Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-11
London County Council Desig-
mating Historic Houses.
ART SOCIETY INTERESTED
Example Likely to Be Followed BY
<. People Of Irish Capital.
NUMEROUS LANDMARKS THERE
Bust by Donatello, Representing Sc.
John as Child, Sold by Lon
don Art Dealer.


Special Correspondence Of TIE Star
LONDON, April .. 1912
The iaudabie action OF the London
county council In placing memorial rAb-
lets on those houses within their juris-
diction which have had famous residents
IL one that is likely to be initiated in the
Irish capital. I md by returns issued
from the London headquarters OF the
council that over sixty tablets have been
erected since 1905. and the work stil goes
on systematically. Besides the tablets
put up by the council the Society OF Arts
had already placed thirty-four memorials
on houses OF literary. artistic or his
toricaI interest. SO that up TO date about
one hundred houses or buildings with
these associations have been marked rs
such within the last few years.
Few cities possess q greater number OF
historic houses than does Dublin. and
American visitors always ask about them:
evincing touching belief In the replies OF
local jarvies. The London authorities.
having satisfied themselves that they have
the right house. commemorate all famous
residents. whether they were writer's, art
fists. politicians, philanthropists, medical
men. scientists or musicians. Thus Jen-
ner and John Hunter are equally distin-
gtished with Charles Lamb or John How
ard. And with the remarkable roll OF
names OF great Irishmen to draw upon.
many OF whom were born. lived and died
in Dublin. there need be no lack OF sub
jects.
Many Houses Disappear.
In fact. so little has been done that the
choice promises to be bewildering. Some
OF the interesting houses have disappear
ed-that in which Samuel Lover was born
Is now replaced by the shop Of Messrs.
Otzmann In Grafton street: Charles Law
er's birthplace In Amiens street has long
since been pulled down. and the house I'm
Sackvine street In which Shelley lived
and distributed his pamphlets 10 now OBJ
liberated by the A. b. c. restaurant. But.
more than In most cities. old houses have
q tendency to live on In Dublin. and there
remains an enormous number OF houses
which should have some public recogni-
ton Of the fact that they are Of historic
interest.
So far as I am aware, the only houses
which hear a tablet OF the kind indicated
are those in which r. b. Sheridan was
born. the birthplace OF Thomas Moore.
that OF Michael ". Balfe, the composer.
and that occupied BY Sir William Rowan
Hamilton. In Dominick street. There are
one or two other houses associated with
1708 also marked In and about Thomas
street, but no one not blessed with keen
vision can discover the fact. The curious
traveller in Dublin will look In vain for
anything 20 relieve the monotony OF the
long lines Of houses In the principal
streets. The wanderer In London ana
Paris who seeks the famous quarters OF
those cities will be frequently reminded
that he treads historic ground. Tablets
will recall to him a name which Ia ia
miliar, and. in some cases. dear. and his
walk will be doubly interesting TO him.
rVn Ia. MArr- an
Square alone which should be marked az
once. and the same may be said OF Mount
JOY Square and Stephens Green.
Committee to Prepare Last.
The National Literary Society 10 about
to appoint a small committee to prepare .
list Of houses suitable for tablets ana
issue this list, with an appeal for funds
for the purpose indicated. 1t 10 little
short Of q scandal that the houses In
which Butt. Parnell, OConnell. Davis.
ODonovan. Mangan. O'Curry. Ferguson
and so many others uhe mere list would
some portion of their existence are not
publicly distinguished In any way. !
have given only modern names IL would
be easy to 60 further back to Burke.
Grattan, currsn. Tone. Em n ana the
1t would not be difiicult to begin the
work. Perhaps some public spirited indi-
viduals would agree TO be responsible TOT
the tablets OF those who appeal particu-
larry to them and no doubt the wealthy
Irish-Americans would help. A few hum
dred pounds would do ali that 10 needed.
Possibly some wealthy person would ike
to undertake the whole cost. II would Do
q good civic and national enterprise.
than the erecting OF a memorial to any
one illustrious parsonage. however well
earned. 1t is, perhaps. too optimistic TO
expect that the owners OF these historic
houses would enhance the value and In
terest of their property by bearing the
cost OF the COMMUNICATION. but they
might, at least, contribute something to-
ward It. Many English. American and
other visitors to Dublin, to whom such
houses have been pointed out. have been
visibly interested and have wondered that
no one has thought IL worth while 10
carry out . systematic work or memorial
izing the many great Irtshmen whose
regulations. at least. are worldwide.
OF Interest to Connoisseurs.
A bust Of St. John as . child. by Dona-
tello, which was sold at Sotheby's yester-
among connoisseurs. Busts attributed to
Donateilo are by no means uncommon in
the salesroom. but in recent times there is
no example Of one having stood the or
deal OF critics and dealers. There 10.
however. little doubt OF the lovely little
terra-cotta piece which was sold for the
moderate price Of ESQ. Its history would
be incredible II II were not for the many
previous instances where masterpieces In
English parish churches were allowed TO
pass into other hands or to fall to pieces
the negligence and ignorance OF
our church authorities. The bust Is SAID
to have been brought to England by Sir
Richard Grenville OF the Revenge, and II
stood over q tablet above the pew OF the
Buck family In Bideford Church until the
unhappy restoration Of the church In
1883, when II passed into the hands Of
the builder and was sold by his creditors
In 1877, since when II has been in the pos
session OF the family Of the late owner.
I was told by q prominent authority
the very interesting news that this bust IL
q pair to the terra-cotta bust