Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-16
OUR PICTURESQUE PARK.
The Parthenon Project ef . Citissn q the
Modern Athens.
TIE osovrNo DEPOSITION TO UTILIZE TIE CAP
rroL Foa LARoE PUBLIC INFLUENCE urox
ouR RACE AND CONTINENT.


TEE GROWING plsrosrrroN TO UTILIZE rHr CAP
rroL FoR a LARoE PUBLIC INFLUENCE urox
ouR RACE AND CONTINENT.
Gath" in Cincinnati Enquirer.
WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. my attention
was called yesterday 10 q large water-color
painting in the parlors Of the Arlington Hotel.
which had been executed BY Renwicks firm in
New York city at an expense. II was said, Of
about $1,000. II represented an acropolis with
Parthenon upon the summit, hanked by two
other temples. The hill was scaled by stair
ways separating from each other at the base
and disclosing the rock and earth Of the scarp
as In state OF nature. At the foot Of the hill
were two arches Of the Roman sort. suggestive
OF the forum in Rome, and under these led the
main entrance TO the temple, which departed
from the foreground at pond with a viAduct
over II, and sort Of rusticated gallery Of
semi-ovai form was constructed in the face OF
the pond. Between this gallery and the acrop-
oils ranged of on either side long galleries
only one-story high and skylighted quite
numerously and, indeed, making something Of
the appearance of n vast conservatory in sue
eessive ranges of straight galleries.
Inquired what the motive of the picture was
and was told that Mr.. Franklin ". Smith Of
Boston, wealthy man, who retired from bust
ness many years ago, had conceived the idea Of
the public by subscription erecting in Washing
ton city this very extensive series OF buildings
IN the new public park on Rock creek. which
has been set aside by the general government
as an ornamental and pleasure reservation Of
this District. where buildings are going up so
fast and real estate rising so high that unless
time be taken by the forelock il will be too
late some day 70 secure the picturesque en-
virons OF Rock creek. the only stream wi hin
the District limits Of real picturesqreness.
Rock creek rises near Rockville, sixteen miles
from Washington, and flows down through the
granite or syenite district by pools and enters
the Potomac between what was formerly
Georgetown and the city of Washington. There
was strong prospect that somebody would
seize upon this valley and use il for an inlet TO
the District The valley commences right in
the city of Washington and therefore the park
can be entered half q mile or 30 from the Presi-
dents house. 1 understand that about 1000
acres are in this park, and Mr.. Smiths idea for
national gallery Of history and art compre-
bends taking 100 acres or more of this ground
and establishing here what he says the country
stands in much need ola great suggestive,
permanent exhibition. like the British Museum.
Of reprodue tions of all the best pieces Of art in
the world, not only Of pictures, but statues and
temples.
This gentleman has been forty years travel
ing and collecting and is known TO portion Of
the public 10y his construction Of a Pompaiiean
house, 200 feet long, at Saratoga and by build
ing the Hotel Monico at St. Augustine, Fla.
These buildings are put up of artificial stone.
mixture OF sand and Portland cement
concrete
1t is not necessary to 60 further into the
merits OF this proposition Of
HOW BOLDLY AMERICANS ARE THINKING OF
ba ufi - az Il r.
lie influence upon our race and continent. The
governments Of Europe have taken in hand
the assembling Of collections. SO that the fine
arts and the practical arts have a start. TO
speak. from the government itself. like Minerva
from the brain of Jove. We are slowly getting
together in the different cities small and par
tial museums and galleries. of which the most
considerable one il the Metropolitan Museum
in the Central Park of New York.
This was a concession originally by the state
legislature, with the assistance of the city. The
state, L believe. appropriated most of the
money to build the original museum. In the
course Of time wealthy citizens Of New York
and the public in various ways filled the Metro
politan Museum with remarkable collections,
such as the disinterred vases, &c, from Cypress,
which were made by one of our naturalized citi-
zens, Gen. Cesnola. Within year or two past
this museum has been magnificently extended,
partly by the public aid and partly b. sub
money and valuable gifts from wealthy people
until it has become one of the features of pride
andbenefit to the metropolis. Under this stimula-
ton New York city has rapidly developed as a
city Of home art. The various ornamental fab
RIGS which have been made by the Tiffanies and
others have been exhibited abroad, to the great
advantage of the character Of the country. The
superior character of the theaters of the city
Of New York over, perhaps, any in the world,
is partly due to the establishment Of this mu-
scum.
Boston, on the other hand. has spent great
deal of money, and contemplates spending vet
more In building up her art museum, and has
placed in proximity to it the new public library,
and has assembled in the same quarter of the
city effective ecclesiastical and other archi-
lectures. making magnificent plaza, and the
benefits of these collections to Boston have
been already seen in her tile factories and vari-
Gus other artistic constructions, bringing both
money and fame to the city.
Philadelphia is the oldest city in the country
to have commenced with art collections; the
Academy of Fine Arts in that city runs back to
near the commencement of the present CEN
fury, and the home-bred artist. Charles Wilson
Peale, had a good deal TO do with commencing
the work. He first exhibited his portraits of
American generals and worthless in Independ-
ence Hall. and they were subsequently trans
ferred to the Academy of Fine Arts on Chest
nut street. and within the past fifteen or twenty
years a superb building has been put up at
Broad and Arch streets by Mr.. Claghern and
others, beneficiaries of that city. The highest
benefits have been received from this and other
art collections and the schools Of design in
Philadelphia now stretch back some thirty
years or more.
The carpets, prints and ornamental cloths,
tapestries, &c, of Philadelphia are, in the
MAN, designed by her own made pupils Balti-
more received the benefit Of a bequest from
George Peabody for an institution with galle-
ries and accessories, which has since been con-
tributed to by the CARROTS, Mr.. Walter, Mr..
Pratt and others. Cincinnati took an early de-
parture among western cities in making collec-
tions for the benefit Of her art students and