Evening star., 1934-05-27

Americas most distinguished skip
per, President Roosevelt, will be in his
element on Thursday, when he goes
aboard the Indianapolis, to review
the United States fleet, accompanied
by Mrs. Roosevelt and a party of in
vited guests.
1t will be glorious sight with the
majestic greyhounds sailing past with
flags flying and the great guns BOOM
ing the national salute. Even to the
veriest landlubber it would be thrill
ing spectacle, but to one of the elect
to whom the salt spray brings that
Intangible something that only Con-
rad or Masefleld can describe, it is
the elixir of life. The long and ardu-
Gus working hours of the last IA
months will be forgotten as the Com
mander-in-Chief of the Navy, stands
at attention, as the fleet sails by.
In the collection of paintings of
the United States fleet, in the Ma
tional Museum, there is one of the
Indianapolis, on which the President
will review the feet on the 3lst. To
one who knows but little about ships
it looked like very fine picture,
and this opinion was confirmed by
two sailors who were standing in
front of it discussing ships-making
comparisons, and so on; but they de-
cided that the water was not wet
enough to swim in, and the ocean
spray too much like a snowstorm.
1t would have been interesting to
have made the tour of the exhibition
OF 40 paintings of the fleet, with them
but as no invitation was forthcom-
ing, the tour was made with numer-
GUS other sightseers who were evi-
IDENTITY mostly from inland.
This collection is sponsored by the
Los Angeles Art Association, and has
only recently been placed on exhibi-
tion in the foyer of the museum.
1t is the work of Lieut. Arthur E.
Beaumont, United States Naval Re-
serves. who was attached to the fleet
as official artist. He lived aboard the
different ships, saw them in action,
was a part of the life, and daily wit
messed the varied climatic conditions
which lend atmosphere to most of
his work.
Whether water color is as good a
medium as oil for sea views, is a
question for marine painters to de-
eide. Most of Mr. Beaumonts pic
lures, however, are in water color, and
the momentary effect in the changes
OF sky and sea often leave something
TO be desired
1t is disappointing that the John
Gellatly collection in the museum. or
National Art Gallery, has not been
completely catalogued, since there are
so many beautiful and unusual art
objects in it that one is curious to
know about.
Ihere are some examples of Bv-
zantlne art that are very beautiful
and some small objects of mille-fiori
glass that are rare and exquisite.
MlIle-f1ori glass is an old Venetian
mosaic glass, to which much romantic
and sentimental history is attached
The pieces in this collection have a
little of the irradiant light like sew
eral Syrian glass cups and bowls
near by.
To 60 from the National Museum
across the park to the Freer Gallery
is like going from the glaring rays of
the sun into the cool. sequestered
shade of deep forest, SO contrasting
is the atmosphere of the two places.
After all small galleries seem the best
for art, one can better study the
objects.
The patio of the Freer Gallery has
never seemed more beautiful and sat-
1sfylng than it has this Spring. Moth
ing could be added or taken from it
1t seems perfect. The planting, the
fountain and the cool arcades sur
rounding the patio are all a part of
the whole. Go as soon after 9 o'clock
in the morning as possible-it's love-
lest then. If, however, you want to
see the Smithsonian, its neighbor, at
its loveliest, go on bright moonlight
night and gaze up at the seven tow
ers-maybe there are eight.
In the Freer Gallery there has re-
Gently been added some East Indian
sculptures, paintings and several
examples of ancient art. The Near
Eastern art in Christian and
Islamic Illuminated manuscripts is ex-
1NAoASNJ oo PSA4CNb d11O ID
every detail in some of these parch-
ments, that magnifying glass is
really necessary to bring out all the
fine points of one of the most an
cient arts.
To return to the sea and marine
pictures: There was dedicated in the
Seamen's Church Institute, in New
York, last week, marine library in
memory of Joseph Conrad This COL
lection of 1000 books was formed
around the nucleus of Conrad's sea
tales, and there is painting in the
institute of the Torrens, passenger
and freight vessel plying between
London and Australia, on which Con-
rad, as chief officer, made the last
voyage of his Seagoing career. There
is also a map on which has been
marked the different ports mentioned
in Mr.. Conrads stories; also places
he is believed to have described under
fictitious names. There are copies of
w. Clark Russells THE Wreck of
the Grosvenor" and Golden Hope"
The two last should be on every
little boys bed-bookshelf, for they are
stirring tales of the sea.
In President Roosevelt's proclama-
tion designating last Tuesday, May
%. as Maritime day, he called at
tention to the fact that on May %,
1919, the steamship Savannah sailed
from Savannah, Ga, on the first
successful transoceanic voyage under
steam propulsion. thus making a
material contribution to the advance
ment of ocean transportation"
Madame Secretary of Labor, when