The sun., 1919-02-23

monument In Chicago. The naspole
may be q suitable and handsome
memorial either for the village green
or the city square or in connection
with public buildings. as is illustrated
by the beautiful examples at Columbia
University and at either side Of the
New York Public Library. A fostral
column, such as the one at West Point,
and a rostrum from which public ad-
dresses can be made. such as the Altar
Of Liberty, a temporary structure in
Madison Square built for the Liberty
Loan campaigns. have been especially
commended.
Pedestals of various kinds may be
employed. provided that they are not
used for the FORMAL stacking Of cannon
balls In pyramids. and as roosts for
cannon, as was once the fashion.
Taken all in all. committees having
In mind the erection OF memorials to
soldiers and sailors will find much 70
guide them in this carefully prepared
bulletin of the Municipal Art Society.
and the suggestions regarding the
choice OF architects, contractors and
the estimating Of costs are very help
tul.
just Awakening to Art.
The typical soldiers and sailors
monument Of the small city or the vii
lage came into being at a time when
the American people were just awak
ening to the importance OF art in daily
life. When even in this metropolis OF
til. Western world, supposed to be tho
home Of the aesthetic. there are such
monstrosities as the statue OF the late
8. S. (SunseD Cox. which in Astor
place has stood in the attitude of sig
Mailing a bobtail car all these years
the memorials OF the smaller COM
munities cannot be too harshly criti-
cised.
The desire of the American people.
North and South, to make some last
| ing tribute to the men who had offered
their lives on the altar OF their ideals,
| was often crafty used for commercial
purposes. Crude designs were pre-
pared by founders and marble cutters
and foisted on the municipalities or on
! innocent committees at extortionatr
| prices. IA monument which could not
have colt more than $500 at most was
sold for SO, 900 to the villages.
Often there were grave scandals.
Cast iron limitations OF bronze which
soon rusted or inferior stone which
crumbled and became more unsightly
with years were set up in the public
square or the market lot. Often the
local gravestone maker or stonecutter
was called upon to execute some
nbominable eyesore which was mod
| Ill hi
| the local committee.
| Men of affairs who were placed on
committees to build monuments were
| often overruled or made against their
), will parties 20 se!ne ton
which the. majority had succeeded in
| inficting on the community. The re-
suit was that monuments which
! should have had a serenity of appear
ance and a dignity which would i'm
| press even the casual observer, were
permitted to dlsfigure the most prom
inent places.
Renaissance in 1870.
The Centennial Exposition of 1876
which has SO often been called the
American Renaissance, meant n re-
birth OF art in the United States. The
tIylo luO "iiASi
was affecting the art and architecture
of the country SO lamentably, gave
way to better ideas Of design and there
set in a return to the classic or 1t:
adaptation in the so-called Colonial
which is really Georgian. or am Eng
lIsh Interpretation Of the eternal arr
OF Greece.
Tho new movement in monumental
art finds its expression in such works
as the Soldiers and Sailors Monu.
ment, which stands In Riverside
Drive. It is in reality modelled on the
Identical lines OF the wonderful
choragic temple of Athens. with which
We have been familiar since school
days This beautiful fame in memory
of the men from the city OF New Yorl
. and others who fought on the Unior
side, suggests the Song of Victory.
The hrst public monument Of st
Gaudens, the statue OF Farragut
which stands in Madison Square. hal
the same suggestion OF classic dig
nifty. The exedra on which stands thu
, lfas ngure OF the Ad-airsl who danus'
| 1.-THE torpedoes and went ahead. has al