davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Miss Elvajane Geach
To Wed Mr.. b. X. Steen.

Mr and Mrs. Thomas Willard
Geach of Toledo. Ohio. announce the
engagement of their daughter, Miss
Elvajane Ruth Geach, to Mr.. Ber-
nard Kenneth Steen of Takoma
Park, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Bernard Steen of Detroit, Mich.
The wedding will take place in
Washington Sunday, which is the
birthday anniversary of Miss Geach
and the 18th wedding anniversary Of
her brother-in-law and sister. Mr..
and Mrs. Charles Williams of To.
ledo, The ceremony will be per-
formed by Chaplain Donald w.
Hunter of the Washington Sani-
tarium, in the apartment in which
they will make their home on their
return from their wedding trip.
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Congressional Club
To Hear Talk by
Miss StapletOn

Miss Stellita Stapleton will be the
guest speaker at tre Congressional
Club tomorrow. She will display
her valuable collection of dolls
gathered from the four corners of
the earth Miss Stapleton. the
daughter of Mrs. Daniel c. Staple
ton, has travelled widely and has
been active in Junior League work.
Those assisting at the tea table
will be Mrs. Frank w. Boykin. Ala
bama: Mrs. Wilburn Cartwright,
Oklahoma; Mrs. Lewis K. Rookie
feller, New York, and Mrs. Emmett
ONeal, Kentucky.
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Wilkins Visiting Here

Mrs. w. D. Wilkin and her three
daughters, the Misses June, Mary
Lou and Marjorie Ann Wilktn, are
visiting Mrs. wilkins parents, Mr..
and Mrs. w. N. Keyser. They are
en- route from Portsmouth, N. H., to
Florida. In March they will join
1t. Comdr. Wilkin on the West
Coast.
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Mr.. and Mrs. Dunph!
Return From Trip

Mr.. and Mrs. Charles H. Dunphy
have returned from their wedding
trip and are making their home in
Georgetown. The wedding was
January Is at St. Paul's Church.
Mrs. Dunphy is the former Virginia
Cooney, daughter of Mrs. Frank H.
Cooney and the late Gov. Cooney
of Montana.
Evening star., 1940-02-08

Know how to be a safe driver and
be the safest driver you know.
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Swift to Sing
At Benefit
Tomorrow
Pro.Musica Quartet
And Miss Tyner
Also on Program

The concert tomorrow for the
benefit of the Finnish relief is at
tracting much interest in the many
circles of Washington society as
well as among music lovers in gen.
eral. The program will be given
at the Mayfower at 4:30 pm. by
Mr.. Garfield Swift, baritone; Miss
Evalyn Tyner. pianist, and the Pro-
Muica Quartet.
Mr.. Swift Well Known
In Washington.
Mr.. Swift and his work already
are known in Washington and he
has made many friends through
his singing over the radio and in
st. Thomas Church. He will be
accompanied tomorrow by Miss
Tyner. who also will play one or
more solos. The Pro-Musica Quar-
tet has established a reputation
for it's work through the series OF
candlelight concerts, which closed
Monday for this season. The quar-
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Stems in Miami

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Stein of
Fifteenth and Emerson streets are
at Miami Beach for a short time.
Mr.. Stein is improving after recent
serious operation.
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Mrs. Wilson Guest

Mrs. Woodrow Wilson was the
guest in whose honor Mrs. Edwin
E. Meredith, widow of the former
Secretary of Agriculture, enter
tanned at luncheon today.
Evening star., 1940-02-08
Hillyards to Leave

Mr.. and Mrs. John F. Hillyard
will leave today for Miami Beach,
where they will spend 10 days at the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. William A.
Simpson, parents of Mrs. Hillyard.
Evening star., 1940-12-29
Bulletin of Current Exhibitions

