The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-08-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence


Art to the National museum. where it
is now on exhibition. This will be a
real boon to many, as the Corcoran
gallery is closed from the 1st of July
to the 1st of October, and the National
museum is open all the year.
An interesting Art Exhibit.
Rarely indeed is 50 interesting and
meritorious an exhibition of art to be
seen at 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
and 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
H. Holmes, the curator of the National
gallery, has superintended the arrange
ment. which is especially pleasing.
Grouping on the Screens.
The grouping on the screens is par
ticularly notable. On the first, facing
the doorway. Hugo Balln'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 Blakelocks 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
Wyants lovely "Housatonic Valley"
Blakelock's Canoe Builders" and
Paul Dougherty's coast scene.
Turning from this group is found an
other-no less engaging-a group in
which lnness' 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-
gress may see fit to appropriate Il suf-
1icicnt sum to erect n 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- Il few days ago when two inspect
ors began Il 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 Tie &C.
cupants will be considered. In case
every way steps will ut 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 he has de-
termined to wage, for one of the things
the inspectors will watch carefully will
be the disposition of garbage and the
storage of perishable produce. such as
fruits and vegetables. 1t is recognized
that garbage pals are breeding place
for flies and succor to rats unless
properly covered, and in working
through the street cleaning department
to have the garbage Of every home in
the national capital disposed OF il q
sanitary manner the health department
officials believe they are making Il
great fight against flies and rats. These
two perils are recognized by health Of
fcials, and this point of attack is be-
lieved to be one of the most vital.
May increase House Membership.
In the wake of Representative Nc
Calls measure for removing the
benches from the hall of the house
comes a plan for increasing the mem,
bership from 301-the present figure
to 425. The Mccall plan, resembling
somewhat the arrangement in the Brit
ish house of commons, having been
authorized, it is expected that the
change will have been put into effect
within a couple of years. Then the
old argument against increasing tht
membership of the house, for want OF
seating room, will be of no force, and
several states that would lose a mem
ber under the new census are alert tC
the possibilities for them with house
of 425 members.
Would Enlarge Electoral College.
Maine is one Of the states certain t.
be affected under the reapportionmen
oR dol