Evening star., 1935-10-13

Y GENERATION for antiques.
~ from stately mansions and
" period furniture down to hob
nail glass and candle molds,
has its counterpart in the realm of
travel. Two recent public utterances,
one by Secretary of the Interior Ickes
and another by Premier Dysart OF
New Brunswick, stress the point.
The Canadian statesman was out
spoken and put it this way: If We
in New Brunswick are to develop our
tourist trade to the utmost, we must
be alert to the necessity of preserving
the rich historic background which is
ours. The explorations of Champlain
and his associates, the early Colonial
efforts of the French Acadians, the
sacrifice of the United Empire Loyal
lists, the reconciliation of French and
English to the founding of one great
Province, and the struggle for respon-
sible government-all this and much
more constitute story whose appeal
to the visitor is unique"
A TMOSPHERE and diversion are
= recognized as the warp and woof
Of the amazing travel tapestry the
world affords. The English Derby,
with touts and titles elbow to elbow;
the tribal dances of the Apache In
dians; Bastille day, with its exuberant
Parisians: the primitive life of Bali
all are stepped in history. Without
authentic background to pique the
imagination. they would become just
another horse race, another band of
Indians, another noisy holiday. or a
spot on the globe where dress de-
signers have not managed to sell their
creations.
SECRETARY 1CKES, while not
touching on history as the in
spiration of travel, points out that
under an act providing for the pres-
ervation of historic American sites.
buildings and antiquities of national
significance, impetus has been given
to pride in maintaining the rich and
variety lore that sprinkles the country.
Much of the duty in saving shrines is
to fall upon the States and localities.
1T is certainly not desirable that
the Federal Government take over
all historic sites in the country"
Ickes said. "By far the greater num-
ber of such areas are of local rather
than national significance. They
should be cared for, therefore, by
State or local governments or his
torical societies. The Department of
the Interior stands ready to lend every
facility of its technical stan in assist
ing groups interested in carrying out
the provisions of the act"
THE Interior Secretary pointed out
that until the recent act, the
United States had no general policy
for salvaging the physical and cultural
remains Of Americas history. Years
ago other nations outlined their
schemes for preserving heritages from
the past, among them England. France,
Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, the
Scandinavian countries. Mexico and
Japan.
The handicap in America has been
apathy. Historical societies at last
have found a response, quickened in
good measure by act of Congress.
Under the new policy, an inventory
will be taken. and sites will be classed
as Of national importance or of state
and local interest. Technicians will
aid in the restoration and preserva-
tion Of local shrines as well as those
of interest to the nation at large.
AN EXAMPLE of the painstaking
work the National Park Service
is provided in the study of the re-
mains Of two log huts that housed
q part of the Continental Army in
Jockey Hollow, now q part Of the
Morristown IN. J.) National Histor.
ical Park.
The technicians are interested IN