Evening star., 1924-03-30
AS ARTISTS SEE WASHINGTON
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN-

Washington, Mr. Williams says en-
phatically that laws should prohibit
commercial structures from spelling the
effect OF the three and four story gov
ernment buildings.
Here the miniature painter drops his
work to add his plea for An artistic
Capital. The United States, he believes.
should begin building fine national art
collection in Washington, if only for the
reason that such q collection would be a
or may not increase in value. Buying
them is more or less of a gamble But
a wisely chosen collection of modern
art Is q good business investment for a
nation.
srance has recognized this. The
French government appropriates
funds regularly for the purpose of
buying the works Of modern artists
for the Luxemburg gallery in Paris.
Artists are willing to sell to the
Ersneh 1nns .n go,ernsmsnt 1sas at, at somewhat
vate customers. because they are
glad to have their work accepted by
the Luxemburg. TAe result of the
French policy toward modern art is
that modern paintings bought by the
government have increased in value
from 10 to so per cent since they
were purchased.
This is ordinary business fore
sight applied to a worthwhile pur-
pose. At the same time French ar
lists are encouraged by the govern
ment. and the country is making a
valuable collection.
Ne Time Like the Present.
The present is regarded as an op-
perfume time for the United States
to do likewise. France, Great Britain
and other European nations have lit
tie money to spend on art, because
of war obligations, and the United
States can have its pick of art on the
market.
The miniatue painters idea is that
a great national gallery of modern
art is not only a logical feature of
a nations capital, but that the ma
tion's paintings should be at the dis
posal of the people who can not go
to the gallery to see them. That is. it
should be possible for exhibits of the
paintings to travel to municipal art
galleries all over the country.
As transportation and long-distance
communication develop the National
Capital ts being brought closer to the
TSok'aS oau Aec ~cL0IC Is Oh I1O10 .
personal interest to them Not so
many years ago the average govern
ment clerk seemed to be a native OF
Maryland, Virginia or the District of
Columbia Washington was patiently
southern in speech and manner.
Washington is still a southern city
In some ways. At many boardin e
house tables the Virginia accent and
southern dishes still hold the bal :
afice OF power. But the war brought
government workers from far cor
ners Of the country. and many of
them have remained. In addition,
thsro are always the congressional
and the foreign diplomatic sets. And
now the tourist from anywhere in
America, on his way to Palm Beach
Newport or California stops of casu-
ally to see the sights Of his Capital.
with 30 many kaleidoscope elements
OF population blended the city 10
moro truly national and international
than ever before
This complex national scene has
been sadly neglected In our American
literature, Mr.. Williams thinks.
Some outward symbols Of the Capt.
tai, such as the White House, polfti-
clans and old Warrington residence ss,
have been introduced occasionally
into romances as local color. But
the spirit OF Washington, its inner
machinery and its effect on those
who live and work and play In the
shadow OF tbs public buildings have
not been exploited with the thor
0ughne9e that the secrets OF New
xnEk London and Paris haxs been. +.