Gallery Art Seventeenth
tapestries
bronzes and prints Foryh annual exhibition Washington
Color Club through January 10.
OF Washington, NW-Oi paintings by
Grover Page, jr.; ilumnations by Marian Lane
Phillips Memorial Gallery
by artists Washington
December 81 Loan exhibition of paintings by Georges Rouaul
January 15
Public Libary-Eghth NW-Prin by Washing
ton prntmakers through December.
Library Congress- Arts-Lhographs by Joseph
Pnne etcngs other works by contemporary prntmakers
original iuatons photographs of early architecture
Freer Gallery of Art the Mall at Twelfth street sWOental
paintings, sculpture bronze pottery Whistler paintings
prints Peacock American paintings.
NW-Rugs
textiles of the Near ana Far East Open Mondays Wednesdays and
Fridays pm Admission obanabe Office d George
73o Fifteenth NV Closed through January
Constitution NWThe National Collection OF Fine Arts
including the Ge Evans Johnston johnson and Pe collections
porcelains obiets Emil
January Psi; lobby; through December.
National Museum Building the
Mall Eighth street SWPhotogaphs by members of New York
Camera Club; through December.
ALLEGATIONS Gallery, independence
water colors by members of the local Arts Unit.
Gallery Independence SW-Work
by American children of the Argentine.
Gallery 1908 NW-Works by 25 local artists
through December
City place portraits
in oils by Gould, through December.
Wesley NW-Water by Frederique
Counsel through January TO-
Research Library Collection of Early
Christian Art 1903 NWMondays and Thurs
2430 pm; admission only written appHca
tion to secretary stating and hour desired.
Whye Gallery 1907 NW-Pantings by Paul Arl
Gallery paintings students
colleges universities under of Office of Education;
opening today and continuing January 80.
Washington University Gallery, 2121 NV:
Paintings Alfred Stetler, December to January II.
Section Fine Seventh streets S.W-Washingon
Art Critics Water Color Exhibition 10 to weekdays to
pm. Sundays; through January 5.
Evening star., 1940-12-29

artistic merit as we'll as historical
interest.
BY purchase the Phillips Memo
rial Gallery obtained an exception
ally fine painting by Hogarth, The
Singing Party" as well as number
of works by painters of the modern
school.
Miniature Exhibit.
The Corcoran Gallery inaugurated
a miniature collection through the
purchase of a considerable number
of good examples of the work of
American miniature painters of the
present day, and the National Col
lection of Fine Arts added to its
notable collection by purchase, gift
and loan several by painters OF
earlier times. Also, large exhibit
ton of miniatures, assembled by the
Pennsylvania Society of Miniature
Painters, was set forth in the Ma
tional Museum.
The number of exhibitions held
in Washington steadily increased in
1910 until, during National Art Week,
there were more than 30. Among
those especially out of the ordinary
were an exhibition of paintings from
Central and South America and
the United States held in the Corco-
ran Gallery in celebration of Pan
American Week, marking the 50th
anniversary of the establishment
of the Pan-American Union, and,
later in the year, an exhibition COM
prising one painting from each of
the States and territorial posses
sions of the United States. These
were both assembled by and shown
through the courtesy of the Inter-
national Business Machines Corp.
as a gesture of good will and patriot
ism.
In connection with the I. B. M. c.
display collection OF 100 prints by
American print makers for 300 years
was assembled and shown stimuli
taneously at the Corcoran Gallery
by the National Committee of En-
craving.
A comprehensive retrospective ex-
hibition of paintings by Rouault,
French modernist, concludes the
exhibitions of 1910 in the Phillips
Memorial Gallery, following, at con-
siderable length, equally notable
showings by Picasso and Braque,
individualists of the same school,
held here under the same distin-
guished auspices.
In the print rooms of the Phillips
Gallery rare and notable collections
of prints by Daumier and by Goya
were shown.
OF unusual character and very
extraordinary merit were the paint
ings of Mayan sculpture by Joseph
Lindon Smith, exhibited in the
Carnegie Institution, by which sew
eral were acquired.
Through the instrumentality OF
the Pennell Fund. the Library Of
Evening star., 1940-12-29
Intimote Bookshop Show

A third exhibition which merits
a visit before it closes Tuesday, is
the display of more than so paint
ings by 25 artists, most of them
Washingtonians, at the Little Gall
iery of the Intimate Bookshop in
Georgetown. This show was opened
during National Art Week. and
judging from the sales during its
first few days, was one Of the more
successful collections. from the
standpoint of appeal to the public.
There is plenty of variety in this
show, which ranges from traditional
naturaliSm to near-abstractions.
There are several whimsical con-
ceptionS by Bernice Cross, including
her quaint Magician swarming
with rabbits; laconic statements by
Herman Maril; Tired Dancers"
one of Moses Soyer's sympathetic
portraits of the hard-working girls
who dance in ballets and choruses:
Nelson Rosenberg's Marine with
Raindrops," one of the loveliest
paintings in the group: Jean Cir
ards delicate oil, Pink Roses; a
group by Isabel c. Mahafie. of
which -'L Street NV" seems parti-
cularly coed; Barrow Lyons pleas
ing Lonesome Lake" and sketches
OF Mexican types by Mitchell jamie
son. Because of the interest and
variety OF the exhibition, it seems
invidious to mention only these
few.
Evening star., 1940-12-29

