Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-11


power In 1t Ito use the phrase Of De
Quincey), Is destined to come to perennial
TRANSPORTATION In the plastic and the graph
lc art or succeeding ages. When Polyg-
notus portrayed the sacrifice Of daughter
of Priam at the tomb of Achilles he was
said by the critics of his day to have put
In her eyelids the whole story of the Trojan
war; few years ago as sat In the studio
OF SIR Frederick Leighton, in London, he
took down his Homer and read the passage
which had inspired a picture sketched on
MS canvas picture Of Andromache in her
captivity. Dante and Ariosto. Shakespeare
ana Milton come to perpetual revival In the
art which they inspire, and which they will
continue to inspire so long as literature and
art shall have their votaries.
High Aims.
We aim to keep alive the tradition Of high
literature by our public libraries and by our
universities. II We would keep alive the
tradition of high sculpture and painting we
Must have our galleries and our schools of
art. 1t was in this view that Lorenzo the
Magnificent founded at Florence in the gar
den Of San Marco. that nursery Of gei.ius
which became the training school of
Michael Angelo. For the tradition of liter
ature We OF this capital may look to the
rational library. For the cultivation Of the
humanities and Of philosophy, we may look
to the universities OF our town. which IL
itself university. For the promotion Of
scientific bureaus fostered by the rational
prudence and the economic thrift of the
federal government For the increase and
dinusion OF knowledge among men. We may
founded here BY smithson, and which was
founded here because, az 1t seemed to him.
II was here that 1t could best subserve the
high purpose to which he appointed 1t.
Happy is 1t for the repute of our national
capital, happy is 1t for the glory of art in
the eyes Of this nation, happy is It, let us
hope, for the progress of art In the near
and splendid future dawning upon our land,
that the beneficence Of William w. Corco-
ran has assured to US and to our fellow
citizens that the tradition of the fine arts
shall for all time to come be here kept alive
in marble palace, which will bear on its
very front the proclamation of its mission.
| We have taken care that the new temple
which we are here to erect shall bear over
its very threshold the same Inscription
" hich was selected by our founder: ''Dedi-
Gated to Art" In a city replete with its
a6jurations to the highest patriotism, let
US hope that this Inscription, with the ever
increasing treasures 10 which ii shall
beckon an admiring public, may here sum-
mon our countfymen to enter into the full
| privileges of that high partnership to which
they are called as American citizens. For
| the partnership into which we enter as the
members of a. civilized state, says Edmund
Burke, rs not the partnership In things
subservient only to the gross animal ex-
! istence of a temporary and perishable ma
| ture, but partnership in all art, partner
ship in every virtue and all perfection"
! The Ceremonies Proper.
The religious ceremonies were performed
| by Bishop Paret, who wore the robes of his
| episcopal office. The ceremonies began with
the Lords Prayer and were followed with a
beautifully worded invocation for a blessing
upon the institution, and a benediction on
| the memory of Mr.. Corcoran and other men
! who like him. have at heart the best in
terests of humanity and spend lavishly and
with discretion Of their great means for the
benefit OF their fellow men.
Mr.. Calderon Carlisle then read the list OF
the articles which had been deposited with
in the copper box which was placed In the
corner stone. They were as follows:
Deed and charter or the Corcoran Gallery
Of Art, bylaws Of the Corcoran Gallery Of
Art. the first catalogue issued by the gal
lery, January, 1874; the catalogue of the
gallery in use at the present date, namely.
May 10. 1891; the catalogue OF the Tayloe
collection. catalogue Of photographs issued
by the gallery. rules and regulations re-
lating to the Corcoran School of Art, the
copying of pictures, and the exhibition OF
pictures: a list of the gentlemen who have
served as trustees from the organization Of
the institution to the present time. the pres
ent board of trustees. with list of the
present standing committees; proceed
ings of the board of trustees In memory
of William Wilson Corcoran, February 25.
1888. the date Of his death; a bronze copy OF
the Coreoran gold medal of merit a Grand
fathers Legacy" containing q sketch of the
life of Mr.. Corcoran; Congressional Dir &C.
tory, 1894; the local papers of the day,
Washington Post. Times, Evening News,
Evening Star, Herald and Kate Field )
Washington; copy of the address, of the pres
ident of the board of trustees, j. c. yelling.
at the laying of the corner stone; a $40 gold
piece of the coinage of 1884, program of the
exercises held at the laying of the corner
stone, copy of the card of invitation to the
laying of the corner stone, record of visitors
from January, 1874, to January, 1894; pho
tograph of the old Corcoran Gallery of Art
and the Corcoran Art Journal for March,
1894.
The Stone Swung Into Place.
The corner stone was then swung into
place. and Mr.. William Corcoran Eustis. the
eldest grandson of Mr.. Corcoran, spread the
mortar with a handsome silver trowel, that
was presented by the board of trustees for
the purpose. and bore an appropriate in
scription. He carefully laid the cement over
the copper box and around the edges of the
stone, and, under the direction of AR
Joseph Tanning, the contractor, the big
piece of granite was dropped into place and
made plumb and true. Bishop Paret then
dismissed the audience with the benediction.
Butter is Still Low.
Three-pound bricks for IS cents of the
Elgin Butter Compauy's celebrated butter.
fresh from the creamery. No repacking
from tubs to boxes. and no wood to pay for.
No stands in market. T.. d. DAILY OH
Louisiana avenue. Phone 14I6-Advt.