El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-17
OTHER FORMS OF MEMORIAL GIFTS
SOMETIMES SURPASS MONUMENTS

DRAZ VIII celebrate she national centennial in 1922 and
u the American chamber Of in Brazil is making
general appeal to the people Of the United States to sub
sbe to $4,000 fund for the purpose OF erecting monu-
msut in commemoraon It is stated that Portugal has
raised $4,000 for such purpose and that other foreign
states have indicated their intention to make large gifts In
recognition Of the national birthday
Pic ansiro Of the greatest and best developed
cities u the world and has much beauty Of adonment
The city surrounds wonderful bay and the scenery Of
the vicinity Is world famous In the last quarter century
vast changes have been made In the city to m0denze and
baauty it. such the construction of four mile boule
yard through the heart Of the old city necsststng the
dsmolishiHg Of hundreds Of buildings.
The American chamber Of commerce In Brazil says It
has decided that monument would be the most suitable
gift Il cites the Liberty monument IN New York harbor
one eample Of how two peoples have been brought
together by such testimonial There numerous
examples throughout the world Of the exchange Of
mental gifts BY governments or By the people OF various
nations George Washington is found many capitals and
It VII be remembered that until the outbreak Of the world
the statue of Frederick the Great contributed by the
kaiser stood the grounds Of the college at Wash
ington-
with an due respect to the opinion Of the Americans
Brzn who promoting this enterprise, It nay be sug-
gested that different gift might be more suitable and
more expressive Of Americas nteTest IN Brazil and
friendship for BrsElians, than $4,000 monument The
monument business Is really overdone Only small pro
portion Of such structures great in artistic OF
worthy Of the sentiment they supposed to express For
the most part they have only remote and fleeing IN
flusnce On the imagination Of the people.
After the armistice, q noted French statesman IN
speech N the house Of deputies said Let not deude
=
Rave yet to defend ourselves from the memorial monu
ments and that VIII be harder task than to have
victory the Germans, for sentimentalty is hard to
beat"
We na1t confess q good deaf Of sympathy With that
Freedman. Most memorial monuments are abomiHa-
ton yet few people have the hs-dhood to resist
sHt Ones started for such, oppose the gift Of vel
meaning individual no matter how monsrousY judged By
any acceptable standards Of art appropriateness the
proposed monument may be. For fear Of hurting
bodya feelings sesing hyperenca people just keep
Sfu and allow these things 20 to the growing in
pairn1ent Of popular taste and civic beauty.
Tbs idea Of the people Of the United States making
testimonial gift to the people Of Brazil the occasion Of
their national centennial Is an exent and deserves
cordial support and, what is to the point adequate
financial aid But why would It not be better to make the
gift in form that bring the United States near
the people Of Brazil in that intimate manner that can
only come through familiarity with the truth2
There are numerous ways that suggest themselves:
Museums, art galleries, art collections Libraries, endownsd
schools OF proressorhps N universities, endowed scholar
ships endowed travel funds memorial building to be used
displaying American moving pictures Of social welfare
industrial and scenic subjects and conducting lecture series
and social and ceremonial events or com
bnzon Of several Of such suggestions IN great under
taking.
would be necessary to keep carefully away from any
rhng that might seem to suggest commercial purpose
but along strictly cultural and social intellectual and
spiritual and estbetc lines there is much that might be
done that would be real contribution to the civic COM
leteness Of the Brazilian metropolis and at the time
would afford Of carrying perpetuay the pleas
ant task Of bringing these peoples more closely into
contact and mutual understanding.
Haf the population Of South America Is IN Brazil
Brazil is larger than the United States Brazil has the
greatest unsettled and slightly explored area On earth
3IszTs resources varied and Hmitless
Brazil sent her fleet into the world war With the allies
Brazil has patterned her political institutions after ours
Brazil has always been our friend More Braziaus come
to the United States for their education than from any
other South American country Half Of the foreign trade
Of Brazil is With the United States both imports and e
ports.
Upon such basis It ought not be difficult to establish