not by word, but by deed. This
metamorphosis has taken place in
connection with the art critics eX-
hibition" instituted by Edward Bruce,
on view in the Section of Fine Arts,
of which he is chief, on the fourth
floor of the Procurement Building,
Seventh and D streets SW. Here,
in five separate galleries, are dis
played groups of water colors, ap-
proximately 30 in number, selected
by five local critics from several
thousands sent in by artists in all
parts of the country in response to
an official announcement that 300
would be purchased at $50 each for
placement in marine hospitals.
Each critic was given complete free
dom of choice, as well as abundant
material to chose from; therefore,
each group reasonably may be sup
posed to reflect individual viewpoint
and judgment.
Not only is it unusual to put the
wisdom of critics on trial, but, per-
haps, even more so, to turn upon
them the llmel1ght, which, as a
rule, is reserved for the great or
near great; for, as Royal Cortissoz,
dean of American art critics said
in an essay on 'The Art OF Art
Criticism: Ordinarily he Tin this
instance, invariably, she) is one of
the least conspicuous of mortals." !"
To make this perfectly clear, Mr..
Cortissoz explains that, as a rule,
"an art critic is, to a captain of
industry, what an astronomer is to
a movie star; furthermore, "he
could not, if he would, buy an old
master-he can only talk about it"
There is the crux of the whole
matter, but as this elevation of art
critics only occurs once or twice In
lifetime, it might be well to dis
cuss it briefly.
In the first place, it should be
Evening star., 1940-12-29

NdJlO1ldl 1dlltly Ol Illc oooSPh
Widener Art Collection has been Of
ficially and authoritatively made
known, the Dumbarton Oaks Re-
search Library and Gallery of Early
Christian and Byzantine Art have,
under the trusteeship of Harvard
University. been given by Mr.. and
Mrs. Robert Woods Bliss 10 the
public, for purposes of higher edu-
cation, pleasure and better under
standing.
The National Gallery, with its
world masterpieces, which will be
opened next spring. and the Dunn
barton Oaks Collection and Library
will attract art lovers and scholars
from all parts of the world, as do
the Freer Gallery of Art, the Library
of Congress and the Folger Shake
speare Memorial Library. This
means that our National Capital
will be recognized as one of the
cultural cenrerS of the Western
Hemisphere At this time, when
destructive forces are rampant and
there is a blaCkouJ IN Europe, IL
Is of utmost Importance that here,
In this country, we should, in this
way, be keeping the lamps trimmed
and burning.
This year, for the first time, a
National Art Week November 25
to December u was held by procla-
nation of the President of the
United States and under the direc-
ton of the w. P. A, during which
more than 1000 sales exhibitions
were held throughout the country.
According to statistics received up
to the present, the highest record
of sales was made in Washington
in connection with the exhibition
held under Government auspices in
the Departmental Auditorium, the
Evening star., 1940-12-29

Academy of Design; Clifford Beal
and Rockwell Kent.
The writer of the article in which
this statement occurs-Claire I'M
brie-recalls the fact that the Christ
mas card is a comparatively modern
institution. having come into use
in the 1860s. Prang was the first
publisher of consequence in this
country, and his competitions for
designs are we'll remembered by art
aspirants of the sos. The great
Elihu Vedder, whose painting, "The
Cup of Death" was included in the
exhibition of Christian art at How
ard University, was a prize winner
in a competition Prang set up in
1881 for suitable designs. These
first cards were not religious in
theme, but observation-disclosures,
flowers, etc., very well rendered.
Also, alas, not infrequently deco
rated with a border of bright silk
fringe.
Some interesting cards were de-
signed and issued by typographers
this year under the impetus of a
contest instituted by Print, and quite
number of the graphic artists
etched or engraved their own cards
with excellent result.
A word also should be said for
the cards issued in full color, repro
ductions of masterpieces of painting
of the Nativity or the Holy Child,
by the Cathedral on Mount Saint
Adams, which found such favor that
it became almost impossible to I'LL
in time the orders received.
AL of this looks toward progress,
and along very rational lines.
Evening star., 1940-12-29

