Evening star., 1948-05-06
Poet Browning Shrine
AT Baylor University
To Start Tomorrow
By MorteIIe w. Tracer

The cornerstone of the worlds
greatest shrine to Robert Browning
will be laid on the poets 136th birth
day anniversary tomorrow by tall
white-haired English professor at
Baylor University, Waco, Tex.
The event will be the realization
of DR.. A. J. Armstrong; dream and
the result of 40 years of work which
has inspired Browning lovers and
scholars from all parts of the globe
to make pilgrimages to the little
Texas city. Scores of former Texans
now living in Washington have con-
tributed to the shrine.
When completed the building will
house the largest and most valuable
collection of Browningiana in the
world and will rival any known
memorial in beauty. 1t will occupy
the center of an entire block in the
heart of Waco. Browning scholars,
architects, designers, woodcarvers,
stained glass window artists and
contractors have been working more
than five years on the plans.
Otto r. Eggers, architect for the
National Gallery of Art and the
Thomas Jefferson Memorial, helped
to design the building, which will
incarnate the philosophy OF Robert
Browning and catch his spirituality.
/ Foyer of Meditation.
The central room will be a Foyer
of Meditation, designed after what
DR.. Armstrong thinks is the most
| beautiful room in the world, the
/ Oriental Room in the home of the
famous Sir Frederic Leighton in
London. Browning frequently cead
his poems in this room to Sir Fred
eric and his sister.
One of the outstanding features
of the new building will be 16 STAIN
ed glass windows Interpreting poems
by Browning. Charles j. Connick,
considered the most famous living
stained glass artist, designed them.
Each is a gift of an admirer of DR..
Armstrong or lover of the poet.
The city of Waco gave 100000
to purchase the land adjacent to
Baylor University campus as the
site for the three-story shrine of
white Georgian marble. Cedars of
Lebanon and copper beeches, trees
associated with Browning, will be
planted on the grounds.
Former Students Give.
When DR.. Armstrong began plans
for the building five years ago,
friend offered to give 100000 if he
could raise a like amount. A year
later he had $150,000. He collected
most of it from former students.
Some gave $5, some $40 and few
gave as much as 1000. One day a
football player stopped him on the
campus and gave him SIS bill. A
student he had failed in Shake
speare class sent him a check for
SIS 900. The $250000 has been more
than doubled by many other such
contributions, and they are still
coming in.
Some of the Browning treasures
that will go into the building rep
resent personal sacrifice on the part
of the donors. A widow possessing
little worldly goods sent to Italy for
some panels to give to Baylor be-
cause she wanted to contribute
something to the immortal shrine.
Two of the most valuable books in
the library were presented by the
Duchess of Sutherland. Countess
Salazar of Italy has given freely of
her precious relics.
A Japanese scholar travelled 7 900
miles to see the collection of
BroWningiana and present some
rare items in japanese. Fannie
Coddington Browning widow of the
poets only son) gave DR.. Armstrong
some family keepsakes Mrs. Brown
| ing, who was hostess for the poet
in his last years, lived in Washing
ton from 1926 to 1880. She made her
home at 3414 Garfield street NV.
Although a native American, she
had spent so much time abroad that
she did not feel at home here.
Baylor COlors on Bouquet.
When DR.. and Mrs. J. M. Dawson.
1904 P street NV, were represent
ing the Baptist churches in Europe
last summer. DR.. Armstrong asked
them to call upon a countess who
was holding picture for the COL
lection. Every time they visited
Westminster Abbey they found a
fresh bouquet, tied with Baylor
cclors, on BroWnings tomb.
One of the most impressive single
objects in the collection is the life
sized portrait of the poet, painted
by his son only a few months be-
fore he died. 1t hung in the living
room of Robert Barret Brownings
home in Venice until he passed
away in 1911.
The presentation Of the portrait
to the university by the graduating