Evening star., 1940-05-30
4 Places Available
In Capitol for New
Christy Painting
Signing Of Constitution
Is Unveiled as Members
Of Congress Watch

David Lynn, supervising architect
Of the Capitol, began looking around
today for a suitable place to hang
the huge painting depicting the
signing Of the Constitution which
was unveiled yesterday afternoon
in the rotunda of the Capitol.
Meantime, the painting, the lat
est work of Howard Chandler
Christy, will remain in the Capitol
rotunda.
Mr. Lynn said there are only four
places in the Capitol where the pic
ture can be hung because of its
size-over either of the two stair
ways on the House wing or either
of the two stairways on the Senate
wing. Selection of any of these
places would mean the removal of
paintings that now hang there.
Historic Pictures There.
Over the two Senate stairways
are paintings describing the battles
of Lake Erie in 1913 and Chapulte-
pee in 1847. On the House side
there are paintings depicting the
signing of the proclamation of
emancipation by President Lincoln,
and another describing the advance
of the pioneers into the West, en-
titled westward the Course Of
Empire Takes It's Way"
A distinguished audience, made up
chiefly of members of the Senate
and House and heads of patriotic
organizations, witnessed the un-
yelling of Mr.. Christy's Signing
of the Constitution of the United
States" Both the Senate and House
recessed so members could attend
the ceremonies.
President Roosevelt, who was un-
able to attend, sent letter which
contained an appeal to the people
of the United States to. see to it,
through moral fitness and adequate
physical defense, that the lamp
of freedom" is not extinguished In
this country.
Speaker Bankhead of the House,
presiding at the ceremonies, read
the letter, and, in his own words,
added:
I'm a moment as we look upon
the faces Of those great men, the
signers of the Constitution, let us
as a united people highly resolve
that no sacrifice will be too great,
no hardship too burdensome upon
the part of this generation, to pre-
serve for our posterity and for the
world the priceless heritage they
bequeathed, in perpetuity, to their
descendants"
Christy Applauded.
Speaker Bankhead also intro
duced the famous artist who painted
the picture Mr.. Christy - who
arose and bowed amid a tumult OF
applause. The Speaker, incidentally.
described him as "a real American"
whose ancestors were contempo-
raries of the signers Of the Consti-
tuition.
The painting, covered by two
large American flags, was unveiled
by Graham T. Smallwood of the
Sons of the American Revolution,
and Miss Mildred G. Sherman OF
the Daughters Of the American
Revolution. It was accepted on
behalf of Congress by Senator Bark
ley, Democrat, Of Kentucky. who
pointed out that under the Consti-
tuition the United States had grown
from the weakest to the strongest
nation in the world.
Representative Keller. Democrat,
of illinois gave a brief history Of
the steps that led to an appropri-
alton by Congress for execution OF
the painting by Mr.. Christy. Sena-
tor Austin, Republican, of Vermont
and Representative Guyer, Republic
can, of Kansas also spoke.
The United States Navy Band
provided the musical setting for the
ceremonies. And near the close
Of the program the band played
composition of its leader, 1t. Charles
Benter, written for the occasion,
entitled March of the Constitution"