quently participates in group exhibi-
tions here and elsewhere and has
had several previous one-man shows,
his work must be familiar to the
Washington public. Judging from
the present display, it is becoming
broader, sketchier and more abstract.
Since it seems only fair to judge an
artists work in terms of his personal
aims, Mr.. Arlt was interviewed re-
garding them Il find that I am
concerned more with the emotional
impact" he said, with my personal
reaction, rather than with the obvi-
Gus outward appearance of the object
seen. In saying things more simply
and more abstractly, I hope to ap-
proach a statement which contains
more of the essence Of the original
object or scene which serves as the
springboard."
Mr.. Arlt further endeavors to vary
his technique in handling different
subjects. More than one-third of the
present group of 18 paintings COM
prises seacoast themes, four or five
are figures, several are city scenes,
including two of the Treasury. The
first-mentioned group is most OBJ
stract. The artists representation of
Evening star., 1940-12-29

trees and sea in some instances Is
little more than a symbol
Among the figure paintings is an
Oil, BUS to Amecameca," lent by
Phillips Memorial Gallery. 1t de-
picts various Mexican types. Shoe
strings" is a forlorn old peddler: 8
rapid sketch of a newsboy also in
watercolor, captures the subject in
essence. The cityscapes are easily
recognized. One can identify the
locations from which the painter
sketched the Treasury, one north
east, the other southwest, although
the results are not naturalistic.
Without questioning an artists
right to paint as he pleases, one re-
grets that Mr.. Arlt has abandoned
his sparkling and ingratiating inter
pretations of a few years ago. But
ne is an adventurous experimenter
in more than one direction. While
working at Studio House, he under
took frame-making, and now has a
studio where he endeaVorS to produce
frames so harmonious to the reSpec-
tive paintings as to escape notice
entirely-a startling goal, from the
standpoint of most picture frame
makers. An exhibition of his frames
was held at the Whyte Gallery in
October
Evening star., 1940-12-29

and studies for mural paintings
entered in the 48 States competi-
ton and later sent the collection
on a two-year circuit Of cities in
this country, the Carnegie Corp.
of New York making a grant to
cover costs. In the early spring,
or late winter, a similar exhibition
was held in the Whitney Museum
of American Art, New York-which,
incidentally, met with little favor
on the part of the critics
The extensive series of 20 mural
paintings executed by Maurice
Sterne for the library of the Justice
Department Building, and not yet
in place, was shown nearly year
ago in the Fine Arts Building, New
York, where, at the same time, but
in a different gallery, II murals by
Olin DoWs for the post office at
Rhinebeck, N. Y, were exhibited.
The Corcoran Gallery of Art re-
ceived some notable gifts during the
year. Nine tapestries of the 10th
and 18th centuries were given by
Mrs. Farrar Smith, as well as
plaque-s, double portrait of Mr.. and
Mrs. Wayne McVeagh by Augustus
Saint Gaudens. Mrs. F. S. SmitherS
gave a painting of Girl and Bird"
by J. Alden Weir and from the
Parmelee estate came several paint
ings of Importance, among which
were works by Sargent, Whistler,
Hassam and Carlsen, all valuable
additions.
From the Mellon Educational and
Charitable Trust the National Gal
lery received IL paintings by early
American artists, portraits or por-
trait groups, acquired by Andrew w.
Mellon because of their intrinsic
Evening star., 1940-12-29

understood that professional art
criticism is not based on personal
liking, but on that surer foundation
of knowledge built up, not by a
single generation, but successive
generations, who have brought to
the matter profound thought, as
well as emotional experience. This
is what has been called the know
ing" to which must be added both
instinct and taste, willingness to
learn, a combination of assurance
and humility. Above all, perhaps
love, coupled with sincerity.
No one can pursue a profession
successfully who is not enamored
by it, but such pursuit must be
without bias.
Fashions May Fade.
This is not to say that art critics
are invulnerable-far from it. In
fact, it is because of the tremen-
dous mistakes some of distinction
have made that all are more or less
subject to suspicion. But that is
true in every profession-doctors,
lawyers, engineers, sometimes make
mistakes. A great critic may be
deceived by clever deception or
led astray by wilfulness of spirit,
incident to the moment, without
being totally discredited. Also,
there are fashions in art as well
as in clothes, which, for the mo-
ment, may seem of extraordinary
importance, but are fated to fade
away.
1t is the things which last that
give to art criticism a firm founda-
tion-sound drawing, good painting,
style, character, and, finally, sig
nilcant expression-somethi said,
visually, that is worth remember
ing; some beauty revealed which
enriches life, which, indeed, once
realized, is life.
That there is good art and bad art,
Evening star., 1940-12-29

