The time is ripe for abolishing figureheads in the moral,
ecclesiastical and social world, as well as in the navy.
Secretary Meyer has approved an order originating in the United
States Bureau of Construction for the removal from all the
vessels of the Atlantic fleet of their figureheads. This action
is based purely on war-service reasons. It is urged that in
time of peace for maneuver purposes the figureheads, if gilded,
afford a shining mark to reveal to the constructive enemy the
whereabouts of the ship and in time of war, if painted with the
protective war color, the artistic value of the figurehead is
wholly lost. Furthermore, figureheads cost a good deal of money
and have a good deal of weight, and serve no practical value
whatever in warfare.
Even as far back as the times of the Greeks and Romans, and the
Phœnicians and Egyptians, figureheads, made often in the image
of the gods of war, were regarded as important to their triremes
as oars or rudders. Great Britain has at her navy-yards at
Southampton, Portsmouth and other points arranged figureheads
from the old wooden ships of her navies as a feature of naval
museums. Of course, the figureheads from American battleships
would be a different thing. Most of them are made of brass, and
are in some cases fine works of art.
The figurehead on the _Olympia_, which was designed by St.
Gaudens, cost $12,000; that on the _Cincinnati_, which
embodied the design of the _Olympia’s_ figurehead, cost
$5,700. The figurehead on the cruiser _New York_ is a very
fine model of the coat-of-arms of the State. Some of the largest
of the figureheads weigh several tons, and in that respect are
objectionable.
(1101)
=Financially Strong, Morally Weak=--See DRINK, PERIL OF.