Evening star., 1922-12-14
The North Window
BY LEILA MECHLIN.

been meeting in Washington this
week. Like the National Commission
OF the Fine Arts, 1t is a voluntary
body composed of experts who act In
an advisory character. from patriotic
motives. without compensation. But
the civic commission functions chiefly
in a negative way. disapproving that
which Is not sufficiently meritorious,
whereas the commission OF the Ma
tional Gallery OF Art has a positive
purpose-the upbuilding OF great
national art collection.
But some may say, how can this
be done by volunteer body, without
funds and without authority" And
well may they ask. Where else would
such thing be attempted except here
In the. United States? Yet it is in
this way that it is going to be donr.
because we are a government of the
people by the people. 1t is through
the people of the nation at large that
the great gift of a national gallery of
art worthy of America is coming.
Already works of art aggregating
several million dollars in value have
been given to our National Gallery OF
Art since 1905, when Justice Stafford
issued decree of the District Su-
preme Court declaring such an insti-
tuition legally existent, There is now
hung in that portion tof the National
Museum set aside ffr tho national
gallery. collection sof paintings Of
the great English schbol OF the eight
eenth century which Aannot be equal
ed outside of Great Britain. Some OF
these paintings ares loans-notably
the McFadden collection beaueathed
to Philadelphia-buta a good many are
entS and permanent possessions; the
'cOtlertlDn g nj
pie OF years ago by Ralph Gross
Johnson of this city, one Of the finest
OF its Kind In this country and not to
be duplicated today at any price-a
collection OF masterpieces. There is
also the Evans collection of paintings s
by Inness. Wyant, Winslow Homer,
John Lafarge and many, others who
helped to win distinction for our ma
tive school. And to this Anne rican
collection constant additions are be-
ing made through the Ranger bequest,
which gives to our National Gallery Of
Art the privilege OF first choice Of all
pictures purchased through its benefi-
cence.
In this country our greatest mu-
seums Of art have been built up
through the generosity of the people
There are mony outstanding exam
ples-the museums in Toledo, Cleve-
land. Minneapolis, Buffalo, Worcester
come Instantly to mind. because of
the large generosity in each instance
OF some one donor, but the museums
Of Boston. New York and Chicago are
no less truly institutions upbuilt by
the people, their gifts being multiple
and in many instances princely. In
deed, if one would know, the chief
which in6nC1d n
move the tariff on works of art over
100 years old. and keep it of, was
the steady flow OF art treasures from
private to public ownership.
Here, however. in connection with
the development OF the National CAL
sessions, and the probability of more,
and no place to put them! The Ma
tional Gallery Of Art is today in lodg-
ings. The Museum of Natural History
is Hospitality lending space. which can
i'll be spared. in the center of its
building on the same floor as the
Roosevelt African collection. The
place is unsuitable, there is no more
room. The great need is for d build
ing. Will Congress give it?
A building suitable for national
gallery Of art must needs be costly.
and once erected must be maintained.
The cry today is for economy, and
rightly SO. But there arc different
kinds of economy, and, as some of
us have learned to our grief, some is
extravagant. Who has not repented
such? Not only does the lack of a
building affording exhibition space
and assuring display cut off the prob
ability of additional gifts. but IL de-
prives the people OF a great source of
TIA2 nrn6f Ogden Utah
about fortnight ago man walked
nine miles to see a transient eNhibi-
ton of paintings lent by the Metro
politan Museum Of Art and circulated
by the American Federation of Arts.
At supper time he left the exhibition
with 25 cents in his pocket to pay his
car fare home, but in less than an
hour he was back and paid his quar-
ter for readmiSSion. remained until
the closing hour and walked home.
There is a workingman in Baltimore
who whenever his business brings
run in and have look at that Won
derful Raeburn" in the National CAL
lery Of Art.
Hamilton Mabie has called art "the
open window in the workshop" and
moro recently Galsworthy has re-
minded US that beauty. and the love
of it, is surely the best investment
modern man can make" 1t is all this
and more. Over one million persons
passed through the turnstiles of the
Chicago Art Institute during the past
year. The Metropolitan Museum, New
York, on Saturday and Sunday after
Moons Is thronged, not merely with
the well dressed. but the shabby
working people. little children. find
ing pleasure-and pleasure which is
of a lasting sort. Look at the great
galleries of art in Europe, the mecca
of the tourists. Last summer the
doors of the Louvre were besieged
by American tourists an hour before
the time of opening, and when opened
a scramble for admission took place.
This is undoubtedly a materialistic
age, but. say what one will. We are
an idealistic people-we love beauty.
But we are the only civilized nation
under the sun which has no national
gallery of art and which govern
mentally gives no recognition to art
as great factor in national life.
This Is a stigma which should be re-
moyed-it is not too soon to begin.
The great National Gallery OF Eng
land was established only ninety
eight years ago. The Metropolitan
Museum Of Art. in New Yorwk. has but
recentlv-in !920-celebrated its fif-
ti,th anniversary. The national gal
lery commission, taking the people
into it's confidence, and through their
co-operation. should not find Congress
unsvmpathetic nor its task impoS-