The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-06-28

AWAY FROM zEPPEL|NS
The Care OF Museums in England During the Wal
Bv SIR FREDERICK G.. KENYON
Director of the British Museum

On the other hand, what has been
The loss? This cannot be stated so
definitely. for it belongs 10 those
things which cannot be- weighed or
measured, and yet are OF such vital
importance. a great museum or pic
lure gallery Is not a mere storehouse
OF curlosities, nor place of idle pas.
Time. IL Is 4 source Of intellectual
retreshment and Of spiritual strength.
The Philtstine asks contemptuously,
! How does a gallery Of mummies or OF
| mastodons help US to win the war;
The answer Is that in a war in which
one side derives its inTinclble
strength and power OF endurance
from moral considerations everything
| that nourisheS the spiritual and IN
tellecIual side OF human nature is an
engine Of military force. The Allies
entered on this war. not relying on
| their material strength. since in many
respects they were unprepared for H.,
| but because they could not honorably
faces. because they believed their
cause to be the cause Of honor, OF
justice, OF liberty. Of good faith be-
tween nations. This belief. and the
conviction thai il was better to TALL
fighting than submit 10 the immoral
domination OF material force, nerVed
them for The sacrifices which have
been imposed on them. and gave them
the teracity and The resolution which
are now at last beginning to reap
their reward. Every. one who has
seen France has testified to the moral
regeneration which has been wrought
in her by the war: and nothing nut
spiritual enthusiasm Of the highest
order could have carried Russia
through the terrible ordeal Of 1915.
In England We are accused Of being
unimaeina1ige, selfish and material:
yet in England millions Qiterally) or
young men have voluntarily offered
their lives 10 their country. millions
more have sacrificed trade customs
and privileges which they had been
taught 10 regard as most previous
heritages. and millions Of women are
wearin govt their strength In work.
fathers and brothers may be able 10
fight in the cause which all alike re-
gard as sacred.
In such struggle as this. every
thing which eXalts and refreshf the
spiritual nature. is Of value; poetry
and art become munitions Of war:
museums and picture galleries are
arsenals Of spiritual strength: We
want TO set and keep our ideals high,
10 remember that the moral is more
than the material. 10 refresh our souls
by the study of the beautiful, 10 re-
mind ourselves OF the great history
Of our country and the achievements
Of our fathers that beEot us. Is 1t
nothing 10 see, In the crisis through
which we are now passing. the reso-
luton Of tho English admirals 10
chase the Spanish Armada beyond
The northernmost coasts Of England.
the letter written by Nelson on the
eve of Trafalgar. the memorandum OF
Wellington on the morning Of Water
loo, the heroic last words Of Gordon
at Khartoum and Of Scott in his Ant
artic tomb?
That Is the work which museums
and picture galleries can do in time
Of war; and for this reason one can
not but regret the necessity OF clos
Ing some OF the galleries in London
and rejoice that others (and all those
in the provinces) have been allowed
TO remain open.