Evening star., 1926-12-03
Lauds Arts Commission
Writer Joins in Protest Against
Inharmonious Esthetics.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
In a news article concerning the
move of the National Commission OF
Fine Arts to enlarge its powers OF
Jurisdiction over the esthetic devel
opment of Washington, The Evening
Star November 28) quotes the roi
lowing from the commissions annual
report:
"What is lacking today Is the Ma
tional Capital spirit to overcome. anu
if need be to override, the individual
istic impulse to exploit Washington
for private gain. If plans would have
accomplished this result washington
would be all that one dreams, Tor the
plans have been made and duly re
corded, but there has been no COM
pelling force behind the plans. =.
Permit me to suggest that 1t IL
the national official spirit whlcn mas
been lacking and that indiv1duanstie
impulse is not altogether to blame ~
the matter of sordid sacrifice OF CIVIC
beauty.
Many years ago-years before
mercenary individualism was serious
ly involved in the work OF estnetle
development The Evening star
waged editorial war against the ma
tionalistic impulse to save money !,
real estate by erecting pubic ouliu
ings on the Mall. The Stars editoriais
had vitalizing effect on pupne
opinion, and for a time the resui'
of it's campaign was encouraging.
Since then. however, the Mall, to
noticeable degree, has been natlonal
istically exploited, If that Is not toe
strong a word. BY way OF Illus
tration and as an object lesson ir
fine-arts past performances, con
slider the DETACHMENT Of the Smith
sonian grounds.
The Smithsonian Building, When as
q. schoolboy I first learned to admire
il. was an integral feature OF the
splendid park which formed its set
ting. It pleased the eye from every
point Of view. Today its varied ano
picturesque outlines can be fully en-
loved only from the north, and even
that point of view has been circum
scribed by the new National Museum
building. On the south, close to TIE
southwest corner of the Smithsonian
Building, is the Freer Art Gallery
more or less attractive, but architec
turally out of place. East Of the Freel
building are a number OF barnnKe
structures, including a high boaro
fence, while still farther east are the
old Museum Building and the Army
Medical Museum, both utterly inhar
monious where they stand.
Certainly, If Nine. de Stael was
right in her fancy that architecture
is frozen music, the expensive aggre
CATION Of marble, brownstone, granite
wood and brick in the Smithsonian
grounds is frozen jazz.
So the Mall, in respect to it's orig1
nal design, has been bisected, the
rare sylvan charm of the Smithsonian
grounds has vanished, and we see
| that the individualistic have been
simply following horrible examples
SET by the nationalistic exploiters
| There are signs that in time the latter
| NAV fully realize that primrose o1
| the river brim Is something more
! When they do, we may expect ina
| individualistic exploitation or oul
| civic growth will to a great extent o'
| checked.
In the meantime, it is encouraging
| TO learn that the National Commission
of Fine Arts thoroughly recognizes
| the need for a compelling force II
its work. for much more than per
f,lnctory gesture will be required Il
! hold Congress to an adequate and f1na
understanding of Capital esthetics.
Even the big triangle betweeI
Pennsylvania avenue and the Nal
| NAV vet be a source of much trouble
| esthetically. So long as any slzani'
! portion of that triangle is vacant, M
| matter how we'll sodded and attrac
tive, there will he official eyes tt
! scrutinize it in the light of its pos
sibilities as a building site. Indeed
; to Judge from the past. In the ap
| plication of whatever compelling 1orc'
the commission has in mind, 1t Will o.
very difficult to make official ut1li
tarians observe strictly the funda
mental axiom that the esthetic value
of parks and outdoor works OF art
particularly of architecture. may b'
| lost and good money wasted In an In
| congruous or crowded setting.
Seriously speaking. with view t
simplifying and facilitating the worl
of Federal City betterment. why no
reorganize the National Commission
of Fine Arts as an auxiliary brancf
of the National Capital Park ant
Planning Commission?
VIM. TIPTON TALBOT.
]