The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-04-04


WASHINGTON slight, white
haired man walked into one of the
narrow little houses that line the
west side of historic Lafayette
square opposite the White House and
which he had just rented for him
self and his staff. He looked II over
from cellar To attic. Indicated where
he had planned To sit and watch the
dream Of n lifetime come true.
His staff moved in and worked
there for four years A few days
ago they locked the door and moved
into SIS, 900 900 building. which the
man who had dreamed about and
paid for, as gift to the nation, new
er lived TO see.
The building is the National Gal
lcry of Art The man was Andrew
Mellon, who died only few months
after the ground for his dream"
was broken. He had hoped to sit at
desk in Lafayette square, only n
few blocks from the art gallery,
with his son, Paul Mellon, and with
David Bruce and Donald Shepherd,
directors of the trust which turned
the gallery over to the government.
Congress accepted the gift and es-
tabliShed it as bureau of the Smith
sonian institution, the other great
museum which was turned over to
the government by an individual.
The day after the President OF the
United States dedicated Americas
new temple of art, / walked down
the corridor toward the fountain be-
/ month Va Arc
About me moved some 1000 other
visitors who came from towns and
cities and villages, all over America.
And from other places, too. AS
/ stood there on the marble floors
that are like black mirrors, / heard
a woman murmur, "Magnifique. I
| looked at her and saw refined
French woman whose eyes spoke
spontaneous tribute to- the beauty
about her. I had no doubt that she
had seen the Louvre with it's
Winged Victory" and its smiling
Mona Lisa; the Luxembourg with
its masterpieces of Rodin. But here
she found something different. Here
were the priceless paintings and
sculpture of the old and the new
world in a temple, which, despite
its shining corridors and its great
| dome, was u friendly human place.
Unlike SO many of the musty muse
ums of the old world, it seems as
hospitable as it was spacious. Even
its size, by the clever design of the
architect, has been disguised with
interrupting arChways, with gently
sweeping lines which give its classic
dimensions a warmth and intimacy.
The visitor feels at home. The pic
lures on the walls are less exhibits
than part OF the decoration of a
beautiful living room.
There are upholstered Couches in
the galleries There is a smoking
room and even (shadcs of Raphael
and RembrandtD very modern
cafeteria.
In simple Office, met David
Finley, director of the gallery. He
rose from a great leather chair that
all but cngulfcd his dynamic figure.
He is a slight man who served in
the last war and later became
lawyer. He was a member of the
war loan staff OF the treasury and
later assistant TO the then secretary
OF the treasury, Andrew Mellon The
two became friends and Finley went
to London as honorary counsellor to
the embassy when Mr.. Mellon was
ambassador He was one OF Mr..
Melons confdants from the time
the wealthy Pittsburgh banker be-
gan planning the gift Of the gallery
to the nation.
Mr. Finley believes that the Ma
tional Gallery Of Art viii become a
powerful force for bringing about
love and an understanding of art
among all Americans not merely
because it belongs 10 the people Of
the nation, but because u is located
in the national capital New York,
| he pointed out, has its fine galleries.
| but visitors 10 the metropolis po
there chiefly for amusement People
come TO Washington TO see the his
torIc spots Of the nation, 60 visit
| buildings - which arc themselves
monuments But few buildings. save
Mount Vernon, with its treasured
| possessions Of our first President.
contain things which have a patri-
| otto and a cultural value
! Mr. Finley looks forward to the
time when the pictures and the stat |
ues in the National Gallery Of Art |
can be brought to the homes OF the |
people through television Mean |
while, he hopes through the gaIlery's ]