New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-26
THE HEINE MEMORIAL AGAIN
DISCUSSION BEFORE A COMMITTEE OF
THE ALDERMEN.

| PAUL. DANA AND REPRESENTATIVES, OF THE Ma
TIoNAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY URGE REJECTION
OF THE MoNUMENT-o OTHERS CONTEND
THAT 1T Is A WORK OF ART-THE HEAR
ING CLOSED AND a REPORT DEFERRED.
The Hene Memorial Fountain. which was one"
offered TO the cities Of Mayence and Dusseldorf and
refused by them for political reasons, It has been
alleged again the subject OF excited discussion
yesterday. Wealthy Germans Of this city sub
scribed the $4,000 necessary to bring the memorial
to this country, and then 1t offered 10 the Park
Board for erection in Central Park. But the adj
visory societies OF the Board the National Sculpture
Society and the Fine Arts Federation made reports
against il on artistic grounds The committee repre-
sentng the German donors then withdrew their
offer. and resolution was passed by the Board OF
Aldermen under the head OF General orders"
ceptnG the work and turning 1t over TO Commits
si1ner Hanen who should find a site for II on the
line of the grand concourse. 1t was afterward as
serted that this resolution adopted under mis-
apprehension Of its purpor 1t was reconsidered at
the last meeting of the Board. and the matter was
| referred TO a committee of Aldermen to hear argu-
ment as 10 whether the memorial TO Heine should
he accepted and set up north OF the Harlem or not
! 1t was designed by Professor Ernest Herter. a
director In the Fine Arts Society Of Berlin.
The committee held two-hours' session yesterday
in the Common Council Chamber. Aldermen Olcott.
| Goodman and Brown compose the committee. but
! Mr. Brown did not appear to take part in the pro-
ceedings Alderman Olcott presided. Others pres
eni were ex-Park Commissioner Paul Dana, Louis
Schneider, Alfred vischer w W. Klein. Anthony
| Stumpf George Fenke and Aldermen Goetz, School
| TAFT Wndulph and Muh.
! Messrs. Schneider Vischer. Klein. sturnpf and
| Fienke were present in behalf Of the German North
sders who wish the fountain placed in the Annexed
| District.
Mr. Olcot; announced that the directors 70 the ac-
! centancc of he fountain would be heard first. MI
Dana arose and said that, the fountain having been
once passed upon adversely the hearing must hatur
ally be OF the nature Of an appeal from the decsion
of lower court and that those VINO appeal ""oN'"
| he heard first.
| Alderman Ocott replied that the case was in no
| way to be considered an appeal, but as pro-
ceeding de novo."
Mr.. Dana contended that. II this the case
the committee should look TO the highest authorl-
| ties in matters of art and sculpture
THE SCULPTURE sOCIETY's POSITION.
Russell sturgs. vlce-president Of the National
Sculpture Society followed. He said that If the
| committee wished to have the opinion OF the Ma
! tona Sculpture Society It should ask for IT, 1t
should not expect 10 secure individual expressions
Of opinion from sculptors. because II scuptors as
individuals should differ ii would only be on small
matters that might be magnihed into an importance
far beyond their value. while matters OF greater i'm
portance might be considered trivial This showed
the necessity for securing the opinion OF the Ma
tona Sculpture Society as body
F. W. Ruckstlh.. secretary OF the National Sculpt-
ure Society said that the invitation did not reach
the society in time for IL take action upon H. but
that the report Of the society had been printed In
| full in a newspaper. and he referred the committee
| TO f. Speaking Individual. Mr.. Rucksiuhl
said that the National Society objected to the ac-
ceptable OF the fountain because II was rocco,
| which as defined in French ,exicons. meant gro
tesque in bad taste. fantastic. lacking in danliy
and majesty. Another objection was to the material
| used-rnarDle Marble. ne said. expands and con-
tracts under weather conditions, and VIII In twenty
Mr. Ruckstuhl added that 1t would be necessary
to have standing committee to look after the
the $50 6o which the Helne memorial is to cost the
s nsS Of n o s fa o dR
designs could be had and the 5000 remaining could
the competition.
PROFESSOR HERTER's STANDING.
Louis Schneider in behalf of the North Side Ger
mans said that Herter, the sculptor OF the me-
moral stood high In his profession and urged that
the fountain was an artistic work that had suf-
fered simply because Heine was preacher OF
liberty, an opponent OF monarchy. and lastly. be-
cause he was a Jew. Mr. Schneider said that all
that was asked OF the city was to build the foun-
DR. F. Richards followed He said that Hcrter
had secured several prizes for his work at the
%a bad on a them declared that Se
monument was rejected by the cites o. Mayence
L. r Piatti. an Italian sculptor. said he thought
| the monument work of art. and +. Labishmer
concurred in the opinion.
favor of the aecepiance Of the memorial sad he
had personal feeling in the matter and that he
clared that the assertion that the National Sculpt-
soceys report was not ma %e up o by c9qe &
| twenty-one monupents In this city. he remarked
fourteen were of foreign work. and six were abso-
I Paul Dana then spoke again He said he Wished
works or religion figured before the Park
Board. Such was not the case There was ,o only
hrSpfh Is hsr.
man versed in the history and the architecture OF
the fountain, declared that It was no surprise 70
bf The position Of the Heine Committee clearly
shown Mr. Dana said when one Of the
would appeal to the sroqa city ssa ,bs II th
meye done and the fountain accepted would seen
70 have two ,o e No anq sds sSaud be-
Aidermehf from that Of the South Side and the
standard Of art for the Annexed District should be
| unlike that OF the South Side'
roR BEAUTIFYING THE NORTH SIDE.
-. nana pointed out that the~Park Department
- con times as much land to superntend in the
.a. xod District as in the lower part Of the city
Ia ,bcrefore II made a special subject OF It's artls
rio and architectural features. ne urged thas 'a'
North SIDE should be beauhed a. aHa a Sdder
. hougdn have the district beauihed by appealing &c
sho Wavor. the Board OF Estimate or the Hes''
a Tha suggestion apparently excited Ader rTaa
Of warmth declared that the Nop od srer n'' pc
utdTnea ~. ohscryed Mr. Dana you did NOT 90
with ,he proper force in the proper way You o''
h2s paCe Won skal declared that the claim ma" al
that the sculptor Herer was as Mr. Herte
aiscu hnd os the scupors Society OF Berlin ,or
Replying Mr. Rqsns snnRe s as an ne .nds,dua
The hearing was formally declared Closet eeiore h
; | port from the committee s ho' e~Pe''eN
latter part Of next week.