The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1868-12-31
From the Watchman and Reflector
Pictures for the Home.


home with them. The question what 10 get
saws the author of Uncle Toms Cabin amid the
crowd of applcante and possible choices Is often
puEzliDg one picture that Is TO look you in
the face at all hours Of the day or night 10 AFTER
all somewhat of an item In your existence. II is |
taking to yoursefa silent companion; and though |
there is no speech nor language, and Its voice Is
not heard, vet Its lines go out Into your daily |
life and its word TO the end Of your days. Pic |
tuIes she continues, 'iare as different as.people
and to them as TO persons app lieh the rule,
Thinh before You choose an Intimate friend.
In considering tho question of what pictures
one would buy. Mrs, stowe proceeds to pane
turc those most inhsted Of all live balloons, the
"high art" critics. with ekill that Is alike
admirable and remorAeless. Read:
''Wellmeanng people who have money to
spare often are sorelv troubled with the ques-
tion, ssbGt to bug. There are . crowd Of lalkers
about pictures, and the cry Of high art and
variety of other bewildering cries are hung IN
ones face at every turn. Does the honest Jonn
Stubbs want to get picture because 1t ia pretty
thing and pleases aim, or comforts MS vile Wnen
he has the blueS7 Then he has awful thoughts
of Don POSITIVE, his next neighboE who writes
art-ciitioues for the1Ne Plas Ultra, and solemnly
informs him that it Is duty he owes To society
to protest against everything that isn't high art.
Nobody must be left ln peace TO haye any thing
but the publications Of the Arundel Society, or
artists proolsof Raphsel's Madonnas, or proof
casts Of the statues 10 the Louvre. or something
else which has the seal Of ages--A written GER
tihcate Of good antiquity giving him leave 10
admire Poor Stubbs doesn't admire the Ma
donna San Ssto half as much as one Of Tait's
pictures of chickens picking at worm, or some
hens in q harnyard, which put him in mind Of
the pleasant old days when he was bov. and
Of the old farm and meadows, and father and
! mother, and our iollA' who are gone. All this
almost ills his eyes with tears as be looks, but
Stubs 10 good fellow, aud when Don Festive
tells him with lordly 'nir that he can buy such
things II he ieases, but be feels II is bis duty TO
iulo III hin how very trashy they are IN point OF
art. like good. Christian he wipes hise,es, and
goes resgIedly and gives hundred or two
| Of dollars for an old proof engraving 0t the San
| Sisto, aud haugs II up where these dear, too
charming hens and chickens were 10 have been,
aud feels that he has done hisduty by society.
To be sure liz Oetn I care bOdle for tile picture,
aud never will, but Don Positive tells him it's
high art and he has saved him from getting q
poor thing for his money--and that's comfort.
Mrs. Stowe has evidently read and enjOyed
the egotistcnl gfusions Of the Art critics" Of the
New York Tribune and the New York NaiiOn
The manner In which they sometimes pooh-pooh
the most beautiful recent art publications.
Prangs inlmitakable chr0mOs for eTample--and
always go into ecstacy over the medi@Val repro
Eduetions of the Arundel Society VIII ch are less
a series of fifteenth century sermons would be
suitable for modern American library, ID well
hit Sf la this and the succeeding passage, which,
however, we have not space to copy.
She then grnpples at once with the cardinal
axiom Of the ari-creed of these critics and bravey
denies in words what the people have always
denied IN acts. that high art pictures are suitable
for the adjournment OF a home. The language
will be reekORed little less than blasphemous by
these pretentiOus writer's, but every friend Of
living art and the education OF the people IN art
will be glad to see her assail the idol which they
worship SO deyoutly. She says
" High art means, as nearly as we can make 1t
Out, What pr0fessed atlt Is and instructed peo.
