Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-22

another, both officially and by private indi-
viduals having regard for the promotion CT
art and the proper adornment Of the public
buildings and grounds of the national cap
ftal- 1t is earnestly to be hoped, therefore,
that the recommendation so fifty made will
not fall upon deaf ears or unwilling dispo-
sitions In the two houses of Congress, where
the responsibility for mistakes or short
comings In the direction indicated must
rest. Nor should action in the premises be
delayed. There is much being done. and
much more contemplated, that calls for
consideration and supervision at the hands
OF such a body as is proposed. Had a COM
mission of that character composed of COM
petent persons, and clothed with adequate
powers. been in existence long ago the
national capital, and consequently the
country at large, would have been spared
some infections that may well arouse indig
nation or cause a blush of shame. For
that We have in Washington, as in other
cities In the country, some so-called works
OF art that narrowly escape being mon
strosities and others that are scarcely toler-
able for want of merit, cannot well be de-
MED. Nor is it their quality alone that is
open to criticism. The means adopted to
foist some of them upon the public are
even more to be censured.
This much Is unhappily true and II ought
to be said alike In the interest of true art
and in the hope of preventing like causes
for dolor in future. But it would be unjust
to stop here. and say no more. That which
Is excellent should not suffer in public es-
teen with that which Is bad or poor. Take,
for example, the matter of our equestrian
statues. about which 50 much that is both
unwise and unfair has been said. OF these
we have some that justly take rank in the
estimation Of competent critics as high
class. In fact, IL is maintained by persons
capable of judging. and who have travelled
widely and observed closely that taken
altogether. good. Indifferent and bad, WASH
ingtop will not compare unfavorably in
this respect with most of the Cities great
and small. in the old world, notwithstand-
ing all that has been said to her disparage-
.ment. That there are not to be found in
Europe some modern groups that are
superior to any we can show is not to be
denied. Nor Is 1t surprising; but 1t does
not require all the fingers on the hands of
two persons to tell of all such that are bet
ter than our best. Furthermore. though 1t
may not help our case any. yet it can be
truthfully added that there are plenty to be
seen in other countries-even in some that
lock with contempt upon the artistic aspi-
rations of America-that are quite as afro
cious as our worst. So that. all In all. we
are, by comparison, not quite 50 badly Off
In this respect as Is commonly alleged
This fact does not. however. lessen the
need of such q commission as Is proposed
On the other hand, 1T distinctly emphasizes
the Importance of having an official body Of
men whose knowledge, good taste and in
tegrity will stand strong wall of de-
Tense against such mistakes as have been
made in the past. and upon whom the coun-
try can rely for the encouragement of that
which is good in art, whether of sculpture
or painting, and the Withholding of support
from that which is bad or unworthy.