The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-06-28
THE FINE ARTS.
The school of DesIan for WON

a
bhe practical training OF women for an honorable
PROFESSION by which they may be enabled to earn
theIr bread and butter. The difficulty which women
uuo In obtaining remuneratlve employment,
and the difficulties in the way of
OBTAINING suitable training for such descriptions of
remunerative labor as they are able to perform are
Ghe real grievances that give vitality to all the
Womens rights agitation of the present day. The
NUMBER OF women who are compelled to do sorne-
thing Tor their own support is rapidly increasing
every day; and every consideration OF humanity,
justice, and the pubic welfare demands that more
avenues OF employment shall be opened to
them, and. every effort to provide for the
great necessities of the situation is entitled to
hearty cooperation and encouragement The or
ganizaton of the School of Design for Women was
we believe, the first practical attempt made nl
this country to give women thorough professiona,
training. The school was established with plain,
practical object which has been strictly adhered to-
the only changes made since its foundation being
those necessary for the perfection and improve
ment OF the original plan The school
does not profess and its conductors probably do not
desire, to make artists OF the pupils, but the
single aim is to educate a race of industrial de-
signers, who will not only be able to earn good
wages for good work, but who will be valuable auxl-
laries for the promotion of the interests OF Ameri-
can dustry. To establish this school upon per-
manent basis has required long and severe struggle,
and much yet remains to be done before 1t will be in
position to do all the good that it is capable of
doing. Up to the present time the efforts OF its
principal and his chief hackers have been largely
directed to procuring building free from incum-
brance, and to filling 1t with models, books, and all
the necessary appliances for carrying on system
OF Industrial Art Education. With the aid of dona-
tions from the State, several liberal bequests and
contributions of greater or less amount from per-
sons who felt an interest in the institution,
tins has now been accomplished. The School of
Design stands to-day in possession of property OF
much value, and well supplied with facilities for
carrying out the objects OF its founders but ham,
pered by the lack of sure and permanent revenue
SUFFICIENT for its support The fees paid by the stu
dents are very small, and would be wholly made
quate for the support OF the school IL all
contributed something. Many of the pupils,
however, pay nothing, and it would be
very desirable II the institution could
be made entirely free to all who desire to avail
themselves OF its advantages The great value of
the School Of Design consists in the fact that 1t dis
ciplines its pupils, and that young woman, from
the first moment that she enters its doors, must SUBJ
NIT to rules which strictly enforced, and hich
compel her to work, The success of such an nsti-
tuition, and Its claims upon the regards Of the COM
munity depend upon its sending out trained workers.
and the thorough system of education which trains
the eye, the hand the intellect and stimulates all
the inventive faculties, while intoxicating principles
of good TASTE gives just what they must have
to enable them to compete with men in the struggle
for the means of living The School Of Design being
what it is, it would have been suicidal for its
managers to have amalgamated it with the Academy
OF Fine Arts, the objects of which, so far
as it has any objects, and the educational system
of which, far as it has any system, totally diff
ferent The School of Design was established for
distinct purpose which should never be lost sight Of
and is at least doubtful whether that purpose
be carried out properly in connection with any other
institution whatever. SO far from uniting it with
the Academy OF Fine Arts, the friends of the
School OF Design, having brought it to its
present state Of perfection, should be more than
interested in establishing it upon firm
foundation, and we sincerely hope that all who
care for the advancement OF women, or Tor the
welfare OF those women who are compelled to earn
their daily bread, will feel 1t incumbent upon them
to give this school the substantial aid it needs. We
understand that the talked-of union with the
Academy OF Fine Arts has been definitely
abandoned, and that decided effort will
now be made to secure such an endow-
ment as will place the School OF Design
in condition that it will not be compelled to
live from hand to mouth or to depend upon irregular
contributions For this effort we ask the cordial CO.
operation OF the people OF Philadelphia, for ia in
every way worthy of their liberal support Large sums
of money given every year to colleges and other
educational Institutions to hospitals and innumeraoe
charities, and there is no good reason why some OF
the wealth bestowed for the purpose OF doing good
should not go to the modest institution on Penn
Square, which carries on its work, not Of charity
but of benefcence, quietly and unostentatiously
that many who ought to feel cordial interest In II
Sc arcey know Of its existence. There are very
many persons in this city who are perfectly wei
able to give this school enough money to found
or more scholarships and there are many more who
are able to give a thousand hundred, ten or even
five dollars towards making the School OF Design
self-supporting institution. II every woman who
Believes in the capabilities OF her for doing
thing better than kitchen drudgery, or plying the
needle over slop-work furnished by the cheap cloth
ing houses, would extend some aid and il ever
man who believes that the interests OF society de
mand practical settlement OF the great question
OF womens work and wages would give according
to his means the Philadelphia School OF Design TO
Women would not only be placed out of the reacl
of the vicssitudes OF fortune, but its usefulness
would be increased tenfold.
Other Art Matters.
Mr. D. r. Knight is just putting the fnshin
touches upon picture that has been on his ease
for several months The subject is historical, an
represents an incident to which the origin OF tn
Guelph and Ghibelline contests in Florence wa
ascribed. The direct inspiration OF the picture
the following passage from Rogers "Ital:y"-
'Fatal was the day
TO Florence, when (tWas in street behind
The church and convent OF the Holy Cross
There is tue house--that house OF the Donatl;
Towerless, and left long suce but 10 the last
Rravng assault all rugged, all embossd
Below, and all distinguished by the rings
OF brass, that held in war and festival time
Their family standard)-fatal was the day
TO Florence, when at morn, at the ninth hour,
A noble dame in weeds OF WldoWhood,
Weeds to be worn hereafter by so many,
Stood at her door and like sorceress flung
Her dazzling spell Subtle she was and rich,
Rich In a hidden pearl OF heavenly light
Her daughters beauty and TOO well she knew
Its value patiently she stood and watchd,
Nor stood alone-but spoke not. In her breast
Her purpose lay and as youth passd by
Glad for the nuDtial rite, she smiled and said,