Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-03
MODERN CITY MAKING.

MODERN CITY MAKING.
Not nearly so large an audience ~
should have done so listened Alonday
evening to the admirable address at tn,
New Century Club by Mr.. Albert Kel.
sey, who said in Fart: my subject Is
really A Rational Beauty for Amer,
can Cities As there is nothing mora
complicated than the anatomy Of a
great city, therefore / know Of no pro.
blem which calls for the use OF more far. 4
reaching, sagacious common sense, la
without comprehensive common sense
start, the city beautiful is impossible. y
A picture of the Dewey Arch was
thrown upon the screen and Mr.. Kelsey
remarked: The decorations attending
the return Of Admiral Dewey gave us
the greatest object lesson in municipal
establishment We have had. And 10
the wake Of that splendid burst Of
public spirit, a genuine wave OF popular
interest has been aroused in municipal
art, and the demonstration will 90
down into history not because Of the
intrinsic value of the art, but because
of the democratic spirit that inspired
IL, The architecture was timid and
archaeological. the architect who should
have made it an up-to date symbol Of
our own day and generation, was want
ing, and yet it was q brilliant achieve.
ment for Hack Of it was a generous
patriotic impulse; each sculptor felt DO
was creating an expression of real life
ard acting an unaffected part as an
interpreter of real history. Too often
yun lac, vi
to improve our native opportunities.
But art is universal and may be made
to express any living thought Of The
age; it is only because we are weak
that VIC plagerize. The great artist
responds to the needs of his age aud
expresses in his art his sympathy for
things about him. 1t is this neglected
factor we must cultivate before mu
nicipal art can become real and indigo.
nous. without it it is false and
contemplate. Throughout the land
municipal art societies are Deing
formed, and much good as this does
the common. sense thinker cannot help
regretting that so much that Is said and
written is super fetal and that thv
practical minds Of the country have not
been more conspicuous. Nevertheless
many projects have been discussed with
intelligence and insight and our mos.
advanced workers are beginning to SEQ
contemporaneous life and local history
from an artists point of view.
Still more has been done; the politi.
cul aspect of the case has been studied
with view of obtaining tho voter IS sup.
port Probably artists never delyed so
deep before, and yet no comprehensive
principle of modern city making has
been evolve This is no reproach upon
the municipal art society, but shows
the art impetus has ontstripped the
Fcivic authorities and failed to secure
their cooperation. Boston has far.
reaching scheme of solf-imrrovement,
which started in the intelligence and
personal integrity of a 5ow men; it was
Above politics. To bring about good
results we must sink all rivalry, POOL
our interests and bring about u union
between public and private vested
interests. We give away valuable
franchises; in European cities, in
return for the privilege of entering a
city q railway builds q handsome monu.
mental station which is focal point,
a dignified, official entrance to the city,
that traffic is never interfered with. II
u is necessary to bridge the street, %
1t frequentlysis when bringing rail-
rond Into city, there should no some
one in authority TO see that something
more than the railroads. interests are
provided fer.
Many views Of foreign cities were
shown to provo their attention TO tho
attractiveuoss Of thor surroundings.
Most of them seem to havo some focal
point, some common centre OF intcreS.
towards which you seem 10 10 instead
OF as on our thoroughfarcs, miles
towards nothing. A view of q Paris
markethouso was shown 10 which ban
an hour after market closed tho floor
and every stall had been flooded and
reduced to absolute cleanliness. Around
the upper walls are glass "blinds,.
which opening on a slant to admit lighs
ana currents Of air, but keep out ram
NO storage of vegetables is allowed ~
the cellars. The greatest care is taken
OF trees and plants and their river
fronts, instead of being as ours, mud
Hats for the spread of mosquitoes and
malaria, are confined like canals WITHIN
thelr channels and along the banks
where the cool healthful breezes are to
be found, is drive and shady walk'
But from our unbroken rows of little
prick houses with their plain stone
trimmings on our streets we can extract
great lesson. They represent honest,
unconscious development. In them are
the great characteristics OF our r.corlas
private initiative and independent
homes. These are the healthy traits
mat have built up our republic anu
with our universal school system are a
true foundation to build on. To re-
organize these crude growths with q
view to beauty, better social economy
or wiser community life, all dePart.
ments must work hand in hand we
must establish sound ideals. good results
must follow Intelligent persistent effort