Viewing page 36 of 43

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

2.
"Americans who go abroad are exercising greater care and judgment in buying works of art. As a result fine things are getting extremely rare. But those who haven't the means to own works of art themselves are wise in going to the museums and art galleries.

"When one thinks how young America is it is really surprising how much progress this country has made in developing a national art and a national culture. In architecture, especially, America has made marvelous progress. In New York, for example, there is a hotel which as a architectural wonder I regard as greater than the pyramids of Eygpt. 

"The work of Mr. Dana in Newark, who is arousing a popular interest in beautiful things, is attracting attention in Europe and should stimulate interest in art throughout this country, not only in New Jersey.

"America, it is true, is known as a commercial nation. But this nation is not so busy but what it can take to pause to study and appreciate beautiful works of art. Art galleries should be used as laboratories by schools and so should museums.

"After all is said and done it is the culture of a nation which determines its greatness."

---***---