Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-21
BUILDINGS FOR
= WAR MEMORIALS
a New York Magazine Offers
Excellent Suggestions
Along These Lines.

munNy uses ~ we'll itiustratcu pN an
article appearing in the December issue
Of The American City, which Is devot-
ed To municipal progress, parts OF which
are quoted below The magazine says:
The custom Of commemorating the
drad is older than history. Special honor
has always been paid 10 the heroic dead
those who have rendered great service or
made great sacrifice for the general wei
fare. Every village has its churchyard
filed with costly marble every city has its
statues. monuments or other memorials
PORN or rRE ME- MORTAL
More than any other war Of history,
this one has been fought for a principle
for liberty and the safety Of democrncy
Principles may be depicted in stone or
pictured on canvas. hut such representa-
iicns however beautiful or svnlholical.
will not have life 4 principle can live
only m the lives oi mon. and If u is our
purpose 70 pcrpctuatc tho cause for which
the great war WAS fought. we must con-
rantly reitCratc and teach the principles
at liberty and democracy 20 each succeed
ing generation
This suggests that memorial worthy
of tho reccn, conflict bc DYNAMIC: II must
hc a building that shall honor the dead by
immortalizing the principles for which
they made the SupreH sacrifice II must be
n building commemorating the service of
the living by giving service. rather than q
statue ar a shaft in which there could not
pulse the life blood of n new day.
opJrc-r or rat BUILDING
The building would serve two main p,ir-
poses:
" As a memorial to the hcroic dead,
and to all from the local community who
joined the colors during tho war.
~ As 8 community center tn afford
headquarters and meetlng-plscc for
some or all Of Sich community agencies as
The chamber of Commerce, Red ross,
var veterans associations, patriotic and
defense societics. local charities play
ground and recreation asSccIations,fratern-
ri organizations. Rotary Cluh civic
organizations. vomcn's clubs, Boy Scouts,
hovs and girls clubs, ltsra, societies,
musical societies, study clubs
THE RuILDlNG StrF
The building should bc centrally locat-
ed and easy Of access hy all means OF
transportation The site should he chosen
with reference 20 the fu.urc - that the
growth of the city will rot remove the
center OF population too lar away. The
nature of the enterprise Is saich that q
municipality might we'll donate the site or
permit its erection upon ground wherc
private buildings would not bc permitted
DESIGN
The building should be arch,tecturally
beautiful, featuring the best building ms
terial Of the particular locality, the style
IN be impressive but not over-ornate. The
sire and cost OF the building. the equip
ment whsdh !: uill contain and the service
which it VII perform will depend upon
heal neek6 and local splYt. In every
community some Of the following facilities
ard equpsncnt should be embraoed in the
plan:
Offices md committee rooms for the
Chamber of Commerce and other local
organizations, auditorium for public meet
ings. entertainments snd motion pic
tures.
Memorial hall with enrossed records
under glass, and tablets and trophies.
Exhibit rooms for art exhibits and for
products of local industries and resources
classrooms, community kitchen, dining
room. music room, dance hall.
USE or THE BUILDING.
The building should be open To the
whole community. It should be dedicated
10 community fellowship and unity, so
greatly advanced by this war. Every
non-eectaxian and non partisan movement
TO promote community progress, welfare
and happiness should find sanctuary with
N its doors.
The meetings of the VARIOUS organize
tions mentioned above, lvceum courses,
night schools, motion picture entertain
ments, dances, m,Sicales, debates, etc,
should keep the building constantly in use.
RAISING THE MONEY.
The entire cost of the building and equip
ment should be raised by popular sub
scription IN a campaign conducted along
the lines OF Red Cross or United War
Work drive. To exact the funds by taxa
tion would rob the building of it's true
nature as thank-oferng. In some cities
publc-spirlted citizen can be found who
will donate a suitable site for the build |
ing. The building should be erected with |
out encumbrances on either building or
site. Liberty Bonds should be accepted at |
par from ali who wish to make payments IN |
that form.
In some cases it will be possible to Sc
cure large gifts from relatives Of men who |
have given their lives IN the war Such /
gift could, If desired be used 10 provide a |
gymnasium, or library. or some other !
special feature for which funds would not I
be otbeYwise available and which might /
Dear The name Of the donor.
Lodges or eocletIes which are to have /
rooms in the building might be invited 10 /
provide the furnishing for such rvoms at |
their own expense.
aiAINT ENANCE.
The nature of thu building and IT'S uses
place il in the class of all other public /
buildings and, naturally, should exempt it |
from taxation of all klnos.
Three methods have been suggested for /
the financing and maintenance OF building
"a An annual municipal appropriation /
TO cover the cost Of upkeep and OF heat, |
light and ianitor service; such apprOprIa- |
ton to be made In consideration OF the |
free use Of the building by the public |
generally and its dedication 10 the welfare |
of the eutifs community
(b) The building could be made self !
supporting BY charging ade0uatc rental |
10 organizations occupying Offices IN the |
building and a reasonable charge for the /
llee OF the auditorium and Of the club |
facilities |
(c) An endow ment fund TO be raised by |
popular subscription and TO be SUP
plemented by bequests from time To time.
For proper maintenance of the build
ng, II IS most desirable that there be
seeretary ia charge who shall devote all of
MS time to community service
Now'Is THE TIME FOR ACTION.
While the sacrifices and achievements OF
he war and the conditions of permanent
,eace are still the main topics of public dis
;ussion, is the time for action. The pro
ect should be launched at once, therefore,
md the funds pledged by the time the |