The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-25


tons court house square inartistic?
How many have thought of this ques-
ton?
In the mails that reach daily news
paper Office are many letters upon
many subjects. Some of these letters
are unsigned and some are signed,
while others effect compromise by
attaching pseudonyms. The TRIB-
UNE's rule is to print no unsigned let
.ters and no letters with a pseudonym
merely, when the subject under dis
cussiOn pertains to current events, in
volving personal criticism. But it's a
poor rule that isn't broken once. "Citi-
zen" writes so trenchantly upon sub
ject of current interest that "Citizen"
must be heard. In letter to the ed
itor, under date Of Aug. "A, this CORE
spondent writes:
"rhe appended clipping from last
weeks Garden and Forest expresses
so wisely and forcibly the principles
which should control the erection of
statues in public places that venture
to ask reprint of it in your columns
for the benefit of Scranton. The la
mentable and l suppose irretrievable
misfortune which has befallen the fu-
ture generations of our citizens from
the granite invalid in dressing gown
reaching for glass of Sanderson's soda
water, on one corner of Court House
square, and the decrepit and deformed
old codger which degrades the name of
Father of His Country on the other,
is fearful warning of what is likely to
work inconceivable corruption in the
community if halt is not called in
this stone cutters character-murder of
the illustrious.
THE STATUE OF SHERIDAN.
"This publication is opportune in
view of the proposal to erect statue of
General Sheridan on another corner of
the square. OF the great names of
American history none is more inspir-
ing than his, especially in commun-
ity where so many may claim the kim
ship of the same national parentage.
A poor Irish boy, who without inhuen.
tial friends rose by the sheer force of
his genius in his opportunity, under
the auspices of American freedom, to
the highest rank and stood before
kings as reward of patriotism and
ability to render his country noble SER
vice, ought always to be so presented
to his countrymen that he would be as
living and potent an inspiration to
succeeding generations through all
time as he was to the soldiers he led to
victory.
"Those who knew him would feel it
to be no less an outrage upon the men,
DRY of great and noble man than
public calamity if he should be per-
petuated in caricature as Columbus
and Washington have been here. Let
not unholy hands profane the sacred
figures which have made our nation
great. If we are to have statue of
General Sheridan only great artist
should be permitted to attempt such
great subject. Indeed, no statue should
ever be allowed to be placed in public
except after study and approval by
competent judges. Ignorant enthus-
iasm often defeats its own best inten-
tion.n
USE OF NEW STATUES.
The clipping alluded to consists of
an editorial in Garden and Forest of
August l5, entitled, "New Statues in
New York" 1t is as follows: "No
one doubts that a fine piece ofsculpture
greatly ornaments an urban park,
square or street, and benefits the public
by giving pleasure and by increasing
the desire and appreciation for art
in general; and if it commentaries
citizen who deserved well of the repub-
In III 1Nlau n nntant 1Nort II, ptiY
lating patriotism and all right ambi-
TONS Unfortunately, however, it is
not as yet generally recognized that
the value of a statue as an educational
influence in historical, biographical
and patriotic, no less than in artistic,
directions, depends altogether upon its
right to be called fine-upon its excel
lence, its interest and its charm as a
work Of art. individuality of concep-
ton and skill in execution are, not
less, but more, important in works of
portraiture intended for the public's
gaze than even in so called idealistic
works. In the latter the artist is sure
to have had the wish to produce
beautiful result, for otherwise there
would have been no reason why he
should attempt his task at ALL and
even if he fails to conquer all difficult
les, yet there will probably be some-
thing in his work that will please us if
only by contrast with the monotonous
aspect of the inartistically clothed
people whom we meet daily in the
flesh. But when sculptor must repro
duce one of these same people, his
model, in the majority of cases, will
lack all beauty except of that intellec-
tual or spiritual sort which must exist
in the facial expression of a man who
has worthily risen to public eminence.
Only the sympathetic eye of really
intelligent artist can see this sort of
beauty, and only his skilful hand can
translate it into artistic beauty; and
then, as regards the remainder of the
form, high artistic poweris needed if the
aspect of the average sedentary modern
man and his ugly clothes Is not to
prove actually distressing to the eye
when done in bronze. Imagination
and technical skill are both needed for
the production of really fine works of
art of any kind: but, we are tempted to
say, they are more needed in the case
of q portrait-statue of modern man
than in any other task which could
present itself.
"If these facts were better under
stood by our municipalities and our
generous fellow-citizens, our cities
would hear of proposed new statues
with constant pleasure, whereas now q
feeling of dread is always excited until
the name of an artist of recognized en-
inence is pronounced, or until the ac-
tual work has been seen; and in very
large proportion of cases this dread is
more than justified by the outcome.
For example, five new statues have re-
Gently been set up in the parks and
squares of New York; the Columbus,
deslgned by Spaniard in Central
park; the Roscoe Conkling in Madison
square, the Greeley at the junction of
Sixth avenue and Broadway, the