New-York tribune., 1911-04-16
LONDON MEMORIALS
,,vosion of St. JameS'S-The
Professional Way.

VAL" ,,,oruments. Trafalgar Square
fitting ground for sculptors and
"' .,s erom the abandonment of the
-, News to the completion OF the
~ Monument and the Improvement
- Professional Road from Bucking-
palace 10 the Admiralty Archway
.xcited pickering and strife AZ every
rhc bronze Victory surmountng
.,i,n,n OF the National Memorial 10
Victoria has emerged from the
Nnldi3g. and before long the colossal
- with the ahegoriCal figures OF
- Justice and Motherhood will be
..io i'm the centre Of the colonnade.
,,rimonious critics have not waited for
=. rnveiling OF this costly work before
.,aching Mr Aston Webb and Mr.
- FOR wasting the grandest oppor-
.,- since Trafalga Square for en-
,,tshina .he centre of the metropolis
clio same time they are emptying
.,r ouivers in sending out shower OF
...,,r,ed darts and shafts Of satire
.,,s, the projected memorial To King
Edward
-,.o Mansion House scheme adopted by
,raYential committee provides for a
-..o ,f King Edward in Garter robes
-, ,,o Mall opposite Marlborough House.
y. ,s -o ho q signed by the Australian
..o~ 1lr Birtram MacKenna.. with
...,.so~, figures Of Peace and group
.-..-ior tro downfall of War and
c.-f-. NJ Edwin Lutyens will he asso-
,.,.e5 rith him In the landscape or ar
....s,,ural treatment. which is To in
,5. tho substitution of stone bridge
.h rcdaiNonS for the suspension
,-,4c, the construction Of d broad path
az, DIRECTLY across 81. Jamcss Park and
80 conversion Of the space between the
-.,,o-ial and the bridge into paved
.,-~sce with illustrating. pedestals and
store seats.
rbssa proposals have brought storm
am, tre heads Of the committee. No
-.s.c,iers nave been raised either 70 the
ssoi,a OFF che sculptor or - the employ
M, off accessory figures. and sllght
.,r,.s has been laid upon the inexpe-
5.,r-,. of having second memorial fifty
.,st high eo close at hand as 10 chal-
49,. .ar7u7rieon with the colossal Vic
r... monument at the head of the Mall
r.,H.. outcries in the press and vehe-
,..rr protests in Parliament are directed
-...r., fh. INVASION of the park at one
fits most picturesque points. the sacrl-
Go ~ planes. rop!ars and other trees
,,a ,aa su1sr.tution of arid levels OF as
,t.r. bordared with marble halustradsS
.- stretches or lawn. winding path ana
-.... ..,-t. The agitation is So
..r,,,f.lr.. -ns- the Official plan Will have
70 ho modified
- Tanes's Park was originally reach
~ marsh lands al low level. with fe"
s.srnan- ponds Henry VII inclosed
sho,. six-v-eight acres with wall. IL
,ras rftla more than common in grass
,r+1 the reign of Charles II. Wnen the
,,,5e y,i-l, the exception Of Rosamund :.
ver, run together into an artificial canal
the footpaths broadened into grave
walks trees planted systematically and
6acovs for water fowl and paddocks FOR
deer constructed. lie N0tre French
architect WAS employed in carrying OUT
.bese improvements; and when George
". AZ later day. undertook additional
embellishments. Nash. who knew more
shou- architecture than he did about
landscape gardening was his chief ad-
wiser
"T-urb's" cynical recommendalon tnat
II should be made criminal offence 10
employ an architect in q London PARK
and that anv designer preparing plan
for tmuroving St James's should be
promptly hanged. is not so logical as II Is
humorous. John Nash had more TO DO
with LAYING out and replanting 81
James's and Regents parks in rneir
present form than anybody else. lie dld
rot construct the present bridge but an
ea-u.r one. surmoUnted by a Chinese
raea3a. but the sylvan beauty ana
picturesque charm Of the park are
largely due to his designs and advice
tn. SUSPENSION bridge was erected half
century ago by Rendei and decorated by
Vrat,. after the lakes had been cleared
and reduced to common level
Directors to the proposed memorial
ma have "a sincere affection for the
present bridge on account Of the guils
AMI water fowl and the dreamy view OF
rno whitehall structures and the Ma
uora Liberal Club. but they can hardly
deny thar a low. arched stone bridge VIII
be- more beautiful and viii form more
appropriate background for the statue.
What exoites acrid criticism is the archi-
tscts idea Of duplicating Trafalgar
SqGare ODD a small scale and setting IN.
neW monument on the edge Of a spacious
terrace with balustrade, ornamental
pedesta and stone benches-prospect
refugees for nurse maids and tramps.
The fountains and lions may be left out,
blt the general effect of the stately
square with its asphalt waste. Will be
Initiated. N0t unnaturally objectors pro-
iest with great force against the sacri-
fee Of a charming bit OF landscape
which would 0e "a more beautiful setting
ior statue 0n the outward fringe Of
park.
1ner argument can be effectively en-
forced by reference 20 Eleanor's Cross
ID the forecourt of Charing Cross sta
u.n /, is a quaint and lovely Gothic
memorial with eight crowned statues
ard as many kneeling angels with wings
oltspread and hands clasped in prayer.
With The stone and iron barriers. the
money changers boxes. the forecourt