The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-23
WOMEN FR0WN,
81 DOES HYLAN
ON CIVIC STATUE
Ladies All Kick on MacNon-
MES Artistic Conception
of Virtue.

NEW YORK, March Wv neither
the five tons of "Civic Virtue"
which Sculptor Frederick Mac.
Monies designed to ornament the
fountain in City Hall Park will be
permitted to take its place in front
OF the offices of the Civic Fathers
will not be decided until more civic
women have had an opportunity to
tell Mayor Hylan and the board of
estimate what they think about the
mass of marble at another civic
hearing two weeks from now.
The mayor listened smilingly while
a number of citizenesses ragged
against the MacMonnies group yes
terday and was cheered when he
told them he didn't think much of
the group himself.
81 don't claim to know much
about art" said the mayor. as he
beamed on the galaxy Of hats and
beauty which filled the chamber.
But / know / don't like the books
of this chap''-pointing to Fireman
| Lorz's marble reproduction In
photograph Of the group-"and
don't think he'll look well In City
Hall Park"
Women representing civic socie.
ties, women representing clubs,
women in politics, women In busi-
ness, women in professions. women
representing religious communities
and just plain, everyday womenfolk
raising children. were there to tell
the mayor they thought Mr.. Mac
Monnles had desecrated womanhood
and maligned Civic Virtue when he
conceived the idea OF a young
/ Hercules waving a sword and step
ping on the PROSTATE forms Of two
females who are supposed to be
vainly trying to entangle him In the
nets of metropolitan vice.
Few Defenders.
Few voices were raised In defense
OF the group, though one woman.
Mrs. Elizabeth King Black. Of the
! National Women's Party. sarcasti-
! cally declared the MacMonnies group
should be put in City Hall Park to
let women realize what men thought
of them and how women have been
/ cast metaphorically in the gutter by
man.
| III the mans foot is on a rock and
not on one of the SIRENS necks," said
| Mrs. Black, at ought to be on her
neck. for that's just what the fact is.
Men have their feet on women's
necks and the sooner women realize
it the better. Theren be no more
fishes Of women II they can get Il
good glimpse at what man really
thinks of them right In front of this
city hail."
Mrs. Blacks voice trembled with
/ Indignation, and as she sat down a
ripple of applause went about the
room.
Mrs. Ella Boole, who ran for gov
ernor against Miller two years ago
next November, was there to talk for
the w. c. T. U.
| This type of man might have done
for a statue In the Middle Ages" she
said, "but 1t doesn't represent any
| modern man, especially anybody en-
gagged in civic work.
| Mrs. Bodies Idea.
TT portrays the degradation OF
womanhood, not the uplift OF man.
II we are to have something repre-
senting civic virtue, let It show a
man and a woman going along hand
| in hand to elevate the morals OF mu-
nicipal politics. That's my opinion"
| The storm of handclaps which
greeted Mrs. Boole had not died down
when Mrs. r. c. Talbot Perkins de.
| liyered herself of some remarks.
"A little boy going through the
park the other day said, on seeing
Nathan ,Hale's statue she began,
Gee! pipe the guys feet What
do you suppose the boys will say II
| they have a chance to comment on
this outrageous group?
A Lover Of Art.
Mrs. Thomas Leonard told the
mayor she loved art, speaking for
the Civic Modern School.
But 1 think museum would be
q more appropriate location for the
group. where real admirers OF art
can see it. I'm afraid 1t will be sadly
misunderstood by the people who
travel through City Hall Park"
/ send II down to Washington
exclaimed Mrs. John Jerome Rooney.
for the Washington Heights Civic
Club. Tell the Senator's It repre-
sents the four-power treaty standing
on the neck of these Unite! States '
The Lady Fan Speaks.
IT think Christy Mathewson or
Judge Lands would have made q
better model than the one Mr.. Mac.
Monnies selected" said Mrs. Eliza.
beth Edwards. Have him uplifting
baseball The girls can be the fans
in the bleachers, or some college girl
trying to steal a base"
Sculptor MacMonnies sent let.
ter, which read, defending his con.
ception and denying !, WIS meant
to portray fallen womanhood.