Evening star., 1925-02-01
BY LEILA MECHLIN.

an informal meeting held last
~ Sunday evening at the studio
"A of Mr.. and Mrs. II. X. Bush
u Brown the MacDowell Society
of Washington was organized.
The purposes of this society are:
First, to foster the appreciation and
spread the influence of the works of
Edward MacDowell, the noted Amer
lean composer; second, to give one or
more concerts every year primarily
devoted to MacDowell's work, but
secondarily to that of other American
composers; third, to increase member
ship in the MacDowell Association
and League, and to secure additional
support for the MacDowell colony at
Peterborough, n. H. which is main
tanned solely for the advancement of
all the fine arts and is reckoned d
national asset in civilization. The
organization is to have secretary,
a treasurer and an executive COM
mittee, but only the latter seem to
have been chosen at the organization
meeting. This committee is composed
as follows: Carl Engel, chief of the
division of music of the Library of
Congress: Edward II. Droop. Mrs.
Walter Bruce Howe. Mrs. Eugene
Byrnes and II. X. Bush Brown. Mrs.
Helen Corbin Heinl was appointed
tainment and program.
There are MacDowell societies with
similar aims in other cities. and there
are numerous members of the Mac
Dowell Association at large here in
Washington. 1t is among these
primarily that membership for the
local chapter will be recruited. But
the MacDowell colony at Peter
borough. N H.. which is for painters
and sculptors, as well as musicians
and writer's, is at the present time
making a valiant effort to secure
adequate endowment. and the Wash
ington society will undoubtedly give
what support 1t can to this movement.
AS every one may not know, the
Mcdowell colony at Peterborough
was esta blished on the place where
for the last few years of his life this
brilliant American composer had his
home. where at the end of a life full
of difficulties he found that haven of
peace for which his soul had long
yearned He believed firmly that the
creative genius could not put forth
his or her best effort in the midst of
squalor or in the face of fierce strug-
gle to maintain life. He also strongly
advocated the correlation of the arts,
the meeting together in social inter-
different fields, or, more properly, diff
ferent sections of the same great field
of art His beneficent dream for
others has found realization in the
Peterborough colony established by
his widow. who was one of his pupils,
and carried on under her direction
mostly through her own heroic effort
through the aid of friends not only
of MacDowelIs. but of music, paint
ing. sculpture. poetry and the drama
those who find in these arts their
greatest joy.
Splendid property is owned now by
the association. Hereon, chiefly in the
woods, studios have been built for
the use of the resident artists.
Among these is the John w. AleNan-
der memorial studio, erected by Mrs.
Alexander. There is a house for men
and a house for women, and a guest
house." besides the MacDowell home.
Every one who goes there for the
Summer pays nominal sum for
board. a ridiculously small sum as
compared to what the upkeep costs,
but enough to feel independent. The
members of the colony meet in
Colony Hall for breakfast and din
ner, luncheons are sent in baskets to
the studios, and there are long days
of uninterrupted work. No one is ad-
mitted except on special recommen-
dation and after having given evil
dence of possessing real creative
ability. The names of many who
have attained fame are to be found
on the roster of succeeding Summer
colonies.
1t is a fine ORGANIZATIONS great
bsnefcence, and the fact that a Mac
Dowell society has been formed here
in Washington should tend to bring
Washingtonians in closer touch with
it.