receipts, in this instance, amounting
to several thousand dollars for
paintings, prints, and, in largest
number, for craft work, for which,
in addition to cash purchases,
great many orders were given.
Public Buildings Art.
The Government, through its Sec
ton of fine arts, has continued its
patronage of American art and ar
lists by the placement of paintings
and sculpture in public buildings.
During the year there were three
competitions for sculpture, in which
573 sculptors made 1,090 entries, and
four competitions for mural paint
ings, in which 1859 painters made
3,283 entries. Of the latter contests
three were national and one re-
gional.
In addition, purchase competi-
ton for easel pictures was held for
the first time. This was for 300
water colors, to be uniformly priced
at $50 each, and acquired for place
ment in marine hospitals. In this
competition nearly 10000 entries
were made by approximately 1900
artists. 1t is of works submitted
in this competition (after the 300
required were selected by a special
jury of artists that the present
Art Critics Exhibition is composed.
Under a special commission ap-
pointed by Congress. competition
for a Smithsonian Gallery of Art,
to be erected on the Mall opposite
the National Gallery, to house the
National Collection of Fine Arts
and to be chiefly devoted to the
exhibition of contemporary works of
art, was held, and Eliel Saarinen
and his son, Zero Saarinen, in asso-
citation with j. Robert F. Swanson
of Bloomfield Hills, Mich, were de-
clared winners. A model of the pro-
posed building, in extreme modern
style. was exhibited in the Museum
of Modern Art, New York. AS the
cost of this building is to be met
through funds privately contributed
and not in hand, its erection is far
from assured.
Also under special commission,
competition was held for statue
of Thomas jefferson to be placed
under the dome of the Jefferson
Memorial, now under construction
to the south of the Basin. AS a
result six sculptors were awarded
$1,000 each and three of them-Lee
Laurie, Adolph A. Weinman and
Rudolf Evans-were requested to re-
study and resubmit their designs
before the end of the year. This
16-foot statue, which is to cost
$4,000, is supposed to be completed
and dedicated April 13, 1943, the
2O0th anniversary of Jefferson's
birth.
During the last summer the Di-
vision Of Fine Arts circulated in
Canada an exhibition Of sketches
Evening star., 1940-12-29

dllClCllt ldllQlldl n.
The painting is well integrated;
starting with a mother and child at
the extreme left, ones eye travels
naturally to two Negro women gath
ering vegetables beside her, the
traveller on horseback handing a
packet of nail to the innkeeper
working in his garden, the young
Negro holding his horse, a tobacco
plant and wheelbarrow and couple
at the right side of the painting. We
have so long taken for granted our
excellent postal service that few of
us know what haphazard arrange
ments were in practice 160 years ago.
Before national system was organ
lied, the mail was usually delivered
by some traveller or stagecoach
driver to the innkeeper, who in
turn delivered it to the addressee.
The mural is to be placed over the
Postmaster'S doorway, and the lower
part Of the painting will be almost at
eye-level. The colors are bright and
fresh-in addition to the greens of
landscapes and trees, the costumes
introduce orange, several blues, law
ender, yellow, red and rose. 1t is a
cheerful piece of work in theme and
execution, closely connected with the
historic background of Elkton, and
will undoubtedly be popular addi-
ton to the towns public works of
art
Evening star., 1940-12-29

siders the period of most beautiful
illustrations, but her designs are
entirely original. She selects texts
which are elevating or amusing, and
creates initial letters, borders, and
miniature decorations to harmon
ize with the sentiments expressed.
An especially engaging example
of her imaginative treatment is
medieval supplication for protec-
ton against "ghosties" and other
fearsore creatures that haunt the
night. One of her illuminations
was awarded a prize last month in
the exhibition at the National
Museum under auspices of the Gen.
eral Federation of Women's Clubs.
This was the third time she had re-
ceived this award.
Miss Lane, whose bookbindings
are as well known as her illustya-
tions, finds that the two arts COM
bine very harmoniouSly.