The Proper Functions of Open-Air Statuary 
and its surroundings should always be 
kept as clean as possible and show the 
evidences of the loving care of the people, 
even if everything else is left untidy. It 
is a sign of vigorous national life, cheer¬ 
fulness and of the daily success of the 
community. Your city government should 
be made fully aware of this, for every 
dollar spent in erecting, but above all in 
properly caring for public statues, is not only 
money invested but moral health insurance 
as well. 
I come here to you, as I said, as the Vice- 
President of the Municipal Art Society of 
New York—a society organized to embellish 
that city. Any citizen may belong to that 
society who is willing to pay the dues of five 
dollars a year. That society will, in a few 
years, wipe out much ugliness in New York. 
You should organize a similar society here. 
But, if you do, let me advise you to name it 
THE ARCH OF PEACE AT MILAN 
Designed by Cagnola 
“ The Boston Embellishment Society.” Our 
Municipal Art Society will be glad to help 
you. Now supposing you organize such a 
society, let that society appoint a commission 
of architects, sculptors and landscape gar¬ 
deners, and develop a comprehensive scheme 
for beautifying Boston—as a whole—not a 
patch here and there. Let that commission 
lay out a grand scheme of avenues, parks, 
THE ANDREAS HOFER MONUMENT 
NEAR INNSBRUCK 
squares, monuments, fountains, etc., as a 
similar commission has lately done for the 
city of Washington. Then suppose that 
in carrying out such a scheme you spend 
one or two millions of dollars, the effect 
would be that Boston would really become 
the Athens of America. Your city would 
soon have a real reputation for culture and 
splendor, and people of wealth would flock 
here to live and bring their money along 
and make commerce flourish. Thus for an 
insignificant million or two of dollars you 
could not fail to increase enormously your 
population, your wealth, your happiness, 
and your glory. 
494 
