New-York tribune., 1909-09-25
CHARLES T.. MKIM.
A Tribute from HIS FellosU Artist,
John La Fargo.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sr' by one OF those well known but apparently
,.s au MYSTERIOUS wakenings of thought upon
reiatlons with people have cared for was not
as1onished when the morning newsnaDar tol5 me AZ
ue ueaeh Oh Slr. McKim had spent the night
thinAlns about him and recalling the MANY incl
uenSs OA our long acquaintance. 1 am the older
nan, La ana knew Mr. McESim only since 1915. or so;
Out knew him in many ways First nersonaIiv
as promising youth returned fror, Poris ana
'eholhs 10 take up architecture here with a most
speeiai variety of interest and accomplishment
% was largely In Newport. where had even
nc peasuFe OK giving him drawing lessons AT
tnat t'ne the star Of the great Richardson o,,r
friend, was in the ascendant Mr. AroETIr, - -
uned TO join Mr. Richardson's illustrious u,,D1 or
rather, assistant Mr.. Stanford White in replacing
- i usohs architecture by the new omen
SPACES Whlen we associate with these names
@ ' 4"chih was beginning; marks OF his work
were already In Newport, and an evident caraar
was oerore him. 1t was then that knav, bir, voa
ItiiAa'ely and learned TO appreciate this verv SEN
nature sensitive. but courageous to the edge
rFiVa'e matters drove him abroad. where be was
oo,'r.. VI ess OF sick man. but Interested. OF
SOuise' Id study and study OF variations but not
nus accustomed ones There he had the pIsa.1,ra ~
s.eihs great deal Of Mr.. Saint-eaudens with
noin, , 4et US say. a lifelong friendship ens,ed a
-.-, p VI 'he most absolute appreciation. Every
-, cilalacteFistic Of Mr.. MeKim was known
III
~. Hose amusement as well as admiration followed
his friend TO the last 0"eN
s0 Ohly one point OF my connection al that
'ine OUT 10 is historically important Mr. McE,.,
~,,so, ''t were trying TO persuade the museum 10
purchase casts OF the facade OF the oIo,ta -
a. ~ 1iOphiine at Aries. The monks wished to sell
u we al know the deviIish habit of the ETa1oh
80. ana It's architects-the repalrfn1 ana
"'ou!yihg OK the works Of the past-so that ar
S,ca.as 80 any arrest Of this destruction as In
NJ eg.,. was an absolute boon the whole OF art
-hr "ehin went into this with the COURAGE 80
enthusiasm OF which we know anu
~ s return 70 America IN better health brouobt
80 'I'O the relations OF friendship and Later h1,st
SS' win the names with which we are far,,Iisr
~ 80 anu MI White. So near a balance was
Is Ueeis'oh that Mr.. White came 70 me 20 aslr
"hat thought OF his possible choice % o,,tJ,e 0'
U-u "IH' and am proud of it TODAY that bs
"Oulu make an excellent painter or artist 20 -
u I,I Out that he had gone through with Mr. Rich
a., an extraordinarily severe training Of learn
aug and or practice. Was Il not worth v-biIa Loa,
ING this great treasure Of practiceq
Once then We know our great friends car.o- -
1"S Vi US know also how charming his personaIit,,
oeu IN MS zeal 10 do beautiful things not merely
- e cAii works OF art but such a thing as the
CARRYING out OF the American Academy IN Por,o
IN which for many years had the nIeas,-a - -
Soclatloh with him and OF following dav nv dav- ba
eou'@seous perseverance. which allowed him 20
place this monument on a final pedestal
@NAA etiS caiHe 20 me In the night recall oF
80 much OF beautiful artistic interest spread over
any subject ''
close with the memorial Of the sweetness Of the
mans mar mind I am glad that these thoughts were
with me az the time OF his death
JOHN LA FARCE
2. Sine interest which at any moment was
called up in M McEIim's mind is brought IN me
Oy this small fact-a beginning OF great res,lIts
Suddenly one night the all powerf,I1 Daniel Pr,
nam dropped into the Century from Chicago. anx-
'ous 10 persuade Mr. MeKiTn whom he could not
wake or find We called on Mr. CadwaIader. who
could help. and Mr.. McKim was persuaded 10 listen
20 the plan OF laying out Washington according 10
the ancient schemes. and also evidently new ones to
come There II was. And almost the next dav the
whole party went down to take hold of the future
The painter myself. dropped out later, because
painters come in afterward in the modern meth
DDS In the ancient ways they were called upon
to make great cities. such cities as Florence but IL
was beautiful thing to do. and the memory Of this
with Mr. Burnham and our dear Saint -Gaudens re-
mains.
New York. Sept 22 1909