Evening star., 1935-03-24
By James Waldo Fawcen.
NDREW w. MELLON has per-
mitted an announcement of
the gift of his unparalleled
A collection of great paintings

NDREW w. MELLON has per-
n mitted an announcement of
IA the gift of his unparalleled
4 \ collection Of great paintings
to the Nation, but it probably
will be many months before he will
be ready to reveal the full magnifi-
cence of his philanthropy.
Thus far only a small portion Of
the former Secretary of the Treas
1lry'S plan has been disclosed MI.
Mellon himself has granted no inter-
views, authorized no detailed pub
licity His attorney, Frank J. Hogan
of Washington, has said that it was
his idea to maintain unbroken
secrecy about his intentions until
final organization of the endowment
had been completed and that it was
with the most painful reluctance trGt
he finally acquiesced in a partial
statement of the bare outlines of the
project.
There were many reasons for Mr..
Melons reticence. The exact form
which his presentation to the peop'e
should take was, and still is, one
aspect of the problem. Naturally
his dream and to insure its prosperity
over long period of years. At
present the collection in large part
is in the hands of the trustees of the
Mellon Educational and Charitable
Trust Fund, organized in 1881, and
it is doubtful if any change in these
arrangements will be initiated in the
near future.
MEANWHILE, Mr., Mellon is anx-
ious to prevent confusion be-
tween the gallery which he means to
build in Washington and the National
Gallery of Art. The latter, as he
sees it. is Government proposition,
pure and simple. and the building
needed to accommodate it should be
constructed with funds provided by
Congress His own purpose is to erect
a separate edifice for the display
Of the truly notable paintings which
he already has gathered and canvaseS
Of equal Importance and value which
other citizens may wish to contribute.
The Mellon gallery. it is indicated,
will be similar in size to the Folger
Library. But as yet Mr.. Mellon has
selected no site, appointed no archi-
tect, drawn up no schedule of require
mentS for the structure. The one
definite step he has taken, SO far as
details are concerned, is that of ruling
that the building is not to bear his
name. He Is insistent that it be un-
derstood that he is not establishing a
memorial to himself or his family.
His children, however, are inter-
ested in the undertaking and have
been keenly enthusiastic in their sup
port Of his intention. Paul Mellon is
q trustee Of the existing fund and has
made generous contributions to it's
initial work in behalf of science, art,
music, charity and religion.
Some confusion resulted from in.
accurate reporting of Mr.. Hogans
original statement in Pittsburgh, Feb
ruary 19, regarding the money value
Of his clients gift The first figures
reported were $19,000,000. but that
sum represents only fraction of the
total market worth of Mr.. Melons
pictures. Appraisers skilled in the
'business" of art have estimated that
his collection would bring from $25,-
100000 to SAC, 900 900, if it were to be
sold at auction And, in addition to
his paintings, Mr. Mellon is giving
the gallery to shelter them, fund to
maintain and if necessary to enlarge
the gallery and fund to provide for
the purchase of such further MASTER
pieces as from time to time may be-
come available. Actually. then. sum
approximating $50,000,000 is repre-
sented in his contribution toward the
elevation of the cultural status of the
Capital.
And Mr.. Mellon hopes that other
Americans will do as much or more
for Washington. He has been loyal
and generous to his native city, but
between 1921 and 1888 he learned to
share the vision of George Washing
ton and Thomas Jefferson for the seat
of the Federal Government as the
natural center of the educational life
OF the people. Now he looks forward
to the day when the District of Co
lumbia will be crowded with institu-
tions of learning, serving the whole
Nation to the end that genius may be
democratized and existence thereby
be rendered more abundantly happy
and free. Every citizen, he believes.
has the power to aid in the attain
pent Of that goal. 4