Evening star., 1944-08-13
BY Marshall Adams.

who will flock to the National Gallery
OF Art this month, a SiZable number will
be children of the Nation. These tiny
connoisseurs will range from IA months
to IS and U.s. and way up the age scale.
Art from the cradle up is one of the
many advanced beliefs which the Ma
tional Gallery has been putting into
practice for the past two years. And
with real success! Through the purchase
of baby carriages and tours for the very
young, the germs of future art appreci-
alton are being planted early and we'll.
For some time now, the older folks have
found themselves winking over the tod
dlers enthroned in chic perambuIators,
wheeled comfortably and beguilingly
about from one gallery to another.
Naturally, there are superior looks from
the older tots who have to take their art
standing UP. and few envious side
glances from grownups But the babies
love their explorations among the
serene rooms and the gallery's pretty
pictures" The parents consider the
free-wheeling a Godsend
ing these tiny guests was the BRAIN
child of David E. Finley, director, and
trustee of Washingtons most popular
and inspiring art center. Not long after
the opening in March. l94l, Mr.. Finley
noticed the surprising number of young
sters holding onto daddys hand, or be-
ing carried about by young mothers, for
hour on end. Here was a small prob
lem which neither the Andrew Mellon
Gallery deed to the Nation, nor prece-
dence from other museums throughout
the world had given any thought to. The
gentle Finley humor and common sense
set to work and soon two specially
built, cleaning baby carts were pur-
chased, just before the shortage became
acute. From then on, Mr.. Finley, or his
assistant, Mr.. McGill James, as well as
the guards on duty near the entrance
portals, welcomed family groups with
special cordiality. suggesting the use of
the carriages, whenever possible.
Both the carriages, as we'll as feet
OF wheel chairs not necessarily for in
valids) have been eagerly adopted. As a.
matter Of fact, a few minor spats
among tots have been seen-but not OBJ
served-by the amused guards, since on
weekdays and Sundays the babes in
arms and on wheels give nursery charm
to the gallery scene.
A Liberal Education
For the older children and teen-agers
the National Gallery's art is more than
diversion. 1t is liberal education.
From the lollipop set to the coke crowd
they come daily to enjoy the recorded
music session, from 80 to l, relaxed.
yet attentive over the classical selec-
tions in the auditorium. They then
join their nurses or parents. or teachers
in the queues outside the cafeteria, where
their glasses Of milk and small potpies
or soup energize them for their after
noon tours These 2:l5 daily tours are
another indication of the gallery's belief
that fine art, pleasantly and not too OBJ
viously administered, can develop an
aWareness Of beauty from an early age
the same art consciousness which an
cient Greek and Roman children grew
up with.
The childrens tours developed some
what as an accident. Although Miss
Katrina Van Hook, in charge of edu-
cational Programs for the gallery, has
encouraged grownups to bring their
fedglings to her lectures she hasn't had
a wholesale youth tour until recently.
One day a congressional wife brought
her two youngsters along for Picture
of the Week. talk.
The Is minutes with Miss Van Hook,
explaining the background Of the paint
Ing and Of the artists life, was so
absorbing to all three visitors that soon
other wives of Senators and Representa-
tives made appointments for special
talks which the children could enioy
with them. Then Representative Judd's
wife arrived one day in March with IS
children, each little girl congressional
daughter
According to Miss Van Hook the chill
dren were the most fascinating and ap-