New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
FREE ART ON SUNDAY.
THE EXPERIMENT TO BE TRIED By Thu
ACADEMY OF DESIGN

experiment will be tried AT INC a's ~" an-
nual exhibition, which will open on Monday March
90 ond ciose on Saturday May H. The reasons
,ha. have led to this innovation in the od-te Gus
toms OF the Institution and the oeneh'S tha' may
be derived therefrom were discIoseu yeS'sludy N
talks had by Tribune reporter WIN "eh-Aho"n
Academicians. a,
American Museum Of Natural History are open
fr.o 70 tho nubllc on Sunday" said Thomas W.
Wood president Of the Academy. we thought We
would offer the same privilege" a'thoDsh me
Academy Is not supported by the Guy IS nose
Institutions IN a measure. are ABOUT t"p"V yea's
ago the Academy was open on Sunday al a charge
Of only Is cents for admission. but the experiment
was a failure. The attendance was not 80 arse
az IN week DAYS we hope by our new departure
N attract working people who cannot 20 10 ex-
hibitions except holidays. 1nerc u large
class OF mechanics for example. VINO are lohd o. arr
and who are somewhat OF artlStS them7'IeFS dhe
have to be in many OF their occupations we nope
thew Will come and do not think Visit % IL
Academy on Sunday will do them any harm.
great many people go to the Metropolitan Museum
OF Art on Sunday. especially In pleasant weather.
"The EXPENSE OF running our. larger building On
Morningslde Heights will be greater than az pres
emit but It Is possible that we shall also ADMIT tho
nubllc there free on other days in the week. as 10
done at the Metropolitan Museum OF Art STU
donts however will not allowed TO copy Al
current exhibitions as the pictures belong 10 the
artists and not 10 the Academy. II We ma mat
people do not want to come 70 the free eNhIo4uons
on Sunday they will be discontinued bnt wen
attended they will certainly be kept up When
the Metropolitan Museum Of Art was FIRST opened
10 the public free on Sunday the lowest classes
want there TO be amused. They evidently ex-
pected to play or something or tnat s'II OUT
when they found there was only Iot OF P-'sres
on view they did not go again. The fact mat no
fee Of admission will be charged makes the sunday
H'.aFa-
opening less Objectionable TO inc S"V"6 E'"'a'a-
rians in the Academy
"r, was Carroll Beckwth" remarked James D.
smlllie. treasurer OF tho Academy Of Design. who
preached IT first in the council as distinct pur-
pose 10 open the galleries on sunday ana u aa
not take much discussion 10 show that We were
practically unanimous in our desire to have The
galleries open a part OF each Sunday without re-
strIction In any way 10 the public. was much
interested TO know how such proposition would
he received by the body Of Academicians IN general
meeting and did know but there might be de-
yeoped an opposition Of a formdapIe character
I was much gratiied. however to ma that ohy
two members spoke directly In opposition ana
they did so with such consideration as ptdctcaIy
TO approve. Daniel Huntington referred TO his op-
position TO the Sunday opening movement "nen
was started by the management OF inc A'iIopoH-
tan Museum of Art. but declared the results had
been such as to leave it now an open question IN
his mind as to whether there might not oe quie
nc good
Yewer spoke in the same strain. These Two were
the only ones who voiced opposition, which Vas
rather an expression OF conscience tnan anything
else.
"As 7 understand IT, rhe object Of this new de-
parture Is In line with educational progress IL -
to afford every facility TO those who are interested
or who by the freedom Of the galleries may be-
come interested in art. / cannot but think that its
influence will be refining. If nothing higher. Inero
are great numbers Of men and women youh5 ana
old. who struggling with commentaries am
/ bition to improve themselves intellectually IAeTe
are night schools here In this city fully ATTENDED
by students who during the day are engaged IN
bread winning. They have no time or opportunity
to go to galleries like places, and Sunday AFTER
noon will give 10 that class the chance tnat
know will be highly priced by many.
THE Academy in this instance as regard the
matter IL merely doing what Is its duty II Is noe
appealing 10 any desire for excitement OF mere
amusement. but IS really Offering its adyantasSs
as an educauISn1 , syn themselves OF them
Moreover IL offers Inducements OF nea4uay ana IL
tei ,ng ba tempted TO spend their time less nno
Gently our people here do NOT nave the oppoF-
rom early childhood Let the poos. folks come 10
our exhibitions and bring their cnhdftH WIN mem.
NOT IA vored this step without serious consideration,
and in view of what has been acGompilsaed ~ tHe
Watronotan Museum OF Art and the Museum X
Natural History | do not think there can De ny
question OF the success OF me ,s yeyIonoan
I
Museum Sunday have been ihNa!Aoy "e'1
aTh isU innovation" Mr. Smile added "ls really
not surprising despite the talk about our conserve
S at Sa BY rsuf bnt q BY oVf r as of liberalism v.
have an ea1n numo 6. OF yoggmg men in any ohes
art Institution in this country. The younger re.
ment is always the more active. ana the lns.'uu0Gn
to-day is in the hands OF the younger men. VINO
recognize the wisdom Of the older and more exc
porienced ones, and are ever ready 10 listen %
their counsel. Just as soon as young men WIN
their spurs they are taken into the Academy ~,
Frederick Dielman member OF me couh;A Q.
the Academy, said: The free opening O. IN;
Academy exhibitions sunday Is 4 reform mar
has been contemplated a long time IHere VS. VS.
of a few members who objected simply 90 reIs,
ious or conscientious grounds but were SO toerA
as 70 state that their own view dlsapproving mo
movement might be mistaken one. We .eleSe
that the opening of an art eN4iolton en- ~, N.
telligent workingmen Wno aaXe no u m r bon.
culture is entirely lost. believe the eNpeIsshS
of other countries shows that this sunday prvieSs
Is used in proper spirit we hoId tnqt ai. II
means for elevating mankind along win roTa1g
and religion and we are DESTROYS OF deVeioPlh
taste for 1t among all classes 1t should oe lar
more general than II Is -.,, .., ,.a.,.
dent OF the American Water Co9r soscty I Sn
eleven years. was putting the hnishlng touchts ~
"pe Nine" and tells in his chlrlateristc way. ths
story OF two little street waits contestng ior tns
Pd enfy in la Ss w ark MT said look
pictures and art generally as anordng ms will
|
enable the workingman who never mas cASLnn.ss
during the week TO go TO an eNhihiuop " hcss
will have an influence 10 elevate him. II Will ses
him out of the rumholes. The sunday exhloli!on,
Will familarize him with the quality ana p ,S
OF American paintings and enable him 10 company
our work with that Of foreigners the Ae3 rSars
has nothing to gain by this departure. ihe.o
is no money IN It, and II is done simply 70 educate
tho masses And IL will never demor1Hsee
any human being to see good picture by serious
artist. ,-.
II wanted the Academy 10 take this step wear;
ago but Il was feared that public support "9u'I
be Withdrawn from the institution. AhouSnrs
offered TO PIT up sum OF money 10 mett aH
deficiency the matter voted down In The coen.
Gil The Water Color Society has never ciscussea
the question OF free Sunday opening. II sells y,
tickets however very reasonably 10 Schools a. q.
about 10 cents each. Now that the Academy, va