The Philosophy of Art

Title

The Philosophy of Art

Description

Wadleigh High School - New York, NY - 1919

Type

Lecture

Date

5/22/1919

Time

Evening

Address

215 West 114th Street

City

State

NY

Country

USA

Notes

INDIAN PRINCE FAILS AS ART EXPERT SUB
Cops Clear Out Disturbers at Education Board Lecture
The New York Sun
Wednesday, May 21, 1919

A crowd of 1,000 persons who wanted to hear Prof. William J. Durant. a Board of Education lecturer, speak on art according to the advance notices raised a racket in Wadleigh High School, 114th street near Seventh Avenue, last night, when, instead of the art authority, Prince Sarath Shosh of India was presented with the statement that he would speak on "The Part of India In the War." Between 200 and 300 of the more youthful auditors permitted the Prince to start his speech, but soon thereafter displayed signs of unrest. They hammered their feet on the floor and those in the gallery began hooting. The thudding and catcalls became general to the obvious embarrassment of the Prince, who had a good subject to talk of and was doing it well, judging by the subsequent remarks of persons whose interest in art hadn't entirely prejudiced their views. The school authorities called the police and a wagon full of cops responded from the West 123d Street station. The affair had got quite beyond the Prince by that time. The cops had the lights turned on and began systematically ridding the place of the disturbers. The street soon was full of the ousted. They held an indignation meeting on the curb, appointing a committee to wait upon the Board of Education and demand that Prof. Durant keep his engagement at the lecture. The police said that Prof. Durant had appeared at the high school two weeks ago and had made such a hit that a record audience had been rounded up for his second lecture. The lectures are held twice a week, no charge being made.

LECTURES COST HIM PLACE, PROFESSOR DURANT SAYS
New York Herald
Thursday May 22, 1919

Professor William J. Durant, No. 854 East 178th Street, the Bronx, whose dismissal as a lecturer created a small-sized riot in Wadleigh High School Tuesday night when his successor attempted to speak, issued a statement last night in which he said he had been dismissed by the Board of Education because he had condemned the allied policy in Russia. Professor Durant said that he had spoken against the Allies' attitude toward Russia only in lectures outside the supervision of the Department of Education, but that he was convinced this was the reason for his summary dismissal. Professor Durant was formerly an instructor in philosophy at Columbia University. He has lectured at the Labor Temple for five years. Asked concerning his political affiliations, Professor Durant replied:- "I am a liberal, which I define as a radical who can't forget his bank account." Both William L. Ettinger, Superintendent of Schools, and Wendell Thomas, acting superintendent of the Bureau of Lectures of the Board of Education, declined to comment upon the dismissal of the lecturer.

Year

Files

syracuse_journal_5.23.1919.jpg
Wadleigh.5.22.1919.jpg

Citation

“The Philosophy of Art,” The Will Durant Timeline Project, accessed March 28, 2024, https://willdurant.net/items/show/2593.