Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-21
TWO UNUSUAL PHlLADELPHlANS
DRAFTED FOR THE 1926 FAIR
Wananaker and Box Are Peculiarly
Fitted to Give National Scope 20 Plans
Now Drifting and indefinite

MJHEN Mayor Moore expanded the plans
w for the Philadelphia SesQui- Centennial
I've have said before and we shall Say it again
that II ought TO have a better nRme) and
suggested a nationally representative working
committee TO get every important city be
hind the movement he put the beginnings OF
a solid foundation under what has been until
now a series of misty castles In the air
When he asked Rodrnan Wanamaker and
Edward Box TO serve on this committee as
representatives of New York and Philadel
rhia respectively the Mayor manifested
more than Il shrewd appreciation of the dy
namiCs Of unpurchasable enthusiasm. lie
revealed an understanding Of the great par'
that sheer creative instinct must play in the
present and future schemes of the fuir if the
project IS TO be a success.
Mr.. Box and Mr.. Wanamaker are unusual
men. AS much as any other two Americans
whose names we can bring to mind they have
Il in them TO make the fair shine. There is
something hearteniDg even IN the thought Of
what they could do as organizers of work
Of splendor, to change current topics Of gen
eral conversation. Strikes, loCkouts, war.
hunger and violence are dismal Obsessions
of the popular mind.
The Mayor will have done something worth
while If he can bring into the foreground
representatives Of the large group of Amer!
cans who believe that material prosperity
means relatively little unless it assumes. in
the end some form likely to brighten the
common life OF the land and satisfy the per-
sistent craving Of the hJfnan spirit for more
gracious ways of thought and existence.
1t is about time that something vi that
sort of philosophy we're heard above the
grinding racket Of the pursuit of money for
moneys sake.
Mr.. Wanamaker haS devoted half Of
lifetime TO persistent and unostentatious ef-
forts to demonstrate that the neglected quail
tiles Of beauty and grace and good manners
can play IN important and immeasurably
useful part in the scheme Of everyday COM
merce. Like Edward Box. he has never
been content TO believe that the clash and
roar of factories and railway trains and
mills are the only sounds indicative of the
final establishment Of the kingdom of heaven
on earth
Each has been sensitive to the needs and
demands Of the inner minds of everyday
people Like all wise and generous men,
they know that TO have a progressive or even
tolerable scheme of society you have to
recognize and preserve the essential dignity
of human character and satisfy the unspoken
need which all sorts Of people feel for the
comfort that is 70 be had in the presence
of any beautiful thing
Mr. Wanamaker has devoted much of his
time and his means unsparingly to the en-
cOuragement of the younger generation Of
painters. He has hcfriended innumerable
American art students abroad and he has
been nm apprecAtive buyer Of their pictures
He was decorated by the French Govern
ment for his work in making America ac-
quainted with the products of French handi-
craft. His love of music has helped 10 make
the pipe organ really popular instrument
in the United States just as Mr.. Box )
valiant work for the Philadelphia Orchestra
has done more than anything else to insure
for that magnificent organization Il perna-
nent and untroubled existence
While Mr. Boks friendly and sensitive
mind letting light and color into the
forgotten and forsaken places of the country,
Mr.. Wanamaker was organizing and fnanc-
Ing expeditions which actually preserved for
It's historical and cultura! value in the United
States something Of the fading uagnihcenCe
of the Indians life and character and re.
storing 20 the fund of our folklore much OF
the beauty Of Indian tradition and legend
Such work is more than practical. 1t Is
proof Of a very definite sort of genius and
its good effects are endless.
A Worlds Fair must be above ali things
| magnificent. Normally it will suggest merely
what men will do when they are permitted
to work and aspire under great and gen.
erous leadership. Humanity IS always try
ing to give visible form TO its nobler uspira-
ttons. Given an opportunity, il would make
all It's environments spacious and beautiful.
! 1t will never do that 90 long az its energies
are wasted in wars of one sort or another or
so long as It cannot find leaders able to see
little way beyond hard and immediate
| fact.
! Box and Wanamakcr are practical They
nre cultured men. Blu: they aren't blinded
! by practicalness and their culture isn't Of
the sort that dehumDnizes many people.
| That is whv their service 20 the city as
members Of tho fair committee will be price
! less II II can be obtained.