Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-30
Mostly About People

Somebody asked that very American
question: What IS the collection worth
at the private view Of the French Salon,
on Monday Somebody else appealed TO
NJ. Ratzskowski, and be said two million
dollars. That puts II on solid fnancia
basis, at least, and conveys more 10 the
average citizen than it docs TO explain
that the artists represented are the best
the world possesses today, and that IS
saying great deal, because what IS being
painted today is going 20 hold q very
important place in the history Of art
War always brings art and poetry and
| music, they are here now, there will be
more after the war is over, and should
1T not be the natural thing War brings
about such splendid acts, such great de-
votion and such achievement, that IN
spiratlOn is IN the atmosphere. II is 10
times like these that form and formahty
give place TO quick thought and instant
action. This is time for spontanei "
~ art, whetherzit be painting ~ poetry
or music, and when, after the war there
IS time to consider what has been done,
we shall awake 10 the fact that wonder
| fully fine things were brought about,
great things in art that should be cared
| for and appreciated Everybody Is 80
taken up with work in these times that
there isn't time for thought, unless a
| deliberate pause is taken for t.
The French Salon is Just such an
interruption as we need in the occupation
| of the time. Those who went ~ tho pri-
vatc view on Monday were surprised ~
ITS scope and import ancc; they realized
hat there easily could be two million
dollars value in tho -four hundred pictures
shown. The stress of the Liberty Loan
and the epidemic being over, this comes
as j pleasant diversion, Il comes, too,
as q bond of ntcrnatlonalfrendshlp and
| us an opportunity TO appreciate thc Hun
being kept off our shores by France and
England for four wears
'Secour dc guerrc is 4 phrase as
much on French lips. as War Relief"
is on ours and here h an opportunity for
secour de guerre The pictures were
gwen by the French artists for the care
Of widows and orphans IF French artists
who gave up their lives in the good fight
The great mission, "Fatherless Children Of
France also Is a beneficiary, and here
in Wilmington only, the Red Cross bene-
fits by the 5O-cent admission. NJ jules
Ratzskowski, director Of the Salon and
NJ Emmanuel Elias are worthy re-
presentatiyes Of these great beneficlaries
harvest here, and in their western tour
All soldiers and sailors are most cor
daily invited to the Salon and will be
admitted free It l. open from II O'Clock
in the morning until 10 Q clock in the
evening, and viii continue this week,
and on Sunday next.
Why do we not stand, il not al at
tention, at least in respectful silence
when THE Star-Spangled Banner and
the national hymns Of our Allies are be-
ing played OF sung? We are careless
lot, we Americans. and seem to forger
that we owe this respect to our country
and our flag It was very noticeable. on
! Monday at the salon. that our French
guests stood rIgdlv at attention while
their hymn ana ours we're being PLAYED
30 did some of the Americans. but others
talked through the music and tidgeted
about. without regard for the dignity of
the occasion. It's only thoughtIessness.
and in the course Of time We shall get
out Of il.
That there IS an important election on
Tuesday next seems almost lost sight of a..
amid the distractions Of the past month
It's an election without a campaign. and