Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-20

scheme, it may be stated here that the con-
structien of the gallery was as much in the
interest of the people of Washington as in
that of the artists themselves. A charge
for admission is absolutely necessary in or
der to pay the running expenses of suit
able gallery, to defray the insurance of pic
lures. etc, and it is the custom followed in
other cities under similar circumstances
OF course there is the idea in the minds of
nany that such displays of pictures should
be free. in order to educate all classes in Il
true appreciation OF art; but the real fact
&C the case is that no exhibition of much
educational value can be held without some
Sc URGE OF revenue In past years it has
been possible to hold exhibits of purely To-
cal work free of charge, but in order to
bring in the best paintings from outside
ard to make a display OF TIE highest merit
a change has become necessary.
In fitting out the new gallery and in pre-
sentiEg loan collection worthy of signal
iZinS its opening. the society has incurred
debt of gratitude to lis many friends, for
without them II would have been power
less. First. through the generosity of Mrs
Belden Noble, the exhibition hall on Con-
nectiCut avenue was obtained at a merely
nominal rental. and the entire plan was
thus rendered feasible. The liberal re-
Spouse OF the associate members then made
possible the remoderng of this already well
suited building, and, lastly, through the
hearty cooperation of the collectors and
eonnoisseurs in the city and elsewhere the
present loan exhibit was assembled.
The new gallery is sixty feet long and
eighteen feet wide, and the entire length is
amply lighted by a large skylight in the
daytime and by satisfactory gas illumi-
nation at night The woodwork has soft
black finish, and the walls are hung with
suitable olive green material. The same
cloth I'm a warm gray shade is used for the
strip of wall below the picture line and for
the frieze, which is ornamented with dec
orative design by MIR. Robert Coleman
Child. member of the society. In addi-
ton to the gallery, there is capacious eel
lar. which can be used for the storage of
pictures and packing cases, and a room ad-
joining the gallery at each end. The room
opening out on the street will be used as Il
place of meeting by the members of the So
Getty. and the artists will fully appreciate
The comfort of having a home of their own.
At the private view this evening the
following gentlemen have been invited to
assist the artists in receiving the guests
of honor: Messrs. Thos. f. Waggaman s.
W. Woodward. G. NJ. Foulke s. H. Kauff-
n ann. V. c. Fischer. T. E. Roessle G. W.
McLanahan. Thomas Hyde, W. F. Mat
tingiy. T. B. Clarke, c. J. Bell Parker
Mann, Justice Gray and Senior Salvador dc
MendoEca.
The loar collection which will be viewed
tonight for the first time is quite differen,
from anything that has been held here
before No such collection of masterpieces
has been previously assembled. and GER
tainly IL is the first time in this city that
there has been any attempt to make a
historically instructive display of Ameri
can ara The hanging committee has er
Geavored TO classify the work of our ma
tive painters according to schools or per