The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-21
E,STIiETIlISM.


Opposition 10 the erection OF several penal iu-
stitutions for the Incarceration of desperate and
vicious criminals from the city of Washington,
within a stones throw OF Mount Vernon, uu'
aoabtedly viii not. and should not, be with.
drawn because the Commission OF Fine Arts
has reported that 1t sees no esthetic ground on
which to base objection.
The honorable members of the commission
wax welEnigh sacrilegously facetious in the
comment that the erection Of the proposed re
rormatories will not disturb the peaceful Sc
.lusion Of the spot"
The members Of the commission are probably
sstimable gentlemen, with high sense and APP
probation of the esthvtic the beautiful and the
artistic II is possible that nowhere in this
broad land could there he found a more admi-
rably equipped and qualified set OF men to judge
the virtues ami merits of ststaarH, paintings
and municipal landscaping and park systems
When ii down TO a question Of deciding
whether acts and operations Observatory
and repugnant, the commission has shown ad
mirable for it's being excused from ser
vice and passing Judgment.
Estheticlsm is not so much involved In the
opposition to the placing of these criminal ten
ements near the home and tomb Of the Father
Of our Country as is patriotism. delicacy. and
the fitness of things, A commission reasoning
from an esthetie viewpoint and premise must
Of necessity reach false conclusion AS to the
good or evil done the hallowed and revered
section in which the proud estate of Mount Yer
non lies. The question involved is not whether
the proposed corrective institutions add to the
beauty Of the locality or mar it. but whether
The proper respect. thought and consideration
would be manifested by the people OF the nation
toward the creator of the nation in the selec-
ton OF this section. which should be held
sacred trust. from among all sections of the
land for their establishment. more striking
and shocking incongruty than that of wishing
% house felons who have shown their nnhtness
70 enjoy liberty near the spot where reposes
all that Is mortal of him who led the greatest
battle for freedom and liberty would be difficult
% conceive.
Aside from the extreme Appropriateness
and lack of fine sense of delioacy and patriot
SIN manifested by those who favor the construc-
ion OF the repulsiye and repugnant institutions
near where dwelt and died the nations greatest
patriot and leader, the Mount Vernon Ladies'
Association should he given some consideration
in this matter, These noble and patriotic
men made constant appeal to Congress to pur-
chase the home and tomb OF Washington, and
deaf ear was turned toward them. They con
tributed and collected the money with which
the estate was bought and they hold title to it.
Sad but true, the nation which Washington
coined out of English colonies owns not an inch
of the estate or splinter OF the house. For
years and years these patriotic have
preserved Mount Vernon it maintained
during Washingtons life and kept the spot
locality where they haye worshipped is to be
desecrated with penal institutions.
The Virginia delegation in Congress and
other senators aud congressman have been
aroused by the women. who agree with the
Commission OF Fine Arts that the penal insti-
tutions nor anything else could disturb the
peaceful seclusion of the spot" but who protest.
on patriotic and other more lofty grounds than
mere estheteism. 1t is to be hoped that the
Virginia solons will make strong and unre
hitting fight in behalf OF these women. TO whom
the nation should be indebted and that In the
ultimate some other spot will have to be select
ed for the punishment and reformation Of the
evil-doers OF the seat Of government