The New York herald., 1921-03-13
Alarmist Reports on Morals
Fail to Stir Him Deeply

But when you ask me to give an opinion
about the morals and manners of the young
generation ] can't do 1t. Reports of how
these manifest themselves irt our great
cities do reach us here in Princeton, but
deadened almost by distance. Surely the
conditions which give rise to these reports
are eccentricities common TO every genera
ton. do not think they go very deep.
Anyway, they are but rumors here"
In this delightful workshop study far
enough removed from the main part of a
solid. fine old Revolutionary house, II should
he difficult to lend ones mind to the silly
things that are going on in noisier places.
and. provided one is able to accept the COM
forting thought that silly errors of dress
and department do not seriously affect the
moral fibre of a people they may be
brushed aside as DR.. Van Dyke did.
Avalon, the estate he bought in 1900 was
in Revolutionary times the property of the
Fitz- Randolph family and later owned by
Commodore Bainbridge It was the home Of
Judge Bayard, first American Commissioner
OF Claims in Great Britain after the Revo-
luton. Besides the interest attached to its
first residents there is another incident that
gives the place historic piquancy, for from
a corner abutting on the road the last shot
was fired in the Battle OF Princeton. An
"embattled' farmer. whose name has been
lost, dragged cannon there and fred n
parting shot as the last of the British host
was disappearing in the retreat.
In this peaceful home, ideal for literary
labors. DR.. Van Dyke readily may be ex
cused il he interests himself rather more IN
the major aspects of human progress than
in their minor difficulties Moreover, it is
his view that the right way to improve the
world is by going back to the deep first
principles Of human nature by bringing out
the innate respect for what is true and
beautiful and good and rejecting this re-
spect in book, song. music and sculpture
Trying TO Claim Rightful Place
For Art and the Joy of Art
What he said before the Teachers Con-
ference in Atlantic City on Sunday morn
ing February q On the subject ar art and
morals had sufficient immediate message
TO be seized upon hy tho daily press and in
some instances meaning was attached to
some OF his remarks which they were not
intended 70 carry. But said Dr. Van Dyke:
Newspaper reports were on the whole
very fair, although, Of course they dwelt
chiefly upon the negative points Of attack
and consequently lost sight OF the main OBJ
Ject Of the address, which was positivo and
constructive. was trying to claim n right
ful place for art and tho ioy of art and
the pleasure that IL gives ia tho normal
life Of man."
Dr. Van Dyke seemed 70 be surprised
that his discourse on a subject so purely
intellectual should have been linked up in
the public mind with 4 discussion OF EXIST
ing moral conditions. lie had received he
said, many requests from editors to write
out for publication what he had said. but
he declined them ALL Now to The NEW
YoRK HERALD he was willing to repeat I'M
eXtenso what he had said
art has II own laws and rules and prin-
crles Of beauty of which commerce. arri-
culture, politics and the other distinct de-
partments of mans life know nothing In
this sense IL may be said that art is for
arts sake, hut II cannot fulfil It's mission
unless il Is also for mans sake and this
necessarily brings IL within the great circle
Of morals, which embraces All Of the human
life and every one Of those distinct
spheres OF which have just spoken.
ITO claim that art is exempt from moral
law il to degrade Il below the level of
humanity.
"Noeore could think os making such n
claim for commerce, agriculture Or politics.