming accent OF freedom and divcr-
slty. The lady herself Is n fine and shining
creature. vigorous enough to face any wind
that may blow. light and graceful enough
to deserve her station In the upper
air. OF course ut such distance one cannot
realize the beauty Mr.. St Gaudens put into
her face. Only the small model shows this and
the delicate distinction Of type by means Of
which It was attained. Therefore. the statu-
cite which. understand. can DO obtained In
bronco by whoever is wise enough to desire It,
ought soon to spread our big Dlana's fame
nOtN vnrkne - A,
1t can be had without the drapery necessary tn
supply the vane with SAIL" and without the
drapery 1t Is even moro spirited and graceful
than with It 1t might seem needless to ex-
plain that Diana Is weather vane were IL not
thnt lew days ago person on the street was
heard TO say: How ones memory plays
one lalsel 1 could have sworn that yes
terdny she faced in the other dircction" The
words proved. however. that one woman Ind
really looked ut tho new statue. aud q few
blocks walk on Fifth avenue will prove that
every ono olse does. Every head Is uplifted
as she comes In sight. and many necks are
crancd nwry to behold her when backs are
turned. Indeed. near the Fifth Avenue Hotel
one must walk circumsrectly lest he collide
with some one else while both are gazing at
the golden girl She will teach us some les
sons II we watch her persistently For exam
teach that New Workers. know a good thing
when they see it contentedly though they
seem to support the presence Of many bad ones.
And again. that there is nothing SO profitable
as strict attention to business. Diana. attend
Ing manfully to hors. thinking not at all OF her
own good looks. but simply OF planting her
arrow square In the eye Of the wind. will per-
petually be showing herself to the very best
advantage. II she were fixed we should never
realize how handsome she is and, while she
cauld never actually pail upon US. we might be
in danger Of growing somewhat indifferently
accustomed to her charm. Now. as we never
know just how we shall see her. who can help
looking whenever he gets the chance2 And
gradually We shall learn her charm to the
full. while it will never grow trite. As she is
constant to q constant change so shall We be
constant to her. Age cannot wither her. for
she is pure eilded copper. and custom will
not stale her infinite variety till the wind
ceases to blow. till men cease to love those
changing moods in woman for which the wind
stands q synonyme.
1t must be solid satisfaction TO know ones
self an artist able to give his city q gift like
this. And not less delightful to be the artists
who have built the structure that bears it.
What thing to look across the following
trees in the square at the clear pale yellow OF
this soaring shaft and feel that ones own brain
has conceived its character with grateful &C.
acknowledgements OF course, to certain brains
that mouldered long ago In Spanish graves)
and that ones own hand has dictated its fine
contrasts Of lower solidity and upper liehtness,
Of basal simplicity and browning elaboration.
Is any modern tower SO good7 Are many
ancient towers more satisfactory things to sec
springing out Of the prosaic. plebeian medley
OF city's streetsr Are any better placed for
being admirably seen7 And are We not glad
that it Is the tower Of q big palace OF frivolity
SO that 1t has the right to be so enchantingly
gay and brilliant and amusing as we'll as so
really and seriously fine? It is distinct ad-
dition OF eminent value to the advantages Of q
residence in New York. Its builders are there
fore public benefactors. and by builders Is
meant, OF course. the good citizens who paid
for 1t as we'll rs the clever ones who designed it.
1t is. repeat, most excellently placed. Many
are heard famenting that the Garden Is tucked
away on Fourth avenue instead of bravely
showing It's garlanded walls and purplish
colonnades on II more open and more fashion
ably freQuented site. Butarchitectural things
that can be constantly and plainly seen from
near at hand are not always seen at their best
This TACT may not deserve interpreting to mean
that tho station OF the Garden might not have
soling way to the station OF the tower. This. I
am sure. looks better where It Is than had 1t
stood where the Fifth Avenue Hotel or the
Brunswick does. close to the densest stream
OF passers and deprived OF the FORE
ground OF foliage. And we may be con-
tent not to SEQ tho whole building
SO often, much though we like to look at it.
for the sake Of seeing its finest feature at its
very best. Nothing could compensate for its
splendid independence. Just redeemed from
isolation by the glimpse we have Of the lower
turrets and their shining finals. And the way
1t suddenly springs up as we como northward
along Fifth avenue or turn our heads as we
pass the corner Of the Brunswick. gives finer
pleasure than We should get did It perpetually
appear at the end Of u long, straight perspec-
tive. Walk down Fifth avenue some clear az
ternoon about half-past O'Clock. turn your
head and. above the Park and the houses all
in shadow already. see the towcr and its brill
liant demoiselle bathed In golden sunshine.
Surely you will not wish that IL sto cd on any
kt.oun ~0A