Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-16
THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY
Pennell's Plan to Line 1t With Monuments
Discussed by Another Artist

eNeSeS" ~ EhhosASh Hhsst
To the Editor of the Evening Public Ledger:
Sir-Last Monday. now more than week
ago. the EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER invited
its readers to write and express their views
upon the city's requirements in a soldiers
memorial. 'S .s.' --. ~.
. It was an earnest, appeal. addressed in a.
friendly and intimate spirit to the people Of
Philadelphia. write to u.s. 1t ran. land
express your ideas. and be assured that they
will receive respectful consideration at the
hands of Mr.. Widener and his associates"
have been watching the columns of the
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER in the full expecta-
ton of seeing spontaneous outburst Of en-
thusiastic suggestions for the permanent
commemoration In marble and stone. in
bronze and gold. of the valorous deeds of
Pennsylvania's sons on the battlefelds of
France H
OF the several millions who live in Phila-
delphia, among whom may be counted thir-
teen--ominous number-directors of the
Pennsylvania Academy OF the Fine Arts and
some--thousands shall I say?-of architects,
scuptors. painters. gravers and designers,
only one responded to your appeal. Joseph
Pennell, who in an imaginative and iumin-
ating letter exposed his grandiose scheme of
decorating Lincoln Highway as a national
memorial to the soldiers. With this one ex-
ception there has been unbroken silence
This is not apathy--it Is atrophy of the
emotion and sense of beauty. Of taste In It's
highest and most expressive form.
Should 1t continue. complete paralysis OF
the esthetc sense must ensue with all It's
degrading symptoms of human decay; but
fortunately there are stimuli at hand and of
the emotion of beauty than the sham and
= evanescent cities and courts that surround
and embelish fairs and pageants. OF these
we are offered one by Mr.. Widener to well
come home the returning armies as they pass
along Broad street, and another by the mem
hers OF the T Square Clubsto be erected on
the Parkway to glorify the phases of war
and victory and peace '". -,v,
In addition to the enthusiasm such
decoration Of the Parkway will create. II will
show the multitudes to be there assembled
in rejoicing over victory what Philadelphia
may do to permanently establish itself as the
art center OF the nation but substituting for
perishable tower and temple irnperishable
stone and marble.
The Parkway is a short stretch of the Lin
coin Highway. Since 1t has been opened up
the distance between Logan square and the
rocky elevation at the entrance to the park
seems only an arrows flight. but In that
short space what magnifcence and spiendor
skill of the architect
In the long stretch OF the Lincoln Highway
nature will also do her matchless part In
decoration and its windings through the
Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevadas Of
California will be adorned by ever-shifting
pictures that will rival in beauty II not in his
torical memories the vision that Penneli has
given us of the Simplon, Mount Rosa and
the GLOON of the Alps"
1t will be, when carried out-for am sure
It will be--a glorious memorial to the soldiers
and q helpful revival, Of our civilization. II
It sometimes will lead US into the grimc and
smoke of our manufacturing cities 1t will also
into peaceful valleys and on to heights of
solemn grandeur and In the contemplation
of Its viaducts and bridges built upon rocks
and embowered in trees the emotion of beauty
| will take our minds from nature to art and
| our civilization will be better for 1t.
| Art made civilization possible. not religion
| or commerce or science. and so soon as art Is
called In 20 crown and complete the religious
| commercial and scientific structures OF our
| national life the people will be better fitted
| to frame a national policy
The Lincoln Highway will link up the At
lantic with the Pacific and whether II starts
in the east from the great pleasure city by
| the sea TO Cross the Delaware to Washington
| square or from New York across the Hudson
| way and what Is designed for that splendid
| site will either make or mar forever the
city whose present opportunity Is unique
| among the cities OF the Continent.
II has been well said that Philadelphia
should stand In art In the same relation to
| New York as Florence fid to RomeA-and
| curiously enough we have In our midst al
| this important epoch In our cify's History d
| mau whose devotion TO ths art o. the cit,
WA I.t. .lt II. 4 'Hf 4 'f|