The New York herald., 1922-03-15
WOMEN ARE LURES,
SCULPTOR EXPLAINS
MacMonnies, Defending His
'Civic Virtue Defines the
Allegory Of Sex.

Poor. neglected Nathan Hale. who died
regretting that he had only one life to
give for his country. and whose own
Good name might to-day pe under a
cloud IL 1t had not been for the his
torfcal research of David Hirshfield
looked from his pedestal in City Hall
Park yesterday toward the fountain
where, in a few more days, the four
grimacing dolphins will be Joined by q
marble group called "Civic Virtue
that much disputed work OF art which
shows a Babe Ruth like individual OF
magnificent physique but questionable
chivalry trampling two lovely sirens un-
derfoot and rising with a sort OF de-
fiant triumph above their damning al
lurements.
In his dim studio in West Tenth
street. Frederick MacMonnies. sculptor.
whose art is responsible for both the
statue Of Nathan Hale and that OF Civic
Virtue" stopped sculping long enough
to sit down and explain and defend
patiently the symbolism of this boor. this
roughneck. who represents Virtue.
In the first place, Mr.. MacMonnies
said he doubted whether Mayor Hylan.
as reported, really had found the SYM
bolism distasteful to his ingrained gal
sculptor intimated, moreover. that he
considered Mayor Hylan remarkable
man to be able to stand up under the
many jests that are cast In his direc-
ton and still wax fat and strong.
INV sense of humor," said Mr.. Mac
Monnies, weighing each word carefully,
would prevent me from making group
which would show a woman spurning
two or more vicious, attractive males.
That would be ridiculous.
s.In fact, ! consider the work compli-
mentary to the ladies. Far from being
a slam at them, 1t Is quite the contrary.
But It Is purely an allegory. The most
widely accepted form of temptation is
that Of woman, and 1t had been that
way ever since the world first became
acquainted with the story Of Adam and
Eve 1t was Eve who did the tempting
and it was Adam who succumbed.
'.We are getting ahead. Adam, as
say, succumbed, but in this group man
at last, does noe fall. Yes, we are
progressing. AS to the figure Of a mar
representing Virtue, 1t is quite eviden,
that Virtue must be militant. 1t mus'
rise above temptation, or else 1t Is moi
virtue. Woman, allegorically, is the
accepted form of temptation, so what:
wrong with that?
Maybe In twenty-five years we car
show a woman representing Virtue, ant
spurning the tempting males but mo-
now-not now.
The statement of Miss Mary Garrett
Hay, chairman of the New York City
League of Women Voters. that mar
and woman, hand in hand, mounting
confidently and happily a difficult path
would be a good idea for "Civfc Virtue
was called to the attention of Mr.. Mac
MonnieS.
"AlI right for Mendelssohn's Wedding
March, but not for Civic Virtue" re-
sponded Mr.. MacMonnies shortly.
The sams goes for the opinion of Mrs
James Lees Laidlaw. who agreed will
Miss Hay. and said that Mr.. MacMon-
nies's statue does not represent accu-
rately the spirit OF the times. 1t ap-
pears to be the opinion OF the forward
looking women OF this city that. de-
spite the unquestioned beauty OF the
group. 1t is hardly modern.
Many suggestions for group which
should truly represent "Civic Virtue
have been received by the Municipa
Art Commission, Mr.. MacMonnies and
the newspapers. OF course none OF
them will be considered, for 1t Is toe
late and the statue of Roughneck tram
pling Sirens will come down from the
barn of the Piccirilli brothers. marble
chiselers of The Bronx. to take its place
in history a1onp with Nathan Hale