Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-06-02
STATUES OF HEROES OF WAR
MUST BE CREDIT TO AMERICA
National Commission of Fine Arts Under
takes to Direct Movement
Fountains, Buildings, Gates Advised.

Washington Monument. the Lincoln
memorial and the statue of John Paul
Jones.
So long ago as the summer of 1917
Charles Moore, chairman of the Fine
Arts Commission. foresaw the situa-
ton and in addressing the annual
convention of the American Fedora
ton of Arts at that time he said:
'The magnitude of the present
struggle and the large part which the
United States will necessarily play
in the worldwide ordeal of battle
makes it certain that there will come
from it hero-leaders to be commemo-
rated by a grateful people. Let us
save some good places for them and
let us trust that they may find art
lists worthy to keep alive the memory
of their deeds"
Would Wait Fifteen Years.
Discussing this same topic yester-
day. Mr.. Moore said that he did not
look for a rush to erect monuments
followed the civil war. as modern war
fare did not give opportunity for in
dividual distinction.
ut would be better if no memorials
were erected until fifteen years after
the close of the war" said Mr.. Moore.
by that time the nation will have
begun to get perspective of the war
and history will have passed unbiased
judgment on the men who took part
in it.
"The Washington Monument, most
impressive Of all our memorial struc-
lures. was not completed until the
first President had been dead more
than seventy-fve years. The great
Lincoln memorial is not yet finished
and Lincoln has been in his grave
more than half century. The same
is true in the case of John Paul Jones,
Admiral Barry and others.
NO statue or other memorial
should be erected in Washington I'M
less it is a distinct contribution to
the adornment of the city. Memorials
on public grounds should be erected
confined to persons who have rendered
conspicuous service to the nation, and
a permanent board of historians
should pass upon qualifications for
sculptural Immortality
Fountains, Bridges, Gates, Better.
Not only the Fine Arts Commission.
but other organizations of artists in
New York, Chicago and elsewhere are
using their best efforts to dissuade
public commissions and patriotic in
dividua1s from putting up bronze or
marble statues and to erect instead,
memorial fountains, buildings. bridges.
fagstaffs, gateways or tablets.
Because of the temperate climate
artists agree that fountains make
particularly appropriate memorials in
Washington, and several notable ex-
amples of this are already in evil
dence. The chief drawback is that
scarcity of water results in their be-
ing turned off much of the time, but
this may be remedied by installing
motor-driven pumps to keep the
water circulating. as has been done in
front of the Union station. The cost
of this. according to Mr.. Moore, is
negligible.
Let us hope that whatever is done.
the distressing circumstances attend
ing the erection of the Washington
Monument may not be repeated" con-
cluded Mr.. Moore. For years the
half completed monument was an
eyesore and a reproach and the name
of the father of his country became
Jest.
ITO guide those looking for the best
In historical art an exhibit of the
great monuments. from the DAYS of
ancient Greece until the present. has
been arranged in the Congressional
Library. and suggestions for me-
MORALS fitting for the expenditure
and site available may be had from
the most competent artists in
America"