Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-12
Metz YORK Fashionable ~Sociefy,s Osurp
~ScuzDfress Explains Her Effort 10 MezferiaHze
Immigration IS Spirit in Art or1d Why Such
Odd Ideas Of IL Win Her Prizes
tx TRs. HARRY PAYNE WHITNEY is seek
lVa ing the soul of the immigrant

* FRS. HARRY PAYNE WHITNEY is seek
MI ing the soul Of the immigrant.
Mrs. Whitney is Cornelius Wander
bits favorite child, her claim to her fathers
special regard lying in her talent, her earnest
ness and her large social consciousness Not
content with tho life of society TO which
she was born, she tossed away the golden
spoon and opened studio at No. West
street where, close to Washing
ton Square, that has the homes Of Knicker-
bockcrs on the north and east and is bounded
by New Yorks Latin quarter on west and
south, she pursued the art of sculpture.
Sho has become deeply interested in the
problem OF the immigrant. How, after he has
come TO this country he shall be assimilatcd
into the national life to its bettermcnt and
his own. she regards as one of the most vital
questions to-day before the American people
Seeking a solution OF ill., she asked artists to
compete for S1lO0 in prizes she offered for
the best sculpture, painting and posters on
the subject OF the immigrants relation TO
America; or, as she puts it. the soul Of i'm
migration.
She opened her studio for the purpose and
there more than one hundred works on 1.-THE
Immigrant in America" are being displayed.
Two OF the interesting conceptions which
have been awarded prizes by Mrs. Whitney
as most nearly approaching her lucal are Sno"n
on this page.
THE reason for the exhibition and COM
petition is this said Mrs. Whitney before
her recent departure for California;: "Wo
wanted TO do what all our wise books on inl-
migration and all our commission invcstiga-
lions and lengthy discussions in Congress
have never donc--show the average American
that he has too long lost sight OF the inlmi-
grant vast human asset. He is tre-
mcndous factor in the spiritual destiny OF this
country.
artists alike 10 bring their creative insight to
the theme asked the artists to teach US by
pictures the relation OF the immigrant to
America and America 10 the immigrant. [
believed that they would help us to reach a
better understanding of the meaning of the
immigrant 10 America and OF America 10
the immigrant.
Look at the exhibit. See how the artists
of America native foreign-born, answer
the questions. Do YOU think they. In their
answers, show q deeper comprehension than
that OF the average thoughtless American on
these points? DO they photograph for us the
soul OF the immigrant iii America? Have
they discovered or rcdiscovercd il for US?
some OF them have and some have not
vi the art in the work | need not speak 1t
is the idea rather than its expression that
interests nc.
IN other words l wanted to evoke In art
n powerful, concrete. convincing ma,erialiZa-
tiCn of the soul OF the immigrant nv doing
iact that immigrants have souls and that there
IS a soul oi immigration. This lesson once
torcefuly brought 10 Americas attention the
lot OF the immigrant would, conccivably be
much happier.
~ tho Star Company. Great Britain RIGHTS Y