Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-02-07
CIVIC CHARM AND PROGRESS

S'NIS STItNW ANU fHONKESO
Tn IT'S longing for what has been described
Il as n new and classic home upon the
Parkway, the most ancient scientific organi-
zatton in the United States. the American
Philosophical Society, rejects with the most
modern celcrity the claims Of tradition, local
color and sentiment
There is something to be said for this
attitude. If the proposal to exchange the
old site for the new one is accepted by the
city, desirable security will be obtained for
treasury of precious relics and documents.
Efficiency systems and all the delights Of
cross -lndexing and double entry cataloguing
may flourish amid sanitary, well lighted
conventionally comfortable surroundings
The Parkway will be adorned by another
stately monument.
The structure will bespeak progress and
the development Of the civic center idea
The Mayor is sympathetic to the project and
favors the razing Of the societys present
home in Independence Square, that the
greater glory of the State House group be
unshadowed and its safety enhanced.
There is much to be said for this view
also Baron Haussmann, smashing right and
left through the winding, narrow streets OF
Paris ranks as the ideal exponent of for
malized metropolitan splendors
The modernized sections of the French
capital are Of geometric beauty. Vstas are
nicely calculated. The blend of art and
logic is impcCcable. The work was so we'll
done that metropolitan magnifcence is &c.
cepted as compensation for the departure Of
atmosphere, of visible historic associa-
tions, of that charm which is seasoned by
chance and age, by elusive subtleties and the
indefnable enrichments Of unconscious art.
The French excel in beauty by fiat. Their
gft in this direction is seen also in Wash
lngton. In London is another story by an
other race. Philadelphians of average per-
ceptions seldom feel homeless in the British
capital. The haphazard quaintness, the sub
jective appeal of shrincs, perhaps in them
selves unbcautiful yet mcllowed by time
and hallowcd by memorial meaning, is easily
recognizable. AnaIogies to certain parts of
Philadelphia, usually not those of which
one is wont TO boast, are strikingly evident.
Wh1.ever Of pcturesqueness and charm
this city contains, on Germantown avenue.
the eastern end of Pine street, in the Christ
Church neighborhood and Independence
Square-.tO mention only few of the flavor
ful dlstrcts--iS the result not Of council
manic appropriations of grandiose nrchitec-
tural mandates nor the labors of spokesmen
OF the city beautiful, but of the distinctive
spirit of the place and people, a thing rs in
describable as it is potent.
City governments have struggled hard to
combat this influence. 1t was thought best
TO uproot the Lctitia street residence OF Penn
and TO transplant II to n knoll in Fair
mount Park, where its original appeal is
graspcd only with the greatest difficulty.
The house in which the Declaration Of In
dependence was written has long since van
ished. Mansion after mansion. not artisti-
cally perfect but gracious, winning, char
acteristic, has disappeared. And while it
is absurd and useless to lament the march
Of progress, it is worth inQuiring whether,
for all the ambitious planners. PHILADELPHIA
can ever completely initiate the parises and
Washingtons
The reasons which can be adduccd for re-
moving the present graceful 131- year old
building wherc the Philosophical Society now
abides have undoubtcd validity. 1t is the
mental attitude behind the project which
| is questionable. If the ideal is city Of
| vistas, the Pennsylvania Hospital true
| bit OF Georgian London-must 60.
| The Parkway is admirably located The
| historic and atmospheric sacrifices cntailCd
in the construction of that splendid thor
ouGhfare were fortunately slight.
But since nothing short Of almost total
| destruction can make possible Philadel-
| phia on tho Partisan model, it is assurrdly
| worth while 10 consider what the town does
possess of distinctive character and ingra
| tiating attraction.
Detroit and Cleveland and New York n
city now almost devoid of imagitive reactions
can show us cloud .catped towers, symbolic
of American industrial, commercial, financial
progress in high powered development
Philadelphia is proud of its achievements
along similar lines. Its citizcnry justly re.
sentS tho imputation Of retrogrcssion ant
Indifference to the claims of efficiency, anC
the charge is basclcss.
BUT in It's external aspects the city has
definite and persuasive meaning, which com
plicates the definition of beauty. The pres
eryation Of this spirit, especially when tn,
propricty Of destroying venerable and pic
turesGue structures is urged is problem
which must ever concern Phiadclphians wilt
love the town for the garb she wears 81
well--in Il word, for what she 50 cmphati
cN,.y ~.