Evening star., 1939-03-26
Hope Expressed for Society of Cincinnati
Museum in Anderson Home by Fall
Collection to Contoin
Many Interesting
Art Objects

Hope that the Larz Anderson man
sion, 2118 Massachusetts, avenue
NV, will be open to the public by
next fall as treasure house Of art
objects and historical relics was ex-
pressed yesterday by Maj. Gist Blair.
Maj. Blair is chairman of the
Board Of Regents of the Society of
the Cincinnati, to which the man.
sion has been given. He is in charge
of providing the treasures that seem
destined to make the house great
new national shrine.
Currently, funds are being sought
to provide an endowment which will
assure operation of the place as q
museum. Maj. Blair announced that
$4,000 has been raised so far.
Home Bequeathed.
The mansion was offered to the
society at the suggestion of Mr.. An
derson, diplomat of high standing
and descendant of distinguished for
bears. His will suggested to Mrs. An
derson that she turn the home, with
its priceless art objects, over to the
society.
Since Mr.. Anderson's death, men,
mers of the society have been work.
ing ceaselessly to establish the mu-
scum. Maj. Blair's announcement
indicates their dream is near fulfill
ment.
Primarily, the new museum will be
memorial to Gen. George Wasn-
ington, first president of the Society
of the Cincinnati. and to the officers
of the Colonial Army who founded
the organization on the windswept
banks of the Hudson River at the
close of the Revolutionary War.
The society was officially formed
after the treaty of peace was signed
in 1888 Members were the men OF
the Army who were preparing to
scatter to all parts of the country
and take up their normal life.
With this in mind. they chose the
plural of the name of Lucius Quintus
Cincinnatus, the Roman who turned
down high honors after leading his
countrymen to victory and returned
to his plow.
Since, the eldest sons of the orig
inal Revolutionary soldiers have
been eligible for membership, along
with chosen few honorary men,
bers. The society has also a French
branch.
Served in Two Wars.
Mr.. Anderson, one-time Minister
to Belgium and later Ambassador
to Japan, is a descendant of 1t.
Richard Clough Anderson, Revolu-
tionary War aide to Gen. Lafayette.
Mr.. Anderson himself served his
country in two wars-as a soldier
in the Spanish War and as a Red
Cross worker during the World War.
To the Revolutionary 1t. Ander-
son, Gen. Pulaski handed his sword
as he lay dying. This is among the
treasures stored in the Anderson
home.
AS result of the action of Rep
resentative Virginia Jenckes of In
diana and Senator Theodore F.
Green of Rhode Island, Congress
has declared the Anderson property
tax free. The District of Columbia
Commissioners told Congress that
the property will be used as a ma
tional headquarters of the Cincin-
natl and public museum"
When the mansion is opened the
public will get to see a collection
OF treasures and relics of American
history unmatched in the country.
Throughout the building the en-
blem Of the Cincinnati-a bald
eagle rampant-is worked into stone,
designed on ceilings, portrayed in
murals. There is little doubt that
Mr.. Anderson, when he built the
house in 1902, had in mind its ulti-
mate use by the society.
Over the portico of the main door,
way is a pediment with the eagle
OF the Cincinnati carved in stone
In the choir room, so called because
OF the many beautifully carved old
choir stalls ranged around it's walls,
are frescoes portraying the wars in
which the United States has been
involved.
Decorations by MOwbray.
The decorations were done by H.
Siddons Mowbray, famous muralist,
with Mr. Anderson furnishing most
OF the themes. Among the many
striking murals Mowbray designed
group symbolic of Revolutionary
days, "The Pioneers" "The Call
to Arms for the Revolution, /"
"The French Alliance" and THE
Triumph"
In the Key room, the paintings
are carried all the way. around the
walls, giving a softened tapestry
effect. The murals, with the soft
colorings and actual likenesses to
Revolutionary characters, join one
historic event to another.
Among the figures portrayed are
Gen. Washington, presenting the
diploma Of the society to Gen. La
Fayette, with the Comte de Rocham-
beau, Baron Won Steuben, Gen.
oASSA1, 1eAClldlu " SlOuS1l kAlluCTSOIl
and other famous characters among
those present.
Villegas famous painting "The
Growing of the Dogeressa of
Venice" work by Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds, Lely, Raeburn. Lawrence and
other masters adorn the walls of
other rooms. Priceless silver and
china, Flemish tapestries, jade
figures and wood carvings-collected
by the Andersons in their travels
about the world-are found in the
home.
To the relics of American history
collected by the Andersons, the
Cincinnati are adding their own
precious objects. The museum will
be one of the most interesting in
the city, it is said.
Has 1880 Members.
The society now has membership
of about 1850. This includes the
French chapter of $50, descendants
of those who came from France 10