The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-24


tage Of not having suitable place
for valuab and beautiful works OF art,
aud her friends have. for that reason. re-
Trained from bestowing them upon her
but this obstacle is at last removed and
there is now no reason why they should
longer stifie their generous impulses.
viii Meet All Requirements.
The building which is dedicated today
10 well designed to meet all the require
ments Of this institution. Be ,utiful
and graceful OF exterior, and admir-
ably arranged within, affording
ample accommodations for all branches of
the institution, built in the most sub
stantial manner and of material
indestructible, located upon the same
hill where religion and liberal education
first took mp their abode In this city,
within sight OF the home OF government
and the temple of justice, this is fitting
place for the permar ent abode of art.
The Keys Accepted.
Mr.. Baker then presented the keys Of
the building to the president. ex-Gov.
Ladd. who In accepting them said:
ION behalf OF the Rhode Island School
4
tiful building. 1t is impossible to ex-
press the deep gratitude felt by every
friend of this institution to the donor
The spirit of the gift may be appreciated
in the words OF poet which apply to
this gift with singular appropriateness:--
Some. great souls, and touched with warmth
divine.
Give gold a price and teach its beams to shine;
All boarded treasures they re. ute load,
Nor think their wealth their own. till we'll
bestowed
"By this gift Mr.. Metcalf has placed
himself In the front rank of our philan-
thropic men and especially of those in
terested in the cultivation of the artistic
instincts among our people. That
spirit Of progress which the
great Columbian fair has stimulated
all ov. r the country il manifested in this
work. He has given one more evidence
of local patriotism, Of which Rhode
Islanders have often been charged with
being deficient; and has contributed to
the beauty Of our city.
''In the larger sphere of usefulness which
this school is now to fill. we may be con-
fident of the earnest effort OF those whose
work lies within these walls 10 the end
that the results they shall show be COM
erality. which-with these keys-opens
the door to their achievements.
Governor Browns Remarks.
Governor Brown was then introduced
and spoke as follows:
"Mr. President and Friends Of the
Rhode Island School Of Design-Our
State may assuredly Join with feelings OF
gratitude and pleasure in the ceremony
of dtdicating this beautiful building
which Is SO admirably suited To the grand
purpose to which it is devoted. Rhode
Island feels grateful for that inspiration
which stirred its noble women to start
this institution and grateful to the
generous-heartcd citizen to whose munifi-
cence we are indebted for this elegant
structure The knowledge that this is
monument to private endeavor In no way
diminshes the pleasure which the state
must take in this celebration. 1t surely
can participate in the rejoicing without
sele-reproach, for our dear old common
wealth has guarded with no illiberal
hand the educational needs OF its
children.
Five years ago the annual expendi-
ture for public instruction in this state
was about sS50.000. Last year the amount
was over q, 800. 900, showing a gain of
over 80 per cent. lille the increase In public
school enrolment was scarcely 30 per
cent. With this enormous and ever in-
creasing burden for small state 1t is
esi ecally gratifying TO witness. the ex-
hibition Of public spirit displayed In the
donation Of this building.
No More Useful Gift
"To my mind no more uscful gf nor
one more far reaching in its beneficial re-
suits could have been bestowed upon he
community. The development Of artistic
ideas and the encouragement OF skillful
workmanship are Of very great practical
value In an industrial c.vter such as
this, for the time must come when the
supremacy OF Rhode Island as n manu-
featuring state will depe I'd upon the ar
tistc sense aud skill OF her artisans,
whether working In fibre, wood or metals,
an inasmuch as here the student will but
form the shadow OF that which Is TO take
substantial forms OF beauty, so perhaps
his institution may lie but the shadow
OF n broader movement. In which the
designer aid the executor shall
work baud in hand, and
from which there shall come
forth race of artisans renred to become
the glorv Of the state anu the pride OF
their fellows. Here beneath the spire OF
that venerable structure, where We
worship the Creator with our hearts and
our voices, 10 Is sitting that there should
l.. er.cfed this femnle wbcro xwc