Evening star., 1927-09-04
BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.


all it's water front and several islands,
introduced a bill into the House ask
ing the Secretary of War to relin-
Quish claim to Governors Island as a
military reservation and turn 1t over
to the city as a public park. AS a
military post, Governors Island years
past lost its usefulness, and no one
was franker about expressing this
opinion than Gen. Charles Pelot Sum
meral when he was stationed there.
But Mr.. Cohen's bill aroused opposi-
ton to the War Department giving up
this historical ground. and there are
hundreds of champions who wish Sec
retary Davis to transform it into an
Army airport. That New York City
needs an airport in this convenient
middle ground is not disputed, nor
that public parks could be established
in point of less strategic Importance.
Also. 1t is stated, somewhat acrimoni-
ously, that the great city, presumably
the type of progress and intelligent
trade development on this continent,
lags far behind in the matter of air
ships and Uheir equipment. However
this controversy ends, as the head
quarters of the Eastern division of
the Army it would appear that Gov
ernors Island will pass in the next two
years.
Sir Joseph Duveen, who occupies an
important place in American art cir
cles, though he retains his post in the
Royal Academy in London. is perfect
ing plans to open next Summer a
course in art history for the benefit
of students from this country who de-
sire to visit galleries and to under
stand the latest development in art
tnf
lectures and inspection of the famous
collection of paintings in the British
capital will be planned after the pre-
vailing methods of Summer schools,
and the students must be of serious
trend and not mere sightseers. De-
tails of the selection of students are
yet to be announced, and this gener-
Gus art patron, who recently pur-
chased the entire famous Benson col
lection of Italian masters, Is bearing
the expense of all arrangements up to
the time that matriculation begins.
Although kept very busy by the Metro
politan Museum of Art, of which he
is director, Sir Joseph took the time
to attend the recent salon in Paris, and
his enthusiasm for the exhibit of the
younger British artists has led these
budding geniuses to decide to display
the exhibition first in Buenos Aires
and other large cities Of the Southern
Hemisphere and then to bring the
canvases to this country and to Can
ada. These younger British artists,
all recent pupils of the Royal Acad-
envy, took many ribbons and other
honorS at the Paris salon, and their
work has met with tremendous success
at the hands of French and Belgian
critics, usually rather sparing of
praise of new methods and interpre-
tation.
Mr.. Charles L. Lawrance, who re-
Gently purchased a colonial estate in
South Carolina, locally known as the
Whitehall plantation, is one of those
who contributed to the success of Col.
Lindbergh's epochal fight across the
Atlantic. AS a student in Groton
Academy in 1896, Mr.. Lawrance be-
gan his experiments in flying, ana
after he had taken his degree in Yale, |
in the early 1900s, he continued his
studies and 1914 found him full |
fledged graduate of Eiffel Aeronautic |
School, with a pilots license. He in |
vented what is known to aviators as
the Lawrance wing curve" well
known and practiced by the intrepid
lone flyer from New York to Paris. |
He won the enthusiastic admiration
of Mr.. Herrick, and in 1914 the Am.
bassador invited the President of
France, M. Poincare, to witness an
exhibition flight scheduled by his
young countryman. Mr.. Lawrance
Mad invented the engine OF his plane,
and later, after much experience In
the World War, he invented and
patented the 250-horsepower nine
cylinder motor, the type used by
Comdr. Byrd and by Col. Iindbergh.
The Wright Aeronautic Corporation
bought his device and he is now presi'
dent of the Wright company. II Col.
Lindbergh ever gets real honday ne
ton by Mr. Lawfance, whom he
knows very well, and will be given
genuine treat in shooting quail on the
preserves and eating them in the field,
cooked with wild rice and wild celery,
for which this section near Beaufort
is famous Mr.. Lawrance took fuil
course at Beaux Arts in Paris and ne
Is remodeling the old colonial home
stead on his estate after plans which
he prepared.
) The Ambassador from this country
to Italy and Mrs. Henry Prather
; Fletcher have been passing the sum-
Yner at the baths of Montecatini, in
the Etruscan region, and as both de-
!" light in studying the ancient cities or
Jtaly their Summer proved both pleas
ant and beneficial. These mineral
baths are perhaps the Oldest known
outside Of few in Greece, on the Eu-
ropean continent. Etruria fourlsned
before Rome, and not far from Mont.
catini is the marvellous old city OF
Volterra, the largest of the IL con-
federated cities of the region whlch
fiefied the power of Rome and set up
methods of defense. Volterra SuS-
tained a siege against Sulla's army,
conflict in which Mr.. Fletcher always
took a profound interest, and he has
been finding ample recreation IN
tracing the ancient bulWarks ana de-
fenses. Folterra is now popuiated ny
an artistic people who are employed
men, women ana chiidren, IN the so-
1aceut alabaster works, and the dis
crinninating traveller goes thither for
his marble souvenirs rather than 70
Venice or Rome. A series, of very OLD
yninaS are quite neal. the villa Whlch
the Ambassador and Mrs Fletcher
are occupying, where the red rock
used in mosaic is found, and also a
se,ni-precious stone OF. deep greer
which is used in ceremonial Je"eiE.
The Ambassador toy tone rarely
snends a vacation more than io houfS
DICT nj from his scene of labor. Sex,
eral delightful Summers were .passeu ss
at the lido. near Venice, but that IA
nous seaside resort is becoming 100
crowded for those who really WISH -
rest. Though he and Mrs. FIeISmei
have made several visits to old Elru
ria this is the first season they nav"
been able to pass weeks in exploration
of it's picturesque ruins o,ao.
Mr.. Carl G.. Fisher, who was selecl'
ed to transform Montauk Point rom
commonplace, irregular stretcn Oh
sand dunes into systematic via SUES
is by an odd coincidence descenoall
of one of the early owners or TINS por'
fiop 0f Long Island. Many OL tliO