The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-25
THAT HORROR OF A CITY RUG.
MARTY KEESE WILL BE DUMMED
IF IT'S REAL COLONIAL,
And He was Janitor Of the City Han
In George Washington's Time Or
sooner Of. Later-Rug Slightly Recoce
Mcsquin, and Hast-du-Gesehenisch

sooner or LAter-hug slightly H0c0cO
Mcsquin, and Hast-fu-G eseh enisch.
1t was rumored persistently yesterday
thct certain Of the city officials would try
to get the Board Of Aldermen to pass a
resolution giving the city a rug architect
Marty Reese, the janitor Of the City Hall.
Is authority for the assertion that New York
moods one. 1t is understood, however, that
any such resolution will be opposed by
Borough President Cantor. He thinks that
William M. Aiken. who got the job Of con-
suting architect for the Borough Of Man
haitian at 5000 a year last May. il good
enough TO design rugs.
On the authority Of one OF the Mayors
assist ants 1t is asserted that Mr.. Aiken
stands sponsor for the design for q rug that
was turned down the other day by the mu-
nicipal Art Commission. This rug was to
grace the floor Of the reception room Of the
Mayors redeoorated Office.
Some time ago the Mayor. or some OF his
friends, decided that the reception room
wasn't up to the standard that ought to be
set by city which isn't what 1t was twenty
years ago. It was thereupon decided 20
make the room classically Colonial. Ac-
cordingly tho wall decorat ions were hacked
down and the room Is now Colonial. The
Mayors secretary said yesterday:
1t used to look like Sixth avenue res
taurant. and now it's a real Colonial room
such as George Washington might have
had"
The people In Borough President Cantor's
Office who have charge Of the city's Offices
and their fittings decided that to leave a
highly polished hardwood floor uncovered
would not only make the room too severe
in aspect. but too slippery in prospect
Then somebody whose name has not been
made public went ahead and submitted
TO the Art Commission design for a rug
The design was on view yesterday at the
City Hall az Exhibits "a A and 20 B..
II plots out a color scheme which Marty
mony was janitor OF the City Hall when
George Washington became President, says
is not Colonial-at least in his opinion.
The body of the rug is yellow. In the
coat-of-arms Of the city. surmounted by an
eigle fdppdnt. Ticking f.e' from a blue
hemisphere with his tail. The coat-of-
arms Is not that used nowadays.
to the heraldry experts at the City Hall, Is
said 10 be Dutch In motif containing two
brown casks, two squirrels and windmill
At the left stands figure said to be a
sailor. He has faxen hair. brilliant
crimson bowler hat, a blue cutaway coat,
tight brown trousers and blue shoes In his
right hand there Is pendent a string with
something on the end Of it. Marty Keese's
heraldry inspector thought at first that
the figure represented boy spinning top,
but he said yesterday that il was really q
sailor about TO heave the log or, maybe,
Mark Twain threading the MISSISSIPPI.
At the right there Is an Indian with red
feathers on his head. red feathers around
his loins and bow in his left hand. Both
figures stand on a crimson scroll.
OF this part OF the rug design q committee
OF the Art Commission has said:
Aside from the improperly Of placing
the city's oat-of-arms on the floor TO be
tramped on, the enlargement Of the rug
design to a scale that would make the two
human figures some three and a half feet
in height, would result in an artistic horror
unless, indeed, both In tho design and
srsoutien the highest skill were en-
The border Of the rug Is a symphony
In green, blue and brown, the objects being |
fasoes. with axes, wreaths and garlands |
and a Dutch windmill in every corner |
The Art Commission on this point says that |
the designs would be perfectly proper for |
wall decorations, but are out Of place on the |
floor. Besides, as, unlees the observer |
stood on the window sill. he would be COM |
PEELED TO see the border figures upside |
down. |
President Cantor said yesterday that the |
rug was a piece OF routine business with |
which he wasn't acquainted. William NJ |
Aiken. the consulting architect for the |
Borough Of Manhattan. was not visible.
IL was said that the reception room /
might be adorned now with q Teady-to-
wear rug OF harmonious color.