The Washington times., 1925-03-02

home of Americas greatest COM
| poser, Edward Mcdowell, there
| exists q fulfilled dream, the realiza-
| ton of the whispered appeal of a
dying man, some fourteen years
ago"
Edward Mcdowell, after a life
of strain, had found calm for his
musical creations in this ideal hill
country of the North. In his last
illness he pleaded that some plan ne
devised to give creative workers in
the arts the opportunity to work
for a portion of each year away
from the distractions of the city
and free from financial care.
His wife pledged herself to the
fulfillment OF this great ideal.
Our Mcdowell Society.
Today the National Capital has
joined many cities of the entireN ma
ton in ardently supporting the
Mcdowell Colony.
A Mcdowell Society Of Washing
ton has been formed, due to the
enthusiasm brought back from the
J colony last summer by III. X. Bush
Brown. sculptor, and his gifted
wife, M. Lesley Bush Brown, por-
trait painter, who both profited by
a months sojourn there last season.
We must not forget, howeNec,
that the existence Of the Mcdowell
Colony has been kept alive in our
minds for some years through the
Mcdowell Music Club, Of which
Georgia e. Miller has been founder
and chief promoter. They are now
in hearty accord with this larger
movement, but to this small club
the honor Of the first step in sus-
tanning this great work must be
| granted.
During the period Of years that
Mrs. Mcdowell has maintained the
colony, over two hundred artists,
poets, dramatists and other writers
| and musical composers have had
the advantage and inspiration Of
living at the colony for a long or
short period.
II All May Become Members.
To make this possible the large
deficit has been made up by friends
of the colony but more especially
by Mrs. Mac Bowel from her, own
| income and lecture recitals.
! This cannot be continued. and
so an endowment fund of $500 900
Is being raised among those who
wish to have this great national
asset" perpetuated for the sake
of the Creative" arts Of America.
The Mcdowell Society of Wash.
ington has for it's officers H. X.
Bush Brown, chairman of the ex'
ecutive committee; Carl Engle. Ed
ward H. Droop, Mrs. Walter Bruce
Howe and Mrs. Eugene Byrnes.
Membership is divided into active
membership at IS a year and asso-
ciate membership at 81 a year.
This, however, puts no limit on
donations.
Keep alive genius! might be it's
motto, with invitations to all who
value the finest inspiration of life
to become a working unit in this
altruistic purpose.
Treasures of Last Summer.
The Bush-Browns have brought
back substantial evidence Of the
inspiration of Peterborough.
Mr.. Bush-Brown has epitomized
the spirit of the colony in series
Of eight bas.relief on productive
art. 1t is significant that small
winged Loves" the CLASSIC emblem
of joyous or winged cupids, mover
| over all these models.
Their message carries a philoso-
ply as well as a story. There Is
the Flower of Productive Art,
PAM" Venus is lovely figure IN
the Creation Of Art" Farther on
we find that this creation of art
leads to religion, in a Madonna
Enthroned," while the cupids have
been transported into singing cheru-
bins, behind whom come the mighty
professional" OF mankind's upward
march through the world.
Mrs. Bush.Brown has brought
some fine pastel sketched portraits
of the sojourners at Peterborough.
OF special interest to Washington
Is a delicately caught likeness of
Mrs. John Jay White, who was
staying at the John w. Alexander
studio. Another is Of Rose Gallop
Cohen, Russian writer, who was
hours for writing after many years
Of stress. and who has amassed a
rare autobiography. She brings
back a strong portrait of Lazarc
Saminsky, Russian composer, among
some five or six completed in the
month.
Spirit Of Colony In Oil.
But foremost Of all is an oil Of
her husband, seated in their studio.
reading. Not alone is the likeness
forceful but without. through an
open window Mrs. Bush-Brown has
caught the very essense of the "In
Deep Woods" that Mcdowell has
more potently than words put into
music that we all know.
Peterborough, the MacDowell
Colony, had talk and musicale
last Friday cover the air." The three
benefit concerts will include that
OF Mrs. Beach, a later one by Charles
Wakefield Cadman, our Ameri-
can composer; another will intro
duce to us Bruno HUM. the charm
ing composer OF songs, whose I'm
victus" is an inspiration. There will
be a Peterborough evening at the
Arts Club on March 10.
Mrs. Edward Hood Watson, treas.
urer and Mrs. Duff Lewis.- secre-
tary. will be happy to furnish any
further information to those desir-
ing to become a part OF the Mao"
Dowell Society Of Washington.
OPPAEIIC CHR nEEERC