The Yale expositor., 1912-04-04
No More Bad Art to Be Allowed
in Washington City.
MALL is CENTER OF SCHEME
Spring Has Come to the Potomac, and
Birds, Trees and Flower Beds Are
Beautifying the PARKS
and Streets.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

|
ed vigorously. When the Lincoln me-
mortal dispute is ended other matters
less controversial in nature will be
taken up and decision made. 1t is not
yet definitely decided just what form
the memorial to Abraham Lincoln Will
take, but the chances favor the erec-
ton Of some lasting stone memorial
near the Potomac river, virtually at
the head of what is called The Mall.
This Mall, by the way is beau
tiful place. Eventually it will extend
from a point on the river opposite
Georgetown straight through TO the
capitol. 1t has a wide extent today,
unbroken except by the Washington
monument, some government buildings
and by great trees. Before long, 1t is
the firm belief Of men charged with
the beautifying of the city, that all the
business buildings on the south side or
Pennsylvania avenue will be removed
and that there will be one great gov
ernment park extending from the ave-
nue. to the river and from the capitol
to the Lincoln memorial.
This is spring in Washington. 1t was
late spring, but 1t came finally, and
with it on its march up the Potomac
came the birds from the south, who in
stantly took up temporary, and in some
cases, permanent, residence in Rock
Creek park. This beautiful park will
enter into the scheme OF the compre-
hensive beautifying scheme Of the city.
Eventually there will be a broad park
belt, virtually surrounding the capitol
Of the nation. When it is understood
that in the city itself there are score
or more of small parks, and that every
avenue and nearly every street has its
! double line of shade trees, some ade-
quate idea can be obtained of the
eventual beauty of this Potomac city.
No More Monstrosity Monuments.
Every effort will be made TO prevent
| the erection in Washington of any
more "monstrosity monuments" Some
! Of the public memorials erected here
in honor Of men dead and gone are
al honor neither to the sculptors, to
| he people, nor to the men whose deeds
hey are supposed to commemorate
Almost anything in the old days in the
way of a monument used to pass the
| censors of art. Today 1t is virtually
| impossible to get anything by the crit
les except that which is eminently
worthy, for the board of approval is
composed Of men who know excellence
when they meet it.
Volumes have been written about
he "art" Of Statuary Hall in the cap
,tol. 1t is probable that all the mar
ole and bronze memorials there are
there to stay, for it would be regard
ed perhaps as an insult to the legis-
ators of the states which voted these
memorials to suggest that they be
taken out and replaced by others
Nature will beautify Washington in
few days. No statuary is needed here
o make the city beautiful in late March
and all Of April, May and June. The
:rees on the avenues largely are flow-
er bearing. 1t may be said that all
trees blossom, but those in the main
N Washington are of a kind which
bear blossoms of size and fragrance.
The small parks from now on will
De flower beds with constant success
sion of changes of coverlids. The
crocuses come, then the hyacinths,
then the tulips, and then the flowers
Of midsummer in constant change and
always in profusion.
Two Bold Senators.
When Gen. Winfield Scott Han
cock as a presidential candidate
said "the tariff is a local issue"
h. hof 81
to be true, although, as everybody
knows, he was laughed at at the time
| for his lack of appreciation of the
real facts in the case" There are
other local issues besides the tariff
and chief among them is the matter
of public buildings for the cities,
| towns and villages of the country.
This matter just now is engaging the
| attention of the United States SEN
ate, although in haste let it be said
that the senate is in no wise anxious
| to have the subject pressed upon 1t.
A few days ago Senators Lea and
| Kenyon, one Democrat and the other
Republican, acting together, asked
| for reconsideration of bills which had
| been presented by other senators for
| the erection of public buildings in two
or three small towns in the west
| The action Of these two senators was
bold and unprecedented, for be II
known that the senators by agreement
in the past have not been in the habit
OF interfering with one another's at
tempts to secure fine postofiices, fine
| federal court buildings and fine GUS
toms houses. for the towns OF their
home states.
BY sort of a joint agreement the
senate has allowed its members to do
pretty much as they chose in the pub
lie building appropriation matter, the
thought being apparently, "If l don't
| interfere with another senator, the
other senator won't interfere with me
when want something Of like kind
| done"
Public buildings bills are no re-
specters of parties. Whether the Re-
publicans or the Democrats are in