Rebuff

Women of social position often take up art. They devote themselves to it as other women devote themselves to needlework, and it makes them happy. Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney, as all the world knows, took up art some time ago, and took it up not at all as if it were cross-stitch. It became evident that she had talent. Critics acclaimed her; debutantes pressed her hand and murmured, "How fascinating--to dedicate your life to Art." In the course of her extremely active career she has received few rebuffs--but last week one came her way.

The city council of Providence, R. I., has for some time been looking for a design for a War Memorial. A sculptor named Pietro Montana submitted one. The committee liked it. Then Mrs. Whitney sent in hers, and the committee liked it better. Sculptor Montana was notified that his would not do after all. Mrs. Whitney was notified that hers would probably be accepted. But certain members of the Rhode Island chapter of the Institute of Architects inspected Mrs. Whitney's idea and found it "appalling." They notified the memorial committee that they thought that the monument was "of an architectural style entirely alien to our city and our tradition and . . . inappropriate. The site chosen for it is . . . a corner lot. . . ." Mrs. Whitney's hopes fell. Sculptor Montana went to work on a new opus to be called "The Supreme Sacrifice."