Evening star., 1934-05-12

From the Federal Architect.
When We were very young (Which
was a very long time ago) We used to
lie on the floor in the attic and read
the copies Of Harper's and Century
that stood piled under the slope OF
the roof. 1t seemed to us then that
these two publications were a power
and an institution. Poor Century has
zone by the board. but Harper's goes
valiantly on, preserving the former
ideal.
1t surprised us. therefore, in con-
nection with our favored profession OF
architecture, to note that this maga-
zine should take to sneering at hlgh
ideals. In its recent article. headed
The Grandeur That Is Washington,
1t takes a heavy bludgeon in crack at
recent Identification. secured after
years Of patient toll, OF the Capital OF
the Nation.
While we are aware that certain
types Of magazines and books obtain
attention by attacking the sincerity,
the talents, the accomplishments and
the intent OF men who had estab
lished themselves as national figures.
we are puzzled at the Harperian atti-
tude toward the great persons, living
and dead, who have striven to make
the Nations Capital q beautiful and
imposing city.
It seems to us that their effort to-
ward Identification of the city has
really been an admirable and uplift-
ing thing, deserving intelligent sup
port, and not scorn. for the sake OF
filling a page or two with arresting
paragraphs.
We believe that every one should
have the right to express his opinion.
But when the expressed opinion
strikes at a public-spirited ambition,
the attainment of which has been
given tireless study through many
years, there should be more than a
passing thought to justify going into
print with 1t.
The article sneers at Burnham, Nc
Kim. Olmstead and st. Gaudens, as
members of the commission on the
plan of Washington-Burnh placed
by his large ideas and ability for ac-
complishment in the forefront Of town
planners; McKim, inspired figure,
than whom there are few greater In
architectural history; Olmstead. that
widely experienced landscape designer,
and the never-to-be-forgotten st,
Gaudens, whose appealing and in
spired sculpture gives him An i'm
perishable place in our cultural his
tory.
And this was the sort of tripe.'
says Harper's. in effect, that they
put on the commission" And what,
it continues. in effect, did this COM
mission do but 60 back to the plan
fer Washington laid out by the nut
L,Enfant." Can you," the ancient
monthly strives to say, but uses more
words about it, beat that?" and pro-
ceeds to lie down and roll over in q
genteel octogenarian At.
1t goes on to list q few more names
well known in contemporary archi-
tecture-Cass. Gilbert. John Russell
Pope, Delano and Aldrich, Charles
Platt, Henry Bacon, Charles Moore,
Edgerton Swartout, Lee Lawrie and
others-and states calmly. therein
lies the cause tor much Of Our ar
tistic derailment."
As one might say-it is these fellows
Wagner, Verdi, Beethoven and Mozart
who have pulled down the musical
ideals Of the world, or-it Is unin-
spired hacks like Shakespeare. John
son, Keats, Tennyson and Dickens
who have stood In the way Of there
being an English literature.
And how does Harper's criticize the
men named above rs shown In the
results obtained by the efforts Of tn,