New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-09
COILS on ART.

without entering into the merits OF the dis
cussion which took place In the Mayors once
on Tuesday upon the proposition to place the
Soldiers and Sailors Monument IN the plaza
at Fifth-ave. and Fifty-ninth-st., II is safe TO
say that Mr. ]. Q. A. Ward gave nterance to
a large foursQuare. solid and wholesome truth,
that can be turned over In the public mind with
seriousness to a good purpose, when he quietly
remarked: Poor art Is not an education in
patriotism" 1t corrects very common error
an error into which so high an authority in the
art. literature and science Of local politics as
General Coils our energetic and pervaslve
Commissioner of Public Works, seems mad
vertently to have fallen. Mr.. Ward Is presl-
dent Of the National Sculpture Society, an ar
fist of much more than local-Or even National
fame, and one OF the four men whose approval
Of the location is required by the law. In this
latter capacity he had expressed decided disap-
prevail of the plaza site With characteristic
promptness and zeal General Coils undertook
the task OF convincing Mr. Ward Of the incor-
rectness Of his judgment in this regard. He
told the sculptor that he forgot the patriotic and
educational element in considering the monu-
ment York, he said. was the only city In
the North Of 10000 inhabitants or more that
ument was needed to educate the growing gen
Grafton 10 honor those who fought for the Union.
Mr.. Wards reply was that he had not forgot
ten this need, but that poor art Is not an edu-
cation In patriotism"
Without questioning General Cols's genius
which, we believe, is generally conceded-as an
all-round artist, and without meaning TO In
innate that his ideals in art are not 80 high as
those Of Mr.. Ward, we believe we are justified
In the assumption that they are different. OF
the Commissioners proficiency In some depart
ments Of art our citizens have had abundant
evidence during these many months. If It
should be said By persons Of critical temper
tracing his artistic career up, down and across
this blessed island, that he Is deficient In at
least one direction, IN not having achieved the
"ars celare artem," Il may also be said Of him
with equal truth. as It was of Sir Christopher
Wren, "Si monumentum requris circumspice."
The difference Of opinion upon art matters be-
tween the artist and the Commissioner Is, no
doubt, attributable in large measure to the point
Of view. In opposing a hasty decision as 10
the location of the monument Mr. Ward OBJ
vously had In mind the fact that as art IS
long" there need be no hurry about filing up
the best places with poor specimens merely
because we have them In stock Commissioner
Coils, on the other hand realizing how short
Is the term OF his own usefulness in the De
partment Of Public Works, is not so much In
fuenced by the consideration that art Is long
as by the reflection that time Is 1eeting." Be
tween the two we shall not undertake to de-
! eide.
In point OF fact we presume the Commits
sioner Is correct in his statement that New
York is the only city in the North OF 10000 in
habitants or more that has not a monument 10
its soldiers. The conventional figure OF the
granite soldier on pedestal. holding his mus
ket at rest, Is familiar in all our small towns
and cities They are all upon the same model
and we believe were turned out in Job lots
from the quarries The abundance Of the prod
uct brought down the price and put them with
| in the reach Of thrifty villages. There Is an
| impression abroad we regret to say, that these
effigies have been more effective in soaring
horses than In educating the growing genera
ton In patriotism. Mr. Ward may have had
this circumstance in mind when he remarked
upon the educational, or non educational, infiu
| ence of poor art. Commissioner Coils undoubt
edly means well, but it is barely possible tina
/ he overestlmates the educational influence OF
visible symbols. There Is, to be sure, a Ger
tain educational influence I'm all things. Thu
Commissioners own work in Tifth-ave., for in
stance has sort Of educational influence II
stirring up memories OF the classic periodic
Hercuaneum, POmpeii, Ninevch and Tyre witt
reminders too, Of Vesuvius and Etna Still, /
would hardly be desirable TO make these monu
ments Of the Commissioner, durable as the,
have shown themselves, absolutely permanent