Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-07-12

4 ROmhHC6 naHBS apOut piCturo
owned by a colored woman Of George
| town. Her brother had been a porter
in a hotel, who had rendered service
to peculiar old lady guest. from
whom he received the picture as q
tip. When the porter died, the pic
| ture fell to his sister. 1t was admired
by Millet, the famous artist, who ex-
lery in the hope of tracing its origin.
While 1t was there. Millet was
drowned on the Titanic, and the pic
ture was returned to it's humble own
| er. Mr.. Bush Brown. president of the
Fine Arts Society of Washington, Of
| fered $500 for II, but advised the
| owner not to sell for that sum, ex-
planning that that was all he could
afford to invest.
The picture Is an Italian master
| piece, believed to date about 1920.
Who was the artist is puzzle, which
battles experts. 1t depicts a rustic in
terror. with mother bathing a scalp
wound of ten-year-old boy, while
two brothers look on.
! Thomas A. Edison is quoted as say
| ing that he is In doubt as to the value
of inventions. as compared with art.
which adds to the beauty OF the
world. He suggests that Greece with
! its beautiful art, and few Inventions,
gave more to the world than later ma
lions with inventive genius. but little
| art. And Edison leads America in
invention.
What is the measure of the import
ance OF an odd Master hidden from
the sight of connoisseurs and the pub
! lie? Does II not become like full
| many gem" which the dark. un-
fathomed caves of ocean bear" The
world holds many an art treasure
| hidden through the accident of own
\ ership or superstition, away from
sight of those who could intelligently
| appreciate their beauties.
differentiate between fee simple prop
erty ownership of a piece Of art. and
the rights of civilization, in the
works which are the supreme prod
ucts of civilization. Genius is be-
lieved to belong to the world, whose
| interest Is superior to the property
| rights of the owners of its tangible
| expression. For example, did not CIV
| ilization protest against the wanton
| raVages of war, which destroyed the
| Cathedral of Rheims, and other works
| of the centuries of art, impossible to
restore or repay with money?
| There are those who believe that
! the products of art genius belong to
all mankind, that their influence may
| inspire and encourage to greater
| achievement. since civilization must
| use the past as stepping stones to
progress. They argue, therefore, that
I 10 hur nRh NsNFa
sal inspiration should be monopolized.
| buried or destroyed under the claim
| of ownership.
| What would be the protest of the
| world if some vandal power should
seize the Sistine Chapel or the Louvre,
! and proceed to wanton destruction of
| their treasures? Would the answer
| that they had been bought or cap
1 tured in war. satisfy all claims?
| How can moral justice be main
| tanned. in such cases, and yet the
| rights of civilization to the enjoy
| ment of the superlative products of
| art be preserved?
| For centuries the Toltecs OF Tint
zuntzan, Mexico. located miles from a
railroad. have worshiped a genuine
Titan painting, The Entombment of
| Christ" The picture had been given
by Charles V to bishop. about 1900
A. D.. in token of reward for his sue
cessful missionary work amongst the
people.
F. Hopkinson Smith tells in his
! book, Under a White Umbrella" how
he was mobbed and his life endan-
| gered because. while studying this
; masterpiece, he had dared to touch
| the canvas.
| Later another traveller was threat
| ened because he ventured to photo
graph the painting and its environ
ment.
| The possessors have refused enor-
nous sums in gold for it, yet there
! is not the slightest trace of art ap-
probation amongst those ignorant
| Mexican Indians. so jealous and SUI
! perstitious of their canvas. 1t is not
! seen once a year by anybody who
knows art. How can justice decide
| whose is the greater right to the
Titian-the world of civilization and
art or the people of primitive super
| stition, believing that that canvas
/ can heal by miracle, and who have
I