The morning times., 1895-09-09
Some of the Art Adornments Of
the New Library.
RECALL GAUDENS' AMERICA
Rich Carving of the Facade WIN Be
One of the Chief Points of Inter-
est to Tourists-Some of the His
toricai Characters Represented In
the Niches. r.

artist, has been at work on the new library.
He modelled the COLOSSAL emblematic figure
Art to be placed In the reading room,
and, if he is not responsible for the cherubs
over the busts of Franklin and others at the
eastern facade, thework willat least remind
a great many persons of him.
His Innovation in the representation of
America for the Worlds Fair medal is
remembered by all.
The Senatorial committee, of which
Senator Villas was chairman, objected to the
nude in art as there employed, and after
a long discussionin the epapersand elsewhere.
the design was modified to meet the views
Of the committee and OF Secretary Carlisle.
who held TO their opinion.
The cherubs at the library are open to
precisely the same objection as was the
figure representing America in the medal,
at least some OF them are.
Travelling parties will be taken to the
grand portico on the second floor Just as
now the guides take them to the balcony on
the west front OF the Capitol, but it viii be
with different purpose.
At the Capitol the sightseer is invited
TO look at the magnificent vista spread
out before him, from the Botanical Gardens
along by the Smithsonian and the Monument
across the Potomac TO Arlington, and the
Virginia hills including in one yisg almost
the whole of Washington; bat at the library
he Will have his attention called TO the
ri oh. Of fga
back of the portico and to the busts OF the
great men OF letters. AT once his eye VIII
rest upon St Gaudens' cherubs.
II this building were some historic work
on the continent of Europe this feature
would attract little attention. There are
specimens OF the nude in art ia public
places III Europe beside which this instance
is insignificant, There is onefcuntain Of
which tourists briag back medals in canes,
etc, which they show to their friends in a
quiet way. There are many statues and
works Of art guiltless OF effort TO hide the
form divine.
Paris, where Mr.. St. Gaudens got his
training, has customs in the use OF words
and i'll daily life OF men and women which
attract little notice even from Americans
brought up on the prairies.
But the same customs in New York or
Washington would raise a storm that " C;lld
not quiet I'LL American ways were con
formed to.
DISCUSSIONOFH HISTORYCHA
AS with these continental customs so
with the continental nude in art. The
incidents of picture in Yeerbofrs window
nearly two years ago, the st. Gaudens
medal and the great picture which Col.
Wilson declined TO hang In the White
House, are evidence of this.
The choice of historic characters tU repre-
sent art, science, etc, IN the reading raOm
as well as the selections Of great names FOR
the busts on the facade is likely also ~
bring on a good deal of discussion. The
figure of Art, by st, GaudeHs, is to be
accompanied by Michael Angelo and Bee
thovtn; History from the chisel of DAME &C..
French, by Herodous and Gibbon; Poetry,
from j. Q. a. Ward, by Homer and Shakes
peare; Philosophy, from B. L. Pratt ~
Plate and Lord Bacon; Science, from John
Donoghue, by Newton and Henry; Law,
from Paul W. Bartlett, by solon and Kent;
Commerce, from john Flanagan, by Cohm-
bus and Fulton; Religion, from Theodore
Baur, by Moses and st. Paul.
The busts in the facade are Franklin
in the center with Macaulay and Hawthorne
at his right and Goethe and Irving at his
left Emerson is advanced twenty feet
at the rigat Of Franklin and Scott the same
distance on his left Demosthenes is
around the Corner out Of sight on one hand
and Dante on the right. The choice OF
these representatives and writers was made
by Mr.. spofford and approved by the arcai-
tects iii charge.
CAN'T PLEASE EVERYBODY.
When Supervising Architect Bernard
Green was asked yesterday by whom the
selections and the character of the work
had beeen determined he answered:
1T was done by this office. There was
no committee to consult. The whole of
these details constitute part of tie
decorative finish Of the building, and in
such matters it would take forever to refer
everything to committee. We just take
the bull by the horns and go ahead. OF
course, we have good advisers at every
turn"
I'VE expect to get some criticism and
some censure. In SO great work that
is inevitable But as the lawyer argued,
there is only one way TO Kill cat
When the cat is dead it cannot be resur-
rected and kIledagain. So wecando things
only one way. There may be other ways.
We hope, however, that our way may al
ways prove a good one. With that we
shall be content. There may be others
just as good; sometimes better.
''If anything does not prove salts
factory when it is finished it can be
changed
O