The sun., 1896-10-23

Porte claimed the right to exclude other ma
tions from navigating these passages which
connect the Mediterranean and Black seas.
THIS contention seemed we'll founded when all
of the shores of the Black Sea were under The
Jurisdiction of Turkey, but since the acQuis-
tons on that sea by Russia the claim is not a
reasonable one" He adds these remarks in
reference TO tho treaty of Paris, 1855, and the
treaty of London, 1875 The United States
have never adhered to either OF these treaties,
and have always maintained that their right to
send ships of war into the Black Sea cannot be
legally taken from them by any arrangements
concluded by European powers to which they
are not parties" AS to Behring Sea. the Paris
decision, which, following the modern tendency,
properly denied that these waters we're mare
clduSum, OF course lends no strength to our
correspondents view OF the Black Sea question
The Baechnnte OF Mr.. MncmonuIea.
To THE EDITou OF The SuN-Sir: infer from
discussions of the Bacchante of Mr.. Macmon-
nies which find in the newspapers that the
writer's cannot have seen that very delightful
work of art as it actually is. Tho American
Architect of Boston, which confesses to knowing
It only from print, speaks of II. for instance.
as having the face of an old "hag."
Now. the BacohRnte which saw with great
delight at Paris. is modelled from a young and
girish figure. 1t Is the feminine form without
voluptuous development. and. TO my sight, has
no trace OF impurity. The criticism / should
make of Mr.. Macmonnies relates 10 the name
he has given TO his statue and not to his treat
ment of his subject. He should not have called
II q Bacchnnte. 1t is not n Bacchante; this
young and unrestrained girlish figure, holding
up a baby and dancing joyfully. He might,
more appropriately have called 1t Mirth, or
Play. or Joy. or something OF the sort.
The artistic merit of Mr.. Macmonniess concep-
tion is suggested. perhaps. by the circumstance
that the French Government has ordered q
replica of it for the Luxembourg. or course
that is not proof. but 1t is Of the nature of q
critical opinion deserving of consideration. 1t
puts the statue whore 1t should not receive
judgment until It has been fairly examined, as
II was examined by men whose authority in
psthetical criticism is entitled to respect. Dis
cusslng IL as II appears IN more or less dlstort-
ing points Is, OF course. unjnstihable.
As to the appropriateness of the so-called
Bacchante for the Boston Public Library. that
snsr s's Mbb Mno psrsIy
artistic merits OF this production of the indub
table genius Of Mr.. Macmonnies; but has not n
statue beautifully representative of spontaneity
pertinent association with literature as art
! cannot see that it has any special and
Rlaring incongruity with such surroundings.
amid which there are already decorations whose
close relation to serious literature is rot appar-
ent to the literal observer. Tho Bacchnnte too,
rs understand tho case, was intended for n
fountain In the court. and "a n relief from the
severity CT noble specimen Of architecture.
The Boston Public Library having refused
| the Racchante. hope Mr.. Mckim will now con-
| slider his duty to New York and give 1t to some
institution in this cosmopolitan community.
New YoRK Oct 20.