The Wilmington morning star., 1940-11-06
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
BY JACK STINNETT

WASHINGTON, Nov. ~ little project
SO kindly and humane that it almost brings
tears to the eyes has been buried under the
weller of war and politics. 1 intend to I'M
earth it.
1t is simply a project to purchase with gov
eminent funds 200 water color paintings and
with a gift from the Carnegie corporation In
New York 100 more to brighten the walls of
the Carville, La, marine hospital and gladden.
the lives OF the 400 lepers, most of whom are
living out their span in the United States only
leprosarium.
1t is a project of the section of fine arts,
himself one of the country's great artists, is
entrusted with organization of competitions for
murals, sculpture and paintings in public
buildings, made possible by the governments
stipulation that one per cent of the cost of the
buildings be set aside for decorations.
Although only $50 is being paid for each of
the water. c%olors, the paintings are rolling in
in great numbers, proving how well Bruce
knew his artists when he said: 1T will, |
know, be a very pleasant thought to the artists
whose water colors are purchased to know
that they are bringing pleasure to the unfor-
tunates condemned by their dread disease to
spend their lives in this hospital"
STORY BEHIND IT
There is a story that has never been told be-
hind this story of putting original paintings in
hospitals.
A few years ago, Bruce was himself confined
to a hospital during a long illness. The barren
walls of the hospital room day after day drove
home the lack of cheer which a few bright,
happy paintings might save a patients life.
There was little he could do about it at once,
for the government was not building hospitals
just then.
His opportunity did come, however-a chill,
dren's hospital built partly with federal funds
and when the building was ready, there on
the walls were Mother Goose murals. A short.
sighted chief of staff hit the ceiling, declared
a hospital was mo place for such levity "ano
demanded the murals be removed. Bruce
countered with organization of a jury of school,
children. They voted unanimously that the
murals should stay-and they did:
Now not only the hospital staff, but the chie1
himself discusses seriously the therapeutic eff
fects of hospital decorations, repeating story
after story of how the psychological reactions
of the children have aided in their recovery
Il u X
JUST ANOTHER STEP
The Carville project is just another stel
but one which Bruce thinks will have consid-
cradle effect, for already other hospitals have
written the section of fine arts asking that the
tSry on the Carville competition Ellio1
O'Hara, Charles Burchfield, Burk Ulreich and
John Marin) select paintings for purchase on
their order.
Carville is a once famous old plantation in
a corner of the Mississippi river, rs miles
above New Orleans. 1t was established in the
1905, but only taken over by the government
as a marine hospital in 1921. 1t is now in the
process of a $4,000, 900 reconstruction jt
which, when completed will give the United
States one of the finest and most modern
leprosariurns in the world.
Approximately one-third of the United States
!, 200 lepers are patients there. Bruce sees
the fine arts sections, contribution as just one
small part of the effort to make their tragic
lives happy and more endurable.