The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-28

OF Goo-Gooism has entered the sphere OF
art. and will doubtless enrich the sphere
before it gets through with it.
1t appears thst His Honor, tie Mayor,
Il to have It's portrait tainted for and
by ard at the expense CT The municipality.
To thus perreiua.e tie features CT the
second Democratic executive since 1858
or Whereabouts, was one Of the fret propo-
sItions put into the new Council. Ex-
rense was to be no object, even in this
bankrupt town, so long as the Mayor had
. fitting portrait.
The proposition in its general aspects
undoubtedly had public approval back OF
it. II is well that the portraits of our
Mayors should hang on the walls Of city
hall, reminders CT the past and giving
encouragement for tho future, SC to
speak. Especially is 1t to be desired that
the portrait Of Mayor McGUrNNEss should
net be omitted from the collection since
his occupancy OF Office represents an
unique episode In municipal history, and
besides, His Honor is right fair TO look
upon, tall and grsceful, and Of comeiy
feature. That the necessary steps should
have been taken thus early Is also COM
mendabie, since this is to be the Mayors
last term and II it were necessary to delay
the sit .ings until after he went out of
office the portrait would doubtless lose a
certain ~indefuablc something that express
ses a Mayor in action and to the critical
eye would but be the picture, not OF a
Mayor, but only Of somebody who had
been Ma yor. To catch the sunlight the
artist must paint while yet the sunlight
is doing business and not delay to repro
duce it by the glow OF an expiring gero-
senc lamp.
Up to this roint the proposition to paint
the 30. trait Of the Mayor was unaccom-
panied by cny marked peculiarities or un-
ique features. But at this point we find a
der arturo. II appears that in recognition
of ths voice of the people that the spirit
OF ~Goo.Gooism should have full swing
when it could do little damage, the COM
mittee appointed to see to the painting
of the portrait was distinctly q Goo-Goo
committee. There are more Goo-Goos
than anything else in the list Of names
Just rs there were in the list OF successful
candidates in Wards I and 2 the morn
ing al. err the election. What may re
CALLED the Art COMMITTEE OF the City
Council is thus composed as follows:
Councilman SIssoN, GRAY, RYAN, TAN
NER; Aldermen FULLER, WINsoR. With
the exception of Alderman FULLER, who is
known throughout tho world Of art as the
pos, essor of tho most lovely piszza south
OF rrinity Square, the prestige Of thess
art sponsors is not o matter of public
knowledge. This Is not surprising, how
ever, fer. as Is well understood, art is for
the few olly, and the higher the art the
few er the few.
Tut the rrt committee Of the City Coun-
ell can no longer remain in o~bscuri,y. II
has taken a jump into fame That will
fer 1t the attention as for a rara
avis or something Of that sort. We are
to have sn potheosis OF Goo.Gooism In
art and tho Mayors portrait Is TO be the
glorious result and product.
The arr itteo at The very outset of
its arts H. career di co ;ered that the
first thing 70 do in p4in!ing a portrait
was to hire a painter. This necessity is
not associated with ell ert, 10 be sure,
since II you want a ~"strest scene, or a
"llndscape," or n "marine view.n or
"scone on the Hudson,' or 'tw flights"
you may 20 to any picture store aud take
your pick q any number Of the res ectIve
brand. II you want a house you can buy
one all built and II It IS a ton OF coal YOU
-. n f.. 49,.