Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-08-18
That Tablet.

south State library window, on Main
street. 1t was placed thus prominent
ly before the public, we presume, for
an honest expression of opinion, and
approval or criticism, as the design
and execution impresses those who
contributed effort and money for its
production.
The STANDARD assumes, at least,
that this is the motive which induced
the committee to ship the tablet seven
thousand miles to be placed on proba-
ton before it is made to assume the
post OF honor ON the famous flagship
of Admiral Dewey. This being the
case, candor compels us to state that a
very general feeling OF disappointment
was expressed by the throng who first
assembled before the window when it
was placed in position. Such express
sions as: "Is that the size of it?"
"What is it," "Is that all of it?"
How came it here?" and Seventeen
hundred dollars wasted" were heard,
and lady who passed said, at may
have cost several hundred dollars, but
1T don't look it." But one commenda-
tory expression was heard during the
fifteen minutes the writer recorded the
concensus of opinion, and that was by
a salesman from an adjoining store,
who after glance pronounced it Cali
right"
In order to arrive at just concep-
ton of the value of these criticisms,
We must first eliminate from the task
the idea that anybody by profession or
trade is specially qualified to pass I'M
assailable judgment on so.calIed works
of art. The criticism of the Scotch
farmer on summer farm scene of one
of the masters, that had passed judg-
ment OF the most rigid censors,
q" Hoot, mon, who ever saw cat.tails in
June?" condemned that work to in
slant oblivion, despite the commenda-
tons OF those whose judgment is gen.
orally accepted without question from
the mere accident of birth or position.
1t has within the past week been
observed that self-constituted critics
who do not know the difference be-
tween the chromatic and minor scales,
between a semi-breve and a semi
demi-semiquaver, or whose ideas of
legato and stacatto movement and
expression are about as definite as the
infidel's idea of heaven, approve with
owl'like gravity a performance that
was a mere pot.pourri of sound and
fury, signifying (of course)-@sthetic
culture! When they applauded, their
echoes, who always strive to be in
rhapport with their self-constituted
superiors, put forth their stalwart en-
deavors as claquers, and the effort re-
ceived the signet of high-toned APP
proval.
The points of criticism we have
heard discussed were the absence of
anything like elation which the coun-
tenance OF Victory would naturally be
expected to express; the stolid ex-
preston being more BETTING Hydah
Indian than the mythical goddess who
presides over the field of carnage.
The arms of the figure seem to be cut
too deeply at the elbow, for one OF the
approving commentors to call it a
dimple," and let the matter 60 at
that. The scroll on which the words
Gridley, you may fire when ready" is
altogether too large to be in proper
ton with the figure. No human be.
ing possessing @stheticism enough to
pose for Victory would choose to
fiaunt motto on an eight.inch scroll
while so many other means could have
been employed to give prominence. il
necessary, to the famous command OF
Admiral Dewey.
These are by no means all the OBJ
jections made to the tablet, but are
sufficient to show that the intent OF
our people must stand, to some de-
gree, upon its own merits. 1t is. how
ever, supplemented by the beautiful
nappery sent the cruiser by the ladies
of this city and the elegant and truly
artistic table service by the State at
large, both Of which, we are assured
are without blemish or flaw.