Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-07-01
The Aeerb;t,es Of Art,sts-

MI hiram Powers, sculptor has recently WRIT
ten for publication a eouPleOf letters bearing
UIon American art and artists which must. we
think. crieve his best and most judicous friends.
We can vel understand how a sensitive artist
might IL gosded into saying some ill-natured
thirgs by the efforts of mOney-grabbing charla-
tsns 10 turn him to advertising account; but
even 80 grave prOvocatiOn as that is no excuse
fOT inditing such angry jeremiades Is Mr. Pow
cas- has written-sffusiOns which appear to be
shout equally devoted to unl1ind and uncal,ed
for criticisms upon other artists, condemnation
81 works lie has never seen, and denunciation of
OireFs for awaiting themselves Of precisely the
same appliances by which he himself rose from
OisuTity and poverty to reputation and prsper-
ity. One would naturally suppose that one of
the refining influences OF art would be To iIni,,a
the mind of its followers with charity and kind
reAs fer all others engaged in working ont its
high purposes, and to make the success of a
ldOther artist a matter for honest pride and
hearty congrstulatiOn; but in Mr.. Powers's Case
the ordinary principles seem to be exactly re-
verscd. Forgetting alike his own early struc-
giles for recognition and support, and the efforts
"a friends in his behalf, beth through tie press
and before Congress, and vastly oyex-estimating
ms present position in the world OF ART. he haS
only words OF bitterness and fault-6 min, e.
those who are struggling for a reputation AID
modest livelihood in an honorable but difficult
career Where he should give only words Of en-
cOCTaSeTnent on the one hand and thankfalness
on the other, he sends ont instead nothing Int
repTosches and complaints.
The trouble with Mr.. Powers Is that he has
been out Of the country too long; and, as is
almost always the case with those lon, absent,
he l. given TO looking back to his old home ana
thinking OF il as he left il, making no Allowance
fOr any advance or growth meantime. II he
should revisit America, as he surely on chi In do
before undertaking to SIT in judgement on what
Is transporting and being accomplished here M
foWeTs would find many changes and much i'm
prove nent, IN art as well a. in the material in
teTests- He would find that he is no longer con
sideTeC the Great American Sculptor, petteI and
puhed a. he has been And should he visit the.
national capitol, hescene OF his earlier triumIhs.
he would ind that the best pieces of statuary
there are not his own works, but those Of you,,ar
artists both in years and professional experience
We are afraid he might even find the bays of
popular approval encircling the brows of the
very lat 81 addition 70 its art treasures, and the
Work OF its youngest contributor-the statue OF
Roger Williams, By Simmons
Wesdyise Mr.. Powers to came back to America
b al means before he writes any more for tho
newspapers. The sea voyage viii have a good
effect in relieving him Of sGperfluous bile, ana
little iuCiciOus observation after he arrives will
qualify him 20 write mach more inteIligeutlv and
acceptably in regard to some matters in which
he is naturally and properly interested, bat with
which he Is at present manfestly incompetent to
deal.