Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-08-14
WASHINGTON LETTER
lspeelsI correapondence.l


removed from the Corcurun Gallery NJ
Art TO the National museum, where II
Ia now on exhibition. This Will bc n
real boon TO many. M the Corcornn
gallery Is closed from the lat of July
10 the list of October, aud the National
museum is open all the year,
An interesting Art Exhibit.
Rarely indeed In so interesting and
meritorlous nm exhibition of art to be
seen ut this season as Will now be
found In the improvised picture gal
lery at the National museum. The
paintings comprised In the Evans col
lection never appeared at better ad-
vantage, and their charm is enhanced
by being shown IN conjunction with
the collections of textiles. laces. worries
aud enamels set forth In the same hall
The pictures have been hung on the
south and west walls and on the three
large screens which literally divide the
hall into four small galleries. William
ii. Holmes. the curator OF the National
gallery. has superlntended the arrange
ment, which is especially pleasing.
Grouping on the Screens.
The grouping on the screens Is par.
tlcuarly notable. On the hrst, facing
the doorway. Hugo Ballln's great dec
orative canvas, "The European Sybil."
is given the place OF honor. on either
side of which landscapes by Henry
Ranger have been hung
On the opposite side of this same
screen Blakelock's mastery painting,
sunset. Navarro Ridge" which has
the warmth and richness of Gainsbor-
ough's landscapes, Is given chief prom
inence. but hung on the second line
above two small canvases by the same
painter.
To the right are hung Winslow
Homer's painting of the Maine coast,
which he considers his masterpiece,
and landscapes. fresh In color and at
the same time toneful. by Henry Col
den Dearth and william Lathrop.
while to the left are seen Alexander
Wyant's lovely "Housatonic Valley"
Blakelocl's Canoe Builders" aud
Paul Dougherty's coast scene.
Turning from this group Is found an
other-no less engaging-a group in
which Inness picture. SHUTDOWN"
centers the interest. James Henry Mo-
ser's painting, Mount Mcintyre" Is
included in this group
Arrangement Temporary.
1t is not intended that the present
arrangement shall be permanent. Pos
sibly when the new museum building
is completed other provision for the
National gallery collections can be
made-and some day perchance con-
10 m INF
ficient sum to erect a gallery worthy
Of the nation. In the meantime, how
ever. the collections are being utilized
and so placed that to the public they
must yield the maximum profit.
Fight For Cleanliness.
One of the most important steps, In
the opinion of Health Officer Wood
ward. for improving the sanitary con.
ditiOns of the national capital was tax.
en- a few days ago when two inspect
ors began house to house inspection
to include every house In the District.
The cleanliness crusade will be most
thorough, and every feature of every
house relating to the health of the oc-
cupants will be considered. In case
conditions are not found sanitary in
every way steps will at once be inau-
gurated to have them remedied.
Crusade Against Rats and Flies.
This house to house inspection,
Health Officer Woodward believes, will
play an important part In the crusade
against rats and flies which lie has de.
termined to wage, for one of the things
the inspectors will watch carefully will!
be the disposition of garbage and thu
storage of perishable produce. such as
fruits and vegetables. 1t is recognized
that garbage pals are "A breeding place.
for flies and succor to rats unless
properly covered. and In working
through the street cleaningsdepartment
to have the garbage of every home In
the na tional capital disposed of In
sanitary manner the health department.
officials believe they are making
great fight against flies and rats. These
two peris are recognized by health Of
ficials. and this point of attack ls be.
lieved to be one of the most vital.
May Increase House Membership.
In the wake of Representative Nc
Calls measure for removing tbs
benches from the hall Of the bousa
comes a plan for increasing the mem
bership from 391-the present figure
to 425 The Mccall plan. resembling
somewhat the arrangement in the Brit
ish house of commons, having beer
authorized, It is expected that tn,
change will have been put into effect
within a couple of years. Then thu
old argument against increasing thu
membership of the house. for want Of
seating room, will be of no force. and
several states that would lose a mem
Der under the new census are alert Il
the possibilities for them with hous'
of 425 members.
Would Enlarge Electoral College.
Maine is one of the states certain tc
be affected under the reapportionment
OF congressional districts. Her dele
CATION had hard fight after the last
census to obtain sufficient increase
of the membership SO that Maine coulo
still have four. The new scheme al
ready being discussed by representa-
tives of states where 1t is expected the
population has grown slowly has pro
crossed so that groundwork Of an or
ganization to advance legislation fol