The sun., 1897-07-06
JERoLOMAN PONDERS PAN.
GLIlrPsES INTO MYTHOLOGY BT
THE lBDERMEN,s PRESLDENL

mis- Lino 10 Raw. Forensic ana Fariinasutary.
but he Cnn Tackle Persopined nature ne =
Pinoh-Snag Yet Have sight or Preteus or
Hear ola Triton BLEW His Wrcathed Horn.
Tho Hon. John Jeroloman President of tho
Board OF Aldermen. and now acting Mayor, was
appointed a committee of one last week by tho
Municipal Art Commission. of which by virtue
OF his Office he is a member, to inspect Sculptor
Barnards statue of the great god Pan, which
the Park Board refused 10 erect In Central Park.
This unsought honor. for unsought 1t was, was
the first official recognition of critical ability
which few suspected In Mr.. Jcroloman. His
ability MS lawyer has been publicly recognized.
The minutes Of the Board OF Estimate bear tes-
timony to this. At a recent meeting Mr.. Jerolo.
man objected to the bills Of Henry Marquand.
Montgomery Schuyler and Prof. Ware for their
services experts in passing on the plans for the
new Hall Of Records. They charged @400 each,
and 1t 10 recorded that Mr. Jeroloman backed
his objection by the statement that In his opin-
ion tho bills werc too steep. 1t 10 also recorded
that Comptroller Fitch. In disagreeing with tho
President Of the Board Of Aldermen, used these
words.
"Now, II they (MesSrs. Schuyler. Marouand,
and Ware) were lawyers of your standing at the
bar. Judge. they would have charged 81 900 or
91 200 each for their services"
There can be no doubt about tho meaning Of
the Comptrellers wordR They are plain and
unequivocal
Tho ability of Mr.. Jeroloman as presiding
officer has also been recognized. 1t is true that
the Tammany Aldermen have sought to croate
and spread tho impression that he knows no
moro about running meeting than cow does
about Sunday. but the fact remains a fact that
visitors to the sessions of the Board OF Alder
men. the past winter and spring particularly,
have been impressed by the decorum OF
% dspayed BY The 'nP PrssiaeRn At no time
were moro than six Aldermen speaking at once.
more than three motions at the Same time.
Three he declared. was the limit, because no
man. no matter how intelligent, could keep track
above the din of the orators ana commanding
order and peace until the President could find
Of the listeners. Central Labor Union men. who
were frequent visitors TO the Aldermen's cham
Der. have been heard to declare that Mr.. Jerolo-
man would have made fortune as an auc-
tqneer had his lines been cast in different places
works OF art had lain dormant and unrecognzed MED
S ffGh nat the Of bis bs 5 pn Il
greatest art societies in New York. Mr.. Jeroio.
thoroughly. but he dsclaims more than a mod.
erato fitness for the task imposed upon him. He
give an opinion off.hand on the artistic merits
Of Mr.. Barnard's statue although the National
SCulpture SOClety mas alreauy reported faNOra-
bly, upon II. Mr.. Jeroloman said he wanted time
to study and think before he went Mt the job. So
he bought a book on mythology and read all 1t
contained about the god Pan. The result of his
reading was not at all satisfactory to Mr.. Jero-
oman. He said he was not sure that Pan was o
nt subject for a statue on tho Boulevard.
Why" said he. Il understand that this crea-
ture. Pan, was a voluptuous and sensual being
with horns. a snub nose. and goats feet. More
over. no was always dancing or playing on tho
syrinK or Bome other barbarous instrument.
Now. true art is largely made up OF realism.
Therefore this statue. having, as 1t probably
does, hoofs and horns, Is not f1t monument for
the boulevard. IL might frighten tho street car
horses.
However" continued Mr. Jeroloman. "I
won't let my prejudices against the personality
of Pan Interfere with my duty to the art world
at large. and the Municipal Art Commission in
particular. AS member OF the latter body 1t
is my mission to deal fairly with all questions
that come before 1t. ! don't believe In doing
things hastily or without proper consideration.
That was why 1 objected to accepting this
statue Off hand for the Boulevard. was not
satisfied to pass upon 1t from q mere photo
graph. so coun selled delay. and the other MEM
bcrs of the commission appointed me a commit
tee to examine the cast l have arranged with
Mr.. Barnard to visit his studio and inspect tho
plaster cast personally. shall try to be fair in
my Judgment, and hope to be able to make an
intelligent report on tho statue to my colleagues
OF tho commission"