Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-21
and Venus
Two Pieces OF High Art Stir the
Artist Souls OF Charles
City.
Board of Education and PROBES.
sor Dick Wanted the
Statues Draped.
Finally Ordered Taken Out Of
the School..More Trouble
Expected.

i
terest in fine art and in ancient myth
ology which is being felt by the entire
community. If not by the whole Charles
City section of the state. Trouble may
result. The focus of this newly awak-
ened interest is two pieces of statuary
the Venus de Milo and the Winged
/ in the windows of one of the leading
drug stores of the city, tho they were
intended for places in the art collection
of the Charles City high school. {.
| The inhabitants of Charles City had
been prepared for the exhibition of the
above MASTERPIECES and when 1t was an
nounced that they could be seen they
| hocked by the hundred to the store to
see them. big and little. old and young.
| of every class and creed for had not
every one read of these famous works
of art and longed for chance TO see
good reproductions If not the originals?
Had not every graduate of the high
schools of cultured Charles City seen
pictures of the statues in his or her
copy of Virgil. course in which was
necessary In order to be graduated from
| the schools?
But perhaps the method by which all
Charles City was aroused to an interest
in these work of art was quite rs much
the cause of the interest as the quality
of the art involved. 1t was just such
combination of circumstances as was
best calculated to awaken interest.
In short the class of 1900 of the
Charles City high school after long
delay purchased the statues as a me-
mortal for their alma mater, and Miss
Bertha Blunt. the president of the class.
presented them to the board, which
promptly rejected them as untitled for
places among the schools works of art
and ordered them removed forthwith
lest the minds of the youth of the school
be poisoned
The class of 1900 gave an entertain
ment just before the day of its gradua-
ton, realizing about 500 as the result.
A committee was appointed to consider
the matter of a suitable memorial. SUI
perintendent Dick of the school was
made chairman of the same. For some
reason the committee was unable to
reach any conclusion. Consequently
meeting of the class was called and the
matter was taken from the hands of the
committee and placed In the hands OF
new one, which proceeded at once to
consult with Professor ID. w. Fowler.
art director of Charles City College,
after which it was decided to purchase
casts of the above mentioned famous
statutes. The matter was submitted to
the class. which by a vote of 81 to APP
proved the decision of the committee
and the casts were ordered from Mil
twaukee dealer.
Professor Dick. it is said became
much vexed over this action tho it does
not appear that he expressed any dis
approval of the works of art selected as
appropriate.
In due time the statues arrived and
were delivered to Professor Fowler at
the college, and upon examination by
the class committee were approved. The
shipment of the statues to the college
again seems to have vexed Professor
Dick. but the class went ahead with its
plans and with the assistance of Profess
sor Fowler placed the statues on the
platform OF the main room of the high
school.
About the time this work was being
completed, Professor Dick arrived on
the scene and proceeded to score the
class committee for it's independent
course in the matter. He seemed to re-
lent, however under the charms of the
works of art before him, but ordered
them removed from the platform to the
rear corners of the room. The commit
tee complied and then Professor Fow-
Ter withdrew.
Professor Dick at once notified the
members of the board of education or
a portion of 1t and it was decided to
drape the statues. The sentiment Of the |
board was that the statuary was poison
to young minds. The members of the |
class resented this and asked why they
We're expected to study Virgil lessons
in books containing full-page pictures
of these very statues If these statues
themselves We're unfit to be looked up
on. They said the statues had been pre-
scented in good faith, the class accepting
the universal verdict as to their artistic !
merits
But this did not end the controversies |
The matter was temporarily laid upon
the table by the board until it's semi
annual meeting last Monday. Then
Miss Blunt. president of the class. APP
peared before the board and urged the |
acceptance of the gift from the class as |
one wholly worthy OF acceptance and |
the statues as excellent reproductions
of two works of art of the very highest
class.
Director Ellis of the board, in reply |
read resolution favoring the rejection
of the statues. 1t was carried by a vote /
OF to 2, Messrs. Ellis. Fruden and I
Sneider supporting the resolution and
Merckle and Kellogg opposing it. Upon
the announcement of the vote the class
was instructed to remove the obnoxious
statues.
The class complied and the statues
were removed to Mr.. Merckle's drug
store, where all Charles City has flock
ed to see and admire them.
In the windows with the statues are
appeals to the citizens of the independ-
ent school district for action upon the
matter and judging from the sentiment
expressed by those who have seen the
statues the people are almost ten to
one in favor of replacing them in the
high school. 1t Is said that the matter
may result in a change In the manage
nent OF the schools.
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Rival MarbIaZ r.-.. -,