pie, who understand the technical properties OF
AL, ana the technical difficulties to be overcome
III II, consider as interesting and valuable. II
also mpans what past ages have liked and en-
t0led. and things that are historically interest
lnR rs tho record Of the modes OF thinking and
feeling on such subjects In past ages. Now many
of the beet records Of these in cast engrayings
a,e net suited to family life, but ought TO be
! Kept In museums and portfolios. The admirable
engraving OF cid blind Belkarns Is chef deher'
of engraving art, touching and tragic picture,
, bnt who wishes at all hours TO be confronted by
the image OF blind father with son bitten by
a serpent In his arms, however well represented
, The better The representation Of sach subject, h'
worse il makes Il for a home Bieture Hung In :
bedroom. this work OF high art might give bad
, dreams and possible nightmare; and II hao
! better he kept IN portfolio aud admired wher
tie subject If proUi-engravings Is up. II per
! son should be 90 fortunate or unfortunate aS u
yet capital photograph of the first draft Of tina
| Glo0dy.bones picture, Michael Angeles Las
: Judgment where the Judge looks like priz'
! fighter in a passion, shaking his fist at his moth
er, ,--such sketch might have certain value a
high art, for there Is abundance Of high art II
: this very disagrveable picture, but we shOul'
earnestly recommend him not TO frame II anl
hang il up for the terror OF his wife and the bat
dreams OF his innocent babes"
Mrs. Stowe then lays down her hrst rule fo
, the selection Of home pictures, which is as ex
cellent as 1t is heterodox;
. ''As genera thing, she sayS 'wbat % no
, high art, but tuy respectable aud Pernlsslbll
art Is The beet company for every day family lIte
As we sh1ud not think IL amusing 70 llaTe sa
i tan's Speech lO,the Sun reeited at eur hleakias
, table 20 neither should VIZ think Seheiiers pie
ture bf traneisca d kimlnl proper Thug To u
: forever talking 10 Us IRON the walls oi our par
lOrs or bed-roVhs.'
She ~ Ould not have all pictures mere pretti
nesses she would have some represent thl
higher side Vi our nature; but such solemn AM
. grand sutjres should not be c0nspicu0usl,
: placed IN reception r, Onls or parta 0I The hoas
, where the meIe surfaee-iniercOurse VI life g0e
on she then adds;
.,Prett, 0enre pictures. such as Prsng il gettInI
ND 80 many Of have q certain value rs h0usl
ornaments quite independent OF consideration
+, of high nri red cashmere shawl carelessl,
thrown down on garnet cOlored sofa, with
glcam oil sunshine acruss II, often forms bit O
uulofIng that turns r0um into picture Sc
Pranps overturned baske Oi bright red cherries
| hung on wall II proper tlnt, i pleasing bl
or culor pleasing beeause IL attempts net too
much and dnes VII Il attempts well. So also
piuus mutloes and texts IN Illuminated letter.
. have double value, ,--ihey ornament and the,
, teach. These havp 40 value one way or the othe
J Us art but they aTs very pleasant aud useful al
! household ornaments"
/ Mrs Stowe then teaches the alphabet Of ri
true cnltufe--self-rellance and courage L
reject the udvice Of others. hawever pretrntlous
{ when thelr dioa are at utter variance with one'
: own impressions. OF course, this does not i'm
s ply uuteacbubleness. II only demands reasOl
ior the faith protiered 10 US, She SAYS,
'The great value Of pictures Tor home shoulC
be, after all IN their NaimeHt They should rx
Y press sincere ideas and tastes Uf the hsusehold
and not the tyrannleal dicia Of some art critic o
neighbOr Ii ID desirable that the drawing anC
painting should be gaOd mud respeetable. ant
that the family should be we'll enough Informed
10 kn0x that picture painted on jappaune,
walter, however sm0uth and pertty, snut gOOs
4 picture simply b,calte II Is smOOlh and pretty
\ We would try 10 cultivate our taste and thel
! express IL; but the value 0f family piciurgs In
grrnt degree should e0uslst.ln the fact that ihe
do sincerely represent our own tastes aud pre-
itlebces and lvt tliose al Others, Ills deslrabl
that these should be cultured tastes, bat quite a
; much 30 that they be real and genuine. A ~
q speetabls engraving that truly u fsh by th
I fanlly as an artistic pleasure Is better lhlnj
Z for item llian much higher one thai they d
! not understand or cafe for.
: THIS Is a0iind doctrine but delieluuely leono
/ elastic; the Aafp,l, whlch las Snerred Al alm0s
4 an our best men, will give its @slhetic lips 81
Z | .xtra etiri whatl Al raalin this thusaue