The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-19
VARIED VIEWS OF CITY ART.
Hall Of Records had. the New High School
Worth All IL Cost.

worm All ~ 0ct.
The Municipal Art Society gave its first
dinner of the season last night in the old
Samuel j. Tilden mansion at IS Gramercy
Park, which has been made over into a
clubhouse for the society, and is a general
home for most Of the art associations OF
the city. Sculptors, painters, politicians,
all had something to say on the general
topic. Greater New Hork-Its Future
Possibilities
The artists and guests we're served at
tables by trim young Mattresses in neat
linen caps and old Dutch dresses. The
walls of the dining room Of the club were
hung with paintings, most OF them the
work Of younger American artists.
Most Of the speakers talked about the
necessity for educating the public in art
SO that a public taste might be created
for beautiful public buildings. Comp
troller Metz gave his idea Of what New York
will be twenty-five years from now. Frederic
Crow ninshield, the artist, roasted the new
Hall of Records and suggested that a course
of lectures with slides would be useful
in the education OF the public. Charl Is
Robinson Lamb, president OF the Municipal
Art Society, was t~oaStmasteF.
Spencer Trask, president OF the National
Arts Club, said that the society seeks the
cooperation of artists, painters, sculptors
and workers in glass in order to carry out
Inc DuT DOHG OA lS EAiFOtAlCNe W BIONlOC
adequate sculptural and pictorial decora-
tions for the public buildings and parks in
the city of New York, and to promote in
every way the beautifying Of its streets and
public places.
John Cotton Dana, public librarian OF
Newark, was introduced ~as one who would
speak for the coming Borough Of Newark. F."
Mr.. Dana told what 10 being done by Newark
to beautify itself and predicted that in
time the Jersey cities across the river will
l. .u--Is-w vxskh EnaoNar Nan VArL aINUr
artistic lines.
President Lamb introduced Comptroller
Herman A. Metz az the man from Brooklyn,
saying that it is the fate of most Brooylyn-
ties to become Comptroller. Mr.. Metz
promptly denied hat he was born in Brook
Ign. claiming Newark as his birthplace.
Unless New York wakes up to the fact
that il has a transportation problem on
its hands We will all be going TO Newark
or Jersey" said Mr.. Metz. He talked
as an example of the usefulness Of art
In furnishing inspiration to children that
come from ugly homes and he said he
thought the 81 $50, 900 hat the school cost
was well spent.
al used TO be opposed to fancy decora-
tions," said Mr.. Metz, but | la got over
that. | think money spent that way is we'll
spent" He described what the grade cross
ing commission il doing in Brooklyn to
beautify railroad crossings, remarked that
the dDDIOdCh ~ Nbc w hAD
Brooklyn side was perhaps the most abom-
Unable object in the world. and then gave
his idea of what New York is 10 be like in
the future.
Not much can be done 10 b~eautify
Manhattan" said Mr.. Metz. ~The time is
coming when there will he no homes in Man
haitian below Ffty-ninth street. Twenty
Ave yenrs from now Brooklyn and The
Bronx will furnish the homes. Manhattan
will be all business. Queens will be all
used IN by factories. This city then will
be the most beautiful city in the world"
Frederic CTowninshield, president of the
Fine Arts Federation. was ~roduc as
-the man who made Boston beautiful" He
said that the society has a great work before
il in educating the public. Whatever is
done in the way of Improvement must be
done artistically," said MIR. Crowninshield.
Courses Of lectures, with slides showing
the most beautiful bridges and public
buildings, best schools and parkwavs would
be helpful in educating the public taste.
OF the new Hall of Records, Mr.. Crownin
shield said:
aThe story of the Hall Of Records il a
wretched, miserable story. You have spent
81. 900, 900 and what have you got for ig
With a municipal art commission some good
would have beer Accommodated
Mr.. Crowninshield thought that the
Government should be a patron Of the arts
in this country. mo that we want Gov
eminent art " he said, -far from il; But a
ernments give commissions to artists to
decorate public buildings, even the smallest
OF them, and the money is we'll spent. We
have a right to ask our Government to do
the same thing" Also, he thought there
ought to be laws preventing a man from
indnl0ing in barbarous tastes.
The day will come he said, when a
man will not be allowed to ruin the appear
ance of a whole block by painting his house
a dead white and his blinds green. The
- m - -A,n .n ahaH nab NJ atnF
candidates for Assembly and Board OF
Aldermen, What are your ideas about art?'
and II they don't answer satisfactorily they
won't get elected