Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-25
is NEW YORK QUITE SANE?
RUMBLED Mayor Hylan. "


LA critical eyebrow at the sculptured
group composed by Frederick MacNonnies to
symbolic Civic Virtue and intended for
City Hall Park. New York, before it fell
under the fire Of womens organizations be-
cause it represents a muscular youth tram
pling and spurning two female figures typi-
flying temptation or something of the sort,
don't like that fella's looks, You ladies
don't have to go very far to get your argu-
ment across with mo. ! wouldn't like to
see that fea put up in City Hall Park"
Virtuous and enlightened Hylan! What.
we wonder, does MacMonnies think Of the
look Of him as he stands blinking at this
fine example of decorative art? Does Mac
Monnies like to see a Hylan set up in City
Hall? 1t is said that one Of the first and
surest symptoms of dangerous mental de-
terioration is the conspicuous absence Of
sense of humor. II ever there was demon
stration Of bleak and humorlcss prejudice in
any high place it was presented in New
York when Mr.. Hylan and the ladies of the
National Woman's Party and other sup
posedly high minded groups assembled to
walk around Mr.. MacMonnies' 'fela' and
pass unfavorable judgment upon him.
This "fella" has bad manners. it seems.
What gentleman would spurn a lady with
his foot? The representatives Of the wom-
bright, new day is here. The time has
passed when artists could preach inequality
Of the sexes In their painting and sculpture.
Out with this thing Had Mr.. MacMonnies
been up to his job he would have made
lady and gentleman marching arm in arm
toward the bright millennium
Is there not anywhere among the sup
posedy bright young journalists of Manhat-
tan or in Greenwich Village or In the Pub
lie Library any one able to convince the
Mayor that decorative art never was and
never will be created with a thought Of
realism or for any personal implication?
Would Hylan and the crusading Indies be-
lieve that MacMOnnies would have cheer
fully shown himself as the chief devil of his
group IL he could have made his meaning
palmer thereby? 1t is true that he missed
gorgeous opportunity. He might have
shown his heroic youth trampling upon the
neck of Mr.. Hylan or Mr.. Murphy But
even sculptors read the newspapers, and Mr.
MacMonnes wasn't trying to create q mad
fantasy in marble or to depart too widely
from the realm Of the probable or the true
His symbol is more suggestive of con-
srious sex discrimination than a Greek col =
umn would be-
Hylan and the ladies see it otherwise.
And they seem determined to get by with
really hope to shut the group out Of the
park for which 1t was made. Here, then,
is a chilling reminder Of the sculptor's pre-
yious experience In Boston, where his ex
ouisite Bncchante was refused because It
was gay and beautiful, and, therefore, Of
fensive to the gloomy New England con :
science. Moreover, this Bacchante faunted
a bunch Of accursed grapes.
The incident Of the Civic Virtue is even
more darkly ominous, more terribly reveal =
ing than the incident Of the lovely
Bacchantc. For the phenomenal hyper.
constituencies and the mood of militant fool :.
ishness here revealed In representatives OF
widely organized women are depressing in
n country which has only begun to expert =
ment with the equal franchise. What is
! there to be said of New York Of the Night
Clubs. Of the Tammany Collar of the
Legislative Tong, Of Hearst, of Smutty
| Stories as, in the person of NJ; yor Hylan,
It expands Its chest and, with a wide gesture
| intended to suggest awful chastity, refuses
| to look upon good piece of decorative
sculpture which, 1t would have you believe,
might react to impair It's perfect virtue
Is hypocrisy carrying some Americans to {
state. OF mild insanity? Or does New Yorl
merely ,psed an intsltSsnt 2ayegl ~ \. Z.