The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-30
MANDNY GUEST OF
ARCHITECTS LEAGUE
MEDAL Is PRESENTED

George McAneny attained furthest
south last night In his round Of almost
nightly dinners given by friends who re-
greet his forthcoming departure from the
city administration. The Architectural
League had him AZ It's guest Of honor at
India House. Hanover Square. For the
league Grosvenor Atterbury presented
him with a bronse medal designed by
Daniel Chester French and inscribed:
ITO George McAneny In recognition
Of his helpful interest In architecture
and the allied arts"
The dinner and a reception In the
afternoon at City Hail sisnaiiised the
completion Of the Mayors reception
room, the last step-unless the Alder
manic chamber is included in the pro-
gramme-in the restoration Of h IN
terror of City Hall TO Its original Colonial
character, a work due largely TO the
efforts Of the retiring President Of the
Board Of Aldermen. The entire building
was thrown open to visiting painters
scuiptors and architects yesterday, n
Mayor Mitchell made a speech telling OF
his pride in the saving of'City Hall from
the Philistines.
For all your services to the arts we
represent we can give. o to-night no
great honor or reward" Mr.. Atterbury
said at India House. THAT must come
when in future days you see the towers
and domes rising above the edince OF
civic beauty whose foundations you
have SO quietly. patiently. yet misht'iy'
helped to lay.
but working with you and for you
during these past six years our pro-
LESSONS have learned to know your pa
thence. ~broadness Of vision, ready sym
p&thy and s~teadfast faith In our ideals
We have found In you q man VINO mas
always found time to hear, and in some
miraculous way strength to
those little bands Of minute men mat
even to-day must needs drop their tools
at intervals TO rush to the protection oil
some precious Of beauty or
historic interest threatened by a city
40 long and so pitifuliy blind even to
the commercial value Of beauty.
II speak for all those who oelieve
that the sense OF beauty Is not only
a God given faculty but an essential
element In the pursuit Of happiness
given to rich and poor alike az essen
TALLY democratic as the sense OF hunger
q human faculty that all governments
should cherish and respect no less thar
the moral code. We thus you
tonight because we have learned &c
know you as a true defender OF his
faith"
In replying Mr.. McAneny said that thu
restoration Of City Hall ought to typif,
the new spirit with which New Yori
city Is dealing with that sort Of thing
Reviewing various phases of his o
he said that the removal Of stoop lin
Entertainments on the streets OF Man
haitian had cost private property owner
81 900, 900 and h city $500. 1000. Thu
Aston estate spent $780, 900 on the Wa
dorf- Astoria. including ground floor al
terations necessitated by the clearing o
Thirty-fourth street.
1t was like pulling teeth to get al
| this work done at first" Mr.. McAnen.
said. But eventually It was approved
by everybody. ] think" He also sat
that in visiting 81. Paul. Cleveland. Kap
sas City and Minneapolis he had bee
ashamed 10 And out how far New Yorl
was tagging behind In city planning.
| but he had high hopes for the future.
The leagues other guests at h din
ner were Borough President Marks
Robert w. De Forest. H. T. II. Halse,
and J. Q. Adams.