The Washington times., 1922-06-04

met one day the little son of DIR.
Charles Louis Seya, the new rep
resentative of Latvia to the
United States.
The stranger was herself an
American. and she became so in
terested in the child that she &C.
companied the little fellow homo,
where she found Mrs. Seya, the
boys mother, who was much sur.
prised and pleased to learn that
her son resembled an American
boy. For 1t is the lads great
ambition to follow in his fathers
footsteps and come to live in the
United States.
DIR. Sega had been a professor
In the University OF Riga before
he was sent to Washington on a
diplomatic errand for his coun-
try, which 50 lately achieved its
independence from Russia. He
was therefore absent in the United
States, but Of course Nine. Seya
at once wrote him the news that
their son, who dreams all day and
all night of coming to America,
had been mistaken for an American
boy, and DIR. Seya, too, was equally
charmed, because It is his own
fond hope to bring his family to
live in Washington.
The Arts Club here was the
first to welcome DR.. Seya to mem-
bership on his arrival last year,
which suggests the universally of
art. Since then he has become
a member of many other clubs.
An exhibition of Latvian art
awakened much enthusiasm among
the members Of the Arts Club,
where DIR. Sega also lectured.
TT is A NEW COUNTRY.
Latvia, although it is such a
new country that many people DO
not yet know where to look for
II on the map, has d long history,
and it is a country that has pre-
served under great difficulties its
national spirit as expressed in its
art.
II a nation can maintain the in.
dividuality OF its native art, so,
Thomas Nelson Page told the
American Federation of Arts at
recent meeting, the future of that
country is secure. No other land
can usurp its place in history. for
In the long lapse of time, only it's
art will remain to posterity, and
its story will be CLEANED from
those monuments alone that en-
dure.
America, in the struggle for
commercial supremacy, has failed
as yet to achieve a distinctive art
Of her own, one that could last
throughout the ages, unless the
ruin Of skyscraper could compete
with the Pyramids. the Sphinx and
the Parthenon. 1t is for this rea-
son that we have 60 much to learn
from some of the smaller nations,
who are just now emerging from
obscurity through newly acquired
independence.
The story OF the great Italian
renaissance is told rather by its
art than in any other way, and the
supremacy Of the noble Medici
family is remembered because they
were foremost patrons Of art, not
because they first made colossal
fortunes in trade.
Latvia Is very largely a pastoral,
agricultural land, and that atmos.
phere is favorable TO deep medita.
tion and therefore may have a
tendency toward art production.
Or. Sega has brought with him
rom Latvia examples OF modern
painting and reproductions Of the
early and later architecture. These
pictures may be seen at the office
OF the Latvian delegation in Con-
sress Hall Hotel, and they give
some interesting scenes by Lat.
Wan artists, whose style is quite
distinct from that of the Russian
painters as we'll as from those Of
the neighboring Baltic states, Lith
uania, Esthonia and Poland.
ALL HINT AT BEAUTY.
These views also hint at the
beauty Of the country, the indi.
viduality of the native types, the
old-fashioned houses and churches
and the household arts Of embroid.
cry. pottery and interior decora.
tion.
The secretary OF the Latvisn
delegation, Arved Kundzin, wns
formerly professor Of architec.
ture at the University of Riga. lie
discussed Latvian art at some
length before the Arts Club OF
Washington during the exhibition