The New York herald., 1922-10-10

country out there--but we were talking
about the statue
Mrs Simmons believes that statue
should face the west. TO denote the pro-
gressive spirit OF civic virtue, but she
admitted that, considering the shape OF
that corner of the park. such an ar
rangement would have lacked symmetry
Then she laughed.
Its too bad 10 think that Civic Vir-
tue, which should be going Forward,
would fall into the bay II he walked
south from where he stands now"
II like the way he balances that
sword or club on his right shoulder,
she said. "And I like the club Idea
You see, It isn't really a sword. though
it has that shape. A sword might cut,
but from what / have seen OF the forces
of evil and Ignorance I'm New York you
have to pound them instead or cutting
them. And then you must continue to
pound them. It's the only way. And
that may be why I approve OF his size.
and the way be dwarfs the City Hail.
I may as well say that ] have no great
admiration for your city administration
Now, out in South Dakota We have had
IL contend with"
otis MY Statue"
And then the talk was ali of South
Dakota again. of street and park I'M
provements, political movements among
the women of the State. fights against
the renegades of politics. On the way
back to the little room in Fifty-ninth
street she spoke again OF Civic virtue
and she was not in a light mood.
They have called 1t the Rough Guy
she said. Perhaps 1 shouldn't like
that Perhaps / should say it was in
bad taste, undignified. But no. It's
good name. It's a nickname, and we
give nicknames only to thoss we love.
People have made fun of this statue,
but in few years they will come TO
have a high regard for 1t. They Will
even love 1t and be proud OF 1t. They
will recognize 1t as the greatest piece
of public property in New York. And
it's my statue! The idea and the
money!
why" she said. IF they don't like
1t / will always be willing to take the
s125,000. 1 could use 1t. And 1t Is
really up on trial--you remember what
the Mayor said: Well let him go -up
and the people can judge for them
Mrs. Simmons is elderly. portly and
dignified. but she promptly answered
the most difficult question of all.
rs there any bitterness left?" she re-
peated it. mo. There is no bitterness
now. 1t Is all right. If I could have
had the s125,000 my life would have
been different, but don't know that 1t
would have been any better or any hap
pier. I probably would have stayed In
New York and spent 1t on things which,
after all, are useless
Bears No Grudge.
"Oh, don't think I didn't feel II very
deeply once - she exclaimed with flash
which suggested how hard she must have
fought for the legacy. 1T was vital
then. but as we get old nothing is vital"
Mrs. Simmons got out of the taxi and
walked back UP the three flights to her
room on the fourth floor rear. In an
other week or two she is going back to
South Dakota to stay.
And the romance which caused old
Mrs. Angelina Crane to cut her off? The
young physician is old now, almost deaf,
and has n pointed gray beard. He still
Is without a practice and doesn't want
any. He stays at home most of the
time and reads the classics. He is going
to leave few antiques and oil paintings
OF his ancestors to Simmons College
jus to show that he bears no grudge.
But the romance Is gone.
Remember" was that parting word
of Mrs. Simmons. II came back to New
York only to see the statue---nothing
else. We have n street back In Sioux
Falls that has your Broadway beat a
mie.'
And when this couple die the spite
statue and the spite college will be the
only monuments left to remind people of
the old New York families of Crane and
Simmons.