The morning journal-courier., 1908-01-24
THE BENNETT FOUNTAIN.

To Editor of The Journal Courier:
 The way matters stand at present there seems to be feeling that is quite general about the city that the new Bennett fountain, however beau tiful it may be in itself is utterly out of place in it's present surroundings. It would seem (and the fact has been pounded into our brains by artists from time immemoriaD that foun- tain, or a floor-mat, or anything else. cannot claim artistic merit unless it bears on its very face unmistakable pected to be put and unless 1t is so designed and constructed that 1t Is capable of satisfying this well-defined use, which is a real need, in the best way possible.
 When such public spirited and sin cere man as MT. Bennett was takes steps to present to the city such a costly gift as this fountain undoubt- edly is, 1t is like looking a gift horse in the mouth to criticize. But the Bennett fountain is not. from the true artistic standpoint. fountain at, all That Is, an unprimed visitor to this city would not recognize it instantly as unmistakably being a rountain. It was copied after an old tomb we are told but, however beautiful the tomb may have been architecturslly, 1t was certainly only beautiful as a tomb it could not be as beautiful in any modi- fled form as a fountain or a hitching- post
 Indeed from the true artistic stand point, we can better believe such an insignificant litt'c drinking place as our stster-city of Hartford has at the corner of her city hall square has more may not have cost a hundredth part of the sum that the Bennett memorial fountain did, but still 1t is, we claim, more artistic as fountain, since half glance shows what its true function Is.
 Then. too, it Is our contention that the Bennett fountain falls in the very thing that the old. dilapidated town pump did. Like the latter it makes use of the old, time worn. germ -dissem- mating. disease spreading, heathen custom of drinking cups Why those who planned the fountain did not think of more modern and unquestion- aDlX batter I1tllOuS IS ttypiu lluildil understanding The so-called pepper boxes" from the top of which the thirsty wayfarer sips from a little miniature stream. as if gurgles out, and with which the lipa cannot possibly | leave any disease germs behind them are far superior. Perhaps such a modern convenience would not have well well combined with tomb architecture of antediluvian nature, but still the public's health is of far greater i'm | nortance, NThe present cups on the fountain. we are told. are porcelain lined and germ proof srnce they wash off so easily. vet information is al hand for knowing that they have been subjected to such usage that it would be mere folly for the strongest-consti- tuttoned Italian laborers to drink from them.
 As matters stand at present it seem, that the general opinion of the city is one of regard for the generosity of tn, donor but of dislike for the fountain and where 1t stands at present IT the center of the new university cam. ms. so-called, between Woodbridg, hall and the dining hall. where i would be in congenial company as fa- as harmonious architecture goes. it i, nossible to conceive of the fountain ap bearing to good advantage. But al nresent. with the existing buildings a
 
 Chapel streets, it certainly does no look sl0.000 worth and that is putting it mildly.
 For now. the best and most expedient way out of the difficulty we suppose il to make the best of the situation. The situation can be made better. A few suggestions toward that end would naturally include the tearing down ot inc old town pump. Its lines are by m means as classic as rhe fountain: are even if they are more harmoni. ous with the general surrounding Structures. Besides it can he removed readily with little objection on the part of any and the new fountain can not well be taken away now Another suggestion would be to abolish or re- move the old sign-poss, which lends i but little beauty to the general land scape scheme with it's litter of publi, notices atop. IS they are at present. o two or three flaming yellow advertise ments of Dr So-and- d-so's corn cure And then the third suggestion woul, Jeff hare about the Bennett fountai in which in it's solitude may then lool more fittingly placed.
 AS we have said. it is like looking sift horse in the mouth to do it. but. oh how we could wish that the fountain were any one of a thousand othe more immediately necessary public i'm movements which would have stood il as good stead as lasting and substan tia1 monuments to the puhlic-spiritet nature of such a man as the late Mir Bennett