Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-26
Voice Of the People on Topics of the Day
DId Not Know OF Requirements.

DId Not Know OF Requirements.
To the Editor OF The Times DIspa tch
Sir,-lf you had known all the facts.
as you could have done by simple In
Quiry. | can't believe for one moment
you would have published the article
with the offensive title breaking
Faith with u Bcncfactor." which ap-
penred ms leading editorial I'm your
issue OF Sunday last. In reference 10
The paintings presented to the State
! of Virginia by her generous and loyal
son. Judge John Barton Payne. and
| now temporarily housed in the Bat
| tie Abbey
In the first place. this splendid gift
to the state could never have been
lconsummatcd ut all. but for the offer
on the part Of the management OF
the Battle Abbey" to house them in
a Are proof" building until the State
could erect suitable structure to
meet the requirements OF the donor.
In tho second place, no one con
| nected with the Battle Abbey" knew
| OF the requirements contained IN the
letter OF the donor TO the effect that
these paintings should be open free
TO the public on Sundays. holidays and
Saturday afternoons" and. IL feasible
at all reasonable times subject to
such restrictions as may he reason
ably imposed" I say no one In con
troll of the ''Rattse Abbey" knew Of
the existence OF this letter or Of these
or any other directions until tho re-
cent publication of an extract from
this letter. think IL was, on the
Sth Of this month. 4, 80 happened
that JudE" Payne was In Richmond
ON the morning OF the 9Th tthc day
after this publication OF the evening
hcforc) and by the invitation OF the
If n A
their regular monthly meeting. am
informed that among other inquiries.
he was asked by the board IL he had
any suggestions to make in reference
10 the management OF tn. paintings
given 10y him to tho State. and that
u" promptly answered, none what
ever. nut Judge Payn" is gem
ticman OF experience and s"nac. lie
knew perfectly we'll, Therefore that
when these paintings were placed as
they were by his request in the bat
tic Abbey" they thereby came UNI
dor tho control nnd subject 10 the
rules and regulations prescribed by
the authorities of that institution
lie knew. too. that institutions Of
that character can only be run aith
money. II requires between four and
iive thousand dollars II year To- meet
the necessary expenses OF running the
~ 81
no endowment and no membcrship
fees and indeed no incom. from any
source. except tho entrance fees Of
- cents cach anS the small sum
realized from TIA. sales of photo
graphs. Sketches and catalogues
t"W then, let me respectfully ask
~ thiS memorial I" he kent alive? The
management tried for several mou,h.
=" open II frc" :" tho public on Sat
uruaNS Gust as the Confederate Mo.
mora! Literary Society tried to do.
"ul 'h"N round. like the management
al ia" Confederate Memorial Literary
society. that the public came on Sn,
UrdaSS IT would seem Just becnus.
'hht day was free. w. had "a card
on the door stating that ON SATURDAYS
IN" "ullhihg would Ice opened free To
III" pubic and visitors actually wouId
come 10 the door with Tn. cn,r,uc.
lee IN hand and on seeing this card
'h"y would turn away and como hack
-" saturday All Confederate sol p
"'''E' Schhol children and students
az ADMITTED fire." and the manage
hlent would he delighted to bc allc
To throw the building open IN mo mn
nc every week day free Of any charrc
NJ present, however. we need every
''n' w" can get TO keep this spl.u-
'' memorial in running order Every
""moer or the management TX tevot .
Jug MS ana her time without fee ar
nope OF reward TO the accompiIsb
''"t "f ms end. and we think. with
"Ii respect. We deserve the tbankY
vi me pc"pi" OF the South and cs
reciaiiy thoe" OF this CITY and S,,t.
lor what We are trying SO hard to
accomplish. w
AS I" keeping the building open ON
,n', - We are opposed to that on
p,'"''bie. Other institutions of ,b,,
..'. 'n'''r III the city are not open on
! l" the customs Of oar n.n,,i. MA 49,
""""N"' an INFRINGEMENT Of tho laws
"i tho state and city.
w.. GEORGE l.. ClIRISTIAN.
wee President ana Chairman t,x,.,.r
Wv" '"mnittec. Confederate Mo
mortal Institute.
H'"'hohd' va. February oi, 1922.