EROS DISAPPEARS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1940, Page 3

EROS DISAPPEARS

LONDON’S FAVOURITE STATUE. One of London's most famous figures recently appeared on the list of “evacuees,” when the statue of Eros was removed from Piccadilly Circus, states the "Christian Science Monitor.” It was a very high compliment; for although his Majesty’s Office of Works has sent James II into exile, taken away from the House of Commons a bust of Cromwell, and erected a scaffold for Charles I in Whitehall, this time to protect him, it has left the rest of London’s statues to stand their ground unsheltered. The average Londoner takes little exception to this, since he has always had a feeling that (‘they’d none of them be missed.” But Eros made a pleasant contrast to those eminent gentlemen who “sleep in dull, cold marble” all over London’s squares, wrapped in tneir frocK coats or frogged tunics. The City evidently recognised tne fact: it would much rather have seen the captains and the kings depart, not to mention the politicians, and it paid Eros a tribute that it seldom pays to them —it looked at him. He conquered not only its attention, but its affection; and although when peace returns the Stuarts may enjoy another Restoration, tney will hardiy receive such an ovation as will conquering Eros.