Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-04
HISTORICAL MONUMENTS.
Sentiment In England Growing 70,
Preservation Of Landmarks.

From the London Spectator.
The general meeting last week of the
National Trust for Places Of Historic In
terest or Natural Beauty introduced
new era in our attempts to save our most
precious possessions from ourselves. The
efforts CT the trust used to be private;
henceforth they Will be national. For
that is the meaning of the change in the
constitution of the trust which was ef-
fected in the last session Of parliament.
The trust was formed in 1906. and was
placed under the companies acts in 1904.
but it still represented only the enlighten-
ed and magnanimous labors Of unoff1cial
persons. Last session, however. It was
toned by parliament. and new powers
were vested in it which enable it to ac-
quire lands and buildings by purchase or
gift and to hold them without license in
mortmain.
1t can now maintain and manage lands
as open spaces and buildings as places
Of resort or instruction. and may accept
property in trust for any public pur-
pose The government of the trust is to
be composed Of about fifty persons, nomi-
mated by various artistic and scienYifie
bodies and by the vice chancellors or sen.
dlCS VI Lie oiueT universities. M6nfOefSnlT
is open to subscribers and donors and tC
those who forward its objects All this Is a
considerable step. but we shall not be
satisfied till the state can prevent private
owners from destroying historical monu-
ments which by virtue of their associa-
tons are really the property of the whole
nation. Powers Of compulsory purchase
are necessary; it Is inconce.vable that
they would be abused under the proper
RESTRICTIONS, and in countries where they
exist there has never been even a sug-
gestfon that they have been abused
england has long been behind other
countries in preserving her treasures.
ihere Is hardly comparison with the
laws OF the most civilized countries of
europe which lis not to our disadvantage
Inc care OF a nation for the relics which.
like milestones. mark its progress alons
the road of art, religion and constitutional
liberty ought to be in direct proport on to
Its civilization Yet in England II no.
toriously has not been 80. We remember
within recent years the destruction of
the Edwardian enceinte of the old castle
at Berwick-on-Tweed because the sturdy
"eommon-sense" of railway sha rehoIders
or trectors would not tolerate the deyia-
ton of Their line from its direct course
for the sake Of sonnes old stones.
Ihen there was the demolition of the
Old nthe-barn at PETERBOROUGH, and the
trade guild. which owns the Piummer
tower at Newcastle Tyne. actually
proposed that the town council should
t nuy the tower IN order to carry out an
Improvement. We can, understand
that the total disappearance of many
buildings would be an Improvement hut
we do not appreciate the word as anplied
to proposal for abolishins the Plummer
tower: Whitstft Hospital at Croydon.
100. did not easily escape destruction
These are only examples at hazard of
vandalism which ought never to have
been allowed. or of projects which ought
never Ito have been put forward. Tbe
fnndamentai difference between foreign
give the state the power of comnu,sory
appropriation.