Evening star., 1923-05-11
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

| will sent by the association to
France is told with millions of huge
forest trees. e., the trees will be-
| come large. They are forwarded in
| the form of seeds. These will be
propagated in French nurseries, and
| when sufficiently grown will be used
In reforesting devastated France.
When our great-grandchildren visit
France in 1875, or 2000, they will be
shown vast forests: These trees came
| as a goodwill offering from America,
| following the great world war"
Governor General Wood seems to
| be much interested in history. He
| Is finding interesting records of the
past in certain financial data show
| Ing expenditures of Philippine funds
/ and Simultaneous enthusiasm in Con-
gress and out Of 1t for the independ-
ence Of the islands. Patriots who
| grew eloquent in their lectures and
writings appear to have had ample
! inspiration for their lofty sentiments
| at the rate of $500 to $1,000 a month.
| With such inspiration. at the expense
| OF the Filipino taxpayer. they did
/ what they could 10 make good, with
| out haunting their inspiration In the
face of the public.
| Every faker who solicits charity or
aid Of any kind in the name of vet
| eran Of the world war, when he is
not entitled to such aid. Is robbing d
| genuine veteran of all that the fraud
produces. Many of the impostorS
are themselves veterans, but IL does
not follow that they are representing
| a worthy cause In their appeal.
| There are bogus organizations and
| money schemes. including publica-
! tions protesting to represent the vet
! Grams, which are in line for govern
| ment suppression or prosecution.
! Some government officials estimate
! that the spurious veteran relief has
amounted to many millions since the
war. The Post Office department and
the Department of Justice, backed by
the American Legion, are preparing
| to make drive against this form OF
| fraud.
| 1t Is going to take time and earnest
study of the beauties of Whistler's
/ color studies. exhibited in the Freer
/ gallery, for even artists to appreciate
all their charms. His symphonies of
blue and silver" blue and gold" and
| pink and purple" are marvels of
! color. They enrapture the connois-
Seur
! But 1t takes no prolonged study to
thrill at the view of Thayer's tribute
to his wife. That is the most sincere
painting in the exhibit. Ii was not
easy for the artist lover to give wings
and a halo to the mother of his
daughters" without lapsinE into SEN
timentalism, suggestive of the pic
ture card of Valentine day; but
Thayer is so evidently honest that he
is glorious. As masterpiece of
character study and of technique, il Is
unequaled in the collection. Strong!
1t is no wonder that the jealous art
ist has written across the bottom of
the canvas his perpetual decree that
the picture must never be retOuched,
even so much as pinpoint. under
any circumstances. 1t Is holy. IL is
shrine for the earnest art stu
dent though perhaps not for the
dilettante.
1t Is announced as the policy of the
administration of the Freer gallery
that only a part of its collection Will
be exhibited at a time, and $" it can
be renewed every quarter. This plan
has its advantages for the Washing
tonian. 1t permits a freshening of
the exhibit every three months. 1t
also permits avoidance of crowded
wall space. When the entire end of
a room can he devoted To one picture
irrelevant color or theme. The plan
sets off the pictures to best advan-
tage.
But It is not fair to the great num-
her of visitors who are not able To
come to Washington every three
months. Are they not entitled TO con-
sideration and to an opportunity to
see the hidden treasures? Is not this
plan as selfish as that nf some private
owners Of masterpieces. in hiding
such possessions from the greatest
possible publicity" What other gal
lcry, anywhere. hides most of its
charms under a huShcl" or in base
ment vaults: Why this ultra-ex-
CluSiveneSS? Was ii not the intention
of Mr.. Freer that the whole collection
should be exhibited. the whole time.
that the passing traveller might see il
all and select from its treasures
memories and inspiration to carry
away with him?
Copyright. I923 by p. V. Collins.l