按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
each year。 With their fondness for roaming； they would be almost certain to be drawn to this part of the world。 And besides； there were other travelers to be considered； including those Europeans who would be glad to get away from the alarms of war and those South Americans who were in the habit of going to Europe。 Furthermore； though the Exposition had been designed to commemorate the services of the United States Army in building the Panama Canal； it was essentially dedicated to the arts of peace。 It would show what the world could do when men and nations co…operated。
The Department of Fine Arts
Meanwhile； the war was upsetting the plans for the exhibits； notably the exhibit of painting and sculpture。
When John E。 D。 Trask； for many years director of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts； was appointed Director of the Fine Arts Department at the Panama…Pacific International Exposition； he had made a careful survey of the field he had to cover。 It virtually consisted of the whole civilized world。 After arranging for the formulation of committees in the leading cities of the East and the Middle West to secure American work； he made a trip to Europe； visiting England； France； Holland； Sweden； Germany； Hungary； Austria and Italy。 With the exception of England and Germany； the governments were sympathetic。 The indifference of those two countries was at the time was not quite comprehensible。 There might have been several explanations； including the threat of war。 There were also those who said that England and Germany had entered into a secret alliance against this country for the purpose of minimizing the American influence in commerce； soon to be strengthened by the opening of the Panama Canal。 Wherever the truth lay； the fact remained that both countries maintained their attitude of indifference。 Individual English and German artists and organizations of artists； however； showed a willingness to co…operate。
Through emissaries； mainly unofficial； Americans of influence； Trask drew on the resources of all Europe。 He also entered into negotiations with China and Japan； both of which countries； with their devotion to art； as might have been expected； co…operated with enthusiasm。 The display at the Fine Arts Palace promised to make one of the greatest international exhibits in history； if not the greatest。
At the outbreak of the war it looked as if the whole of Europe might become involved and it might be impossible to secure anything that could properly be called a European art exhibit。 Meanwhile； the space reserved for the European exhibitors must he filled。 It happened that； at the time； Trask was in the East。 He quickly put himself into personal communication with the New York artists； who had been invited to send three or four works； and he asked them to increase the number。 He also arranged with his committee for the securing of a much larger number of American pictures。 Under the circumstances he was bound to rely on the discretion of his juries。 The result was that he had to take what came。 It included a large number of excellent works and others of doubtful merit。
An Emissary to France and Italy
Meanwhile； during the few months after the outbreak of war； the art situation in Europe began to look more hopeful。 It seemed possible that some of the nations concerned in the war would be persuaded to participate。 Captain Asher C。 Baker； Director of the Division of Exhibits； was sent on a special mission to France； sailing from New York early in November。 The United States collier 〃Jason〃 was then preparing to sail from New York with Christmas presents for the children in the war zone； and the secretary of the navy had arranged with the Exposition authorities that； on the return trip； the ship should be used to carry exhibits from Europe。 The first plan was that the exhibits should come only from the warring nations； it was later extended to include other nations。
In Paris Captain Baker found the situation discouraging。 The first official he saw told him that； under the circumstances； any participation of France whatsoever was out of the question： France was in mourning； and did not wish to celebrate anything； if any Frenchman were to suggest participation he would be criticised； furthermore； Albert Tirman； at the head of the French committee that had visited San Francisco the year before to select the site of the French Pavilion； had come back from the front in the Vosges and was hard at work in the barracks of the Invalides； acting as an intermediary between the civil and military authorities。
Then Captain Baker appealed to Ambassador Myron T。 Herrick。 Although the ambassador was enthusiastic for the Exposition； he said that； in such a crisis； he could not ask France to spend the four hundred thousand dollars set apart for use in San Francisco。 Captain Baker said： 〃Don't you think if France came in at this time a wonderfully sympathetic effect would be created all over the United States？〃 The ambassador replied； 〃I do。〃 〃Wouldn't you like to see France participate？〃 The ambassador declared that he would。 〃Will you say so to Mr。 Tirman？〃 The ambassador said； 〃Willingly。〃
A week later Baker and Tirman were on their way to Bordeaux to see Gaston Thomson； Minister of Commerce。 They made these proposals： The exhibits should be carried by the Jason through the canal to San Francisco； the building of the French Pavilion should be undertaken by the Division of Works of the Exposition； on specification to be cabled to San Francisco of the frame work； the moulds for the columns and architectural ornaments to be prepared in France and shipped by express； the French committee of organization was to work in France among possible exhibitors； a statement was to be made to the ministry of what each department of the government could do in sending exhibits and what exhibits were ready； a statement should come from the Minister of Fine Arts as to how much space he could occupy and how many paintings could be secured for the Palace of Fine Arts； a complete representation of the Department of Historical Furniture and Tapestries； known as the Garde Meuble； was to be made for the pavilion。
In the interview with the Minister of Commerce Baker argued that； without France； an Exposition could not be international； and that the participation of France at this time； with her flag flying in San Francisco； would be like winning a battle before the world。 It would show the people of the United States France's gratitude for the money sent the wounded and the suffering； and would warm the hearts of the American people。
Thomson responded with enthusiasm； and soon the government became enthusiastic。 Several thousand dollars were spent in cabling； Henri Guillaume； the distinguished French architect； experienced in many expositions； was sent out。 When the Jason stopped at Marseilles it took； on board one of the most remarkable collections of art treasures ever shipped to a foreign country； the finest things in one of the world's great storehouses of treasure； including even the priceless historical tapestries； and a large collection of French paintings for the Fine Arts Palace； gathered by the French committee after