The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-08-26
Art Commission Urges
 Great Care I'm Memorials

The wisdom of letting passions cool and of giving time for reflection in the matter of war memorials Is sus- gested in the annual report Just iS- sued by the Art Commission of the City of New ' York. That body is com posed of members who serve without pay and whose work. since its crea- tson in 1902. has been devoted to saw ing the city from 1nffictions of un- worthy art, such as dishgured many public places in earlier years and cast reproach upon the good taste of a great number of the projects de- signed for the adornment of the city, Here is the part of the report on war memorials:
 Upon the signing of the armistice with Germany late in the year 1918, the thought of the citizens of New York was at once naturally turned to consideration of modes of com memoration of those of their number who had been called to serve in the World War and who had given their lives for the great cause then at stake.
 ''In the fervor of the moment the suggestions made at the start were involving the raising of large sums of money. There was, however, lack of unaninity in relation to the charac- ter of the monument to be erected, and no certainty that the money re- quired could be raise so soon after the drives for the selling of Liberty and Victory bonds, and for the Red Cross and other worthy and benef- cent associations formed to relieve the distress occasioned by the war. The hesitation thus resulting, however. has been altogether advantageous, for me are thus enabled to take thought of the future, and may hope to avoid being led astray by enthu- siasm due to the monetary empha- sis of transient influences.
 Gen. Washington died in 1799. No c-ir Sr- af fn %h., erection of a fitting memorial in his honor in this city seems to have been made until 1S44, when efforts were made to build a Washington monu- Hall Park as it then existed, being the south end of the present Post Office building.
 'sThIs project having failed of ac- comp1ishment.a proposition was made to place a monument. probably after this same design, in what was then known as Hamilton Square, extend ing from 66th to 6Sth street and from Thi-, to Fifth avenues.
 Then years after Gin 1S54) certain patriotic citizens gave to the city the equestrian statue of WashIngton ing avenue and 14th street, one. of the noblest of its possessions. But not until 1889 was the Washington arch presented to the city.
 'tThus it appears that after Wash ington's death nearly half a century elapsed before the true significance of his life was generally acknowledged by our citizens. and 90 years before the arch was erected as a oonspicu- ous en1oriaI to him. These delays gay to those interested time for ma | ture deliberation as to the form the memorial should take, and evidently i to the city's great advantage.
 'In like manner some 70 years | elaspesd after the close of the Civil l War before our citizens erected, tc 1 the memory of those of their mum | Der who lost their lives in tha' struggle. the beautiful manument or | Riverside drive.
 Tt seems not at all unlikely that 6 similar and advantageous delay may | occur in relation to the great me- 1 morial to be erected in honor of thr | American heroes of the war so lately ended. But such delay has failed tc | satisfy the yearnings of those whC | have lost in the war sons and hus bands, and who have longed to give | instant expression to their deel emotion. This has led to a wide spread movement looking to the cree
 tion of less ambitious memorials II | various sections of the city in honol or those soldiers and sailors, coming from special community groups, wht | have made the supreme sacr1nce
 The result of this feeling has peer the submission to the commission O
 a large number of designs of this na ture- These have been gwen up