New-York tribune., 1916-07-25
Matty in Marble
An Art Suggestion
-~~By w. o. M'GEEHAN.~

The movement for bigger and better
statues in New York CITY has started.
D. F. Hill, of the aesthetic burg Of
Yonkers, is largely responsible for the
renaissance. Here's his very note; this
is what he wrote:
81 offer a suggestion that ought to
be taken up seriously by the New York
lovers of baseball-tO erect a statue of
Mathewson on the Polo Grounds. IL
the newspapers will take up the matter
in earnest and IL the management will
trance TO the Polo Grounds ! have no
doubt at all that sufficient sum could
be raised in short order to carry out
the suggestion"
This sounds like IL start toward get
ting statues that will mean something
TO the average person. The outdoor
art Of New York at present is neither
impressive nor instructive. II seems
to consist largely of bronze ladies bal
ancing on one zoe atop of gilded
spheres and Of men with whlskers.
Matty done in marble or bronze in
the attitude of winding UP for the fade
away would mean something 10 the
youth of the nation, besides being an
ornament to the Polo Grounds. But
why stop with statue OF Matty?
There are other baseball episodes al
most as worthy of commemoratlon as
the career of MathewsOn.
Why Not Fred Merkle?
As a companion statue there should
be life-sze figure done in solid ivory
of Fred Merkle failing to touch second.
1t could be erected near the spot where
the fatal bone was pulled and would
not interfere greatly with the play at
the Polo Grounds. Parents could point
il out to their children as a warning
against carelessness.
Somewhere in the outfeld there
should be statue of Bennie Kauff,
with the title "Modesty." Also there
should be some sort of tablet dedicated
to the numerous Yankees who fell IN
action during the early part OF the
season. with. space left for about fifty
eight more names.
The baseball magnates should not be
forgotten either. Their activities IN
behalf Of baseball certainly are worthy
Of being recorded in some enduring
medium. A brass group Of meeting
of big league directors, with their
hands stealthily reaching toward one
another's pockets. would be realistic
and impressive.
There is no reason for the movement
for bigger and better statues TO stop
with saseball at the Polo Grounds
when the present offers so many OPP
portunities to the sculptors. The
Oueensberry art as it is practised cries
aloud TO the workers in bronze and
marble for recognition.
Statue of Al Mccoy.
A simple and effective statue would
be n life-sized figure of Champion Al
Mccoy done in Parmesan cheese. me-
dium which is peculiarly appropriate
and lasting This should be placed on
a pedestal opposite the entrance OF the
Broadway Sporting Club.
In commemoration of the foundation
of the Order Of ard-Boiled Eggs we
suggest a zinc statue of Jimmy john
ston sewing the pocket on his wallet.
A companion figure might be one of
Harry Stevens using the first safety
razor to cut ham for sandwiches.
Somebody is shouting over our shoul-
der that there should be a statue Of
Tom Jones buying his first drink. But
as this event has not yet taken place
I il would not do 10 put It into bronze or
marble. The aim of the promoters OF
the new art should be to have the stat
ues historically correct and should not
attempt to deceive posterity
We hereby agree 20 contribute one
buck. bone or iron man toward the
erection of any of the statues named.
ANY innovation in the outdoor art of
New York is bound TO be a change for
| the better.