The sun., 1919-02-23
Avoidance Of Civil
War Monstrositiesi
Draws Attention.
of Architects, De-:
signers, and Com :.
munity.C Committees
p,yoHNwALKER HARRINGTON.

= the fitness of things are put
ting forth every effort these days to
sec that dignified and appropriate me-
MORALS shall be provided for the Amer
ican soldiers and sailors who made the
supreme sacrifice in the world war.
They have In mind the atrocities
committed in the name Of art whom
monuments were raised all over the
4 United States In memory or the brave
men who fell In the civfl war. So I'M
slightly were many OF these so-cailed
memorials that their ungainiy proper
| items and faulty lines have made SOL
diers' and sailors monuments almost
proverbial as examples OF bad art.
| and right here the question is raised:
why always a monument"
Many who have given the subject
cartest study believe that a park, q
c1llese, a hospital, a school. an arch
or some other dignified means Of COM
-1omoration may be found which will
. better adapted to individual COM
munities than shaft or statue.
i"1 Ia.,.,,. =. 80 - .a".
80. -. 49, a.-
.no 80.
lar organizations have volunteered to
.s.p 49, aans ~ 49, ~ tnsoia
dead.
Many Valuable lsuggestions.
A wealth of valuable suggestions for
cities and towns contemplating the
rearing Of memorials to the patriots Of
he great world war is found in the
uiletin on the subject issued February
.? BY the Municipal Art Society. This
organiEation, composed not only Of ar
lists -sculptors and architects and
ra!nters-but also Of New York lay
men who are devoted to the city beau
,tul, has already done much valuable
work.
Although the book is given up
Mostly to an exposition Of good exam
RES Of art. with some horrible ones,
tsc,e are also interesting original sug-
testions. Among these Is a memorial
tower designed by Messrs. A. and F. B.
Ware, architects. and having several
features designed by Robert c. Laf-
farty. Mr.. Lafferty has developed the
Idea Of a bronze book, the hinged
l.aves of which can be turned, so that
the names Of hundreds of soldiers In
tcribed upon it can be read by the
f,ranger within the gates. Many
fine memorial has been spoiled by too
many names, but. where compact
IL. 49,
n a venerable church in Florence, the
memory of individuals may be perpet'
- 80" .,,Is ras.s i,,,t.d 40,
.rtace Mr.. Lafferty has copyrighted
lis bronze book idea.
Mr. Lafferty also suggested that an
o,gan be placed In the tower. which
oaa be played either by machinery or
Iya musician at a keyboard as an ac-
,Iupanment to community singing.
The architects. who are the authors
e the memorial water gate design
which appeared in THE Sun a few
eeks ago. have suggested a Gothic
wer. in the open space at the base OF
hich is to be placed the bronze book.
no structure may stand in the middle
g a public square, and as 1t Is rather
.nder in proportions it may be made
& conform to the surroundings. The
Cas represented In the bulletin Is 10
Get in height and is 40 feet square at
The base. 1t suggests the campaniles
a medieval Italy. At the top 1t may
ave not only bells but also clock faces.
1.-THE site or surrounding open space
4, he o.
PORTIONS but on a much smaller scale
Gould be erected.
sixteen ArchitecturAi
In the bulletin are set forth the
kinds Of memorials which the society
considers suitable. Here they are in
alphabetical order: Arch, arrangement
Ct war trophies, avenue, bandstano'
leacou, bridge, cliff sculpture, CLOCK
tower, colonnade, community house,
Doors OF bronze or other metal. cleo
tTol!er. embarkade, equestrian statue
tHedra, figure or figures, fiagpole with
tase fountain, gateway, grotto, group,
! all, library, mosaic, mural painting
hUseum, open air theatre, park, pylon,
roster column, rostrum, stairs with
illustrates stained glass windows and
tablets. ......
OF this list OF thirty-four 1t Will be
Zen that sixteen are primarily arcms
'sctursl constructions, but all require
varying degrees OF sculpture; five are
q sculpture requiring an architectural
istting; three are OF pure sculpture,
three require landscape architecture
With some assistance from architecture