The Red Cloud chief., 1896-10-09

ment. with the numerous suburban
EoVcrnments, differing essentially from
the Chicago idea; their literary tradi.
tons Of the past; their new vaudeville
thoatcr of the present; their clear
ances and financial statistics. showing
them to be the second city In the Il
Try and Chicago third; their magniG-
cent breathing spaces: their baked
beans and Sunday morning fish balls
but, most Of all, are they proud OF their
new public library. You may have
seen the wonders Of the vatican or
viewed the decorative work in the pal
aces and public buildings OF France and
Germany; you may have abb
sorbcd the work of Angelo,
Raphael. del Sarto or Rem
brandt-but you are informed that You
know nothing about decorative effort
unless You have seen the results
achieved by that great modern pair,
Abbey and Sargent, in the new Boston
library.
And truly you witness something 80
interesting In it's way as any Of the
old masters. and you believe the time
VIII come when strangers within the
gates OF Boston will pay a pilgrimage
to the then old masters. Abbey and
Sargent. The library itself is obvious
ly designed after the Bibliotheque Ste.
Genevieve in Paris, although Boston,
ians disclaim the slightest plagiarism.
n inscriptions are read TO you by
your Boston friend with much pride.
self-complacency and emphasis: Built
by the People and Dedicated to the
Advancement of Learning The Com
monwealth Requires the Education of
tie People as the Safeguard of Order
and Liberty !" Founded Through the
Munificence and Public Spirit of Citi-
zens.' These inscriptions are very sat
isfying to the resident, and visitors arc
duly and emphatically impressed with
their significance, departing with this
feeling: Let us go and do likewise"
After such experience the Detroiter
feels so Inundated that he looks the
other way when he passes his own IL
brary. He becomes humble and small.
after his experience with his Boston
friends. and he docs not dare TO look
I'm the face Knowledge" that MASTER
piece of wood carving which adorns.
ornaments and beauties the front of
the local ediflcc. When the influence
of Boston town in "A measure subsidies
he chides himself upon his super-sensi-
%tiveness. and Is thankful. indeed, for
our superb collection of books which
may some day be set in a Bibliotheque
OF our own. with decorations by Wen
cell, Rolshoven, Melchers or other To-
cal 60 artists OF whose efforts we are
so justly proud that We continue to
claim them because they lived here
before they moved away.
1t is to be regretted that the country
Mt large has heard of Boston's public
library more through the action of GER
tain OF her citizens in relation TO the
much-talked-of Macmonnies B~acchante
than for any other reason. The whole
affair was lamentable and yet ludi-
crous. because Boston, having reached
the sublime, suddenly and without
warning descended to the ridiculous.
But having achieved so much in this
project that magnificent" Is the only
word that fittingly expresses the re-
suit. 1t Is really too bad that such fun
has been poked at poor, prudish old
Boston. She is entitled to so much APP
plause that the shafts Of ridicule are
decidedly unkind. Poor, rejected Bac-
chante, embodiment Of %joyousness! The
French government would not buy you;
Boston wouldn't have you. You should
turn into a figure Of melancholy. But
after all perhaps you would have in
truded upon the seriousness of a phil
osopher's nominations in the quietude
of the court yard-and you should go
back to the boulevards where you be-
long. A water god or something Of that
kind will do for a fountain.
The decorations have been frequent