Evening star., 1956-11-25
14Eisen|1oWer
NuraIs Hailed
AT UnVei|ing


ABILENE, Kans., Nov. "a (PD.-
Fourteen murals. depicting Presi-
dent Eisenhower's life from his
barefoot days in this dusty Kan
sas town to the White House,
were unveiled here today.
A university chancellor called
them a symbols Of American
democracy.
Two excited Eastern artists,
who collected $50,000 and spent
two years on the paintings.
passed out autographs to the
plaudits of a crowd Of between
$500 and 1000 Midwesterners at
the Eisenhower Museum.
EiSenhOwers Send Message
And the President himself, ex-
pressing regret he could not be
present. messaged "the warmest
greetings and best wishes" of
himself and Mrs. Eisenhower to
"our friends and neighbors.
The murals cover the walls of
the main lobby of the museum,
an establishment housing me-
mentoes of the Presidents early.
military and public life.
DR.. Franklin D. Murphy, chan
cellor Of the University of Kan
sas, told the crowd Mr.. Eisen-
hower's life should be an in
spiration to every youngster in
the country. He said the museum
and murals were symbols of
American democracy.
To-day, somewhere in this
country of ours" he said, there
is some other bluejean-clad
youngster playing baseball like
Ike did here in Abilene and who
will grow UP to be President some
day."
Artists Thrilled
The artists. Louis Bouche of
New York and Ross Moffett Of
Provincetown. Mass, completed
their work last August, but kept
the paintings covered until today.
This is a very exciting day
for me-" said Mr.. Bouche. Auto
graph seekers and persons wish
ing to talk to them about their
work kept Mr.. Bouche and Mr..
Moffett busy for more than an
hour.
Mr.. Bouche said he was espe-
cially delighted that the heavy
paintings did not make the room
look smaller as he had feared
they might.
The murals were given to the
museum by the National Acad-
emy of Design, New York,
through a bequest of the late
Mary Gertrude Abbey in mem
ory Of her husband. Edwin Aus
tin Abbey. a muralist and illus
traitor who died in 1911.
Homestead ReOpened
Also dedicated were five me-
mortal pylonS which stand in re-
flecting pools in front of the mu-
scum. Four of these were gifts
from Kansas chapters of the
Daughters of the American Rev
olution and the fifth from Kan
sas soroptimist clubs.
The ceremony also marked the 4
reopening of the Eisenhower
home. closed for remodeling
made possible by a $4,000 do
nation from family friends who
wished to remain anonymous. A
committee headed by Mrs. Spen-
GER Nauman of Harrisburg, Pa,
supervised the work.
President Eisenhower sent the
following telegram:
Il most deeply regret that Mrs.
Eisenhower and / cannot be with
you and our other friends and
neighbors for the dedication and
unveiling Of the murals in the
Eisenhower museum, for the re-
opening of the home and for the
dedication of the pylons."
THE honor done to our family
by those who planned these i'm
provements cannot be properly
recognized in a message such as
this, but to each of you we ex-
tend the warmest greetings and
best wishes"
witnessing the ceremonies
were two Of the Presidents
younger brothers. DR.. Milton Ell
senhower. president Of Johns
Hopkins University. and Earl Ell
Senhower of La Grange, III.