New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-30
Drawing Ia the CoiOreGi schools

Among the cheering evidences Of progress
| in our coored schools may be mentioned, with
unqualified commentator, the introduction
of system Of a drawing.
| This useful branch OF learning has until
| lately been considered as belonging only to
| those who intended TO make a living by it, as
painters, sculptors or sketchers, or else it
| has been held u be a mere accomplishment,
! by which young lady might adorn the 'front.'
! ispiecc Of her album, or caricaturc the fea-
lures Of some unacceptable sutor, and yet a
moments reflection will show that the mas
! terry of the science and art of lines lies at the
very foundation of success in many useful
trades, and quite often becomes the means of
crowning other than artists with enduring
regulations. The mechanic, the manuiact-
! urer, the civil engineer all have need of this
most useful requirement, aud if the pupils OF
| our public schools come forth from them with
this accomplishment incorporated even toll
erably in the common education they receive,
| il will add one more To the many chances of
| entering upon some trade or profession which
! will aid i'll lifting our young people above the
dead level Of mere clerical occupations.
| People do not hesitate 10 have child
taught the art ofwriting upon the plea that it is
not expected that it will become an author.
1t is sufficient to know that, though it never
! becomes an author, it will at east know how
/ to write, and TO understand that without ac-
| curing the art of writing it never can become
an author. Upon like principles none should
| begrudse their children the time they give to
the science and art of drawing during the
course of their public instruction, since if
they do not become artists in the technical
SENSE they at least secure an requirement, by
which they can the more thoroughly apprecia-
ate art while should they develop talent
for painting, or sketecha they will already,
have conquered many didicplties in the
pathway oil their professions by that training
OF the ncyes and education OF the eye and
quickening Of the fancy which will have grown
out of their common school studies, of the
art Of drawing.
The person vino can put upon paper the
artistic conceptions Of their own minds, have
,sie great advantage OF knowing exactly what
they. think or conceive as TO shapes and
forms, while these latter when demonstrated
TO the sight 7become aids TO quicken, more
accurate, and more perfect invention. All
things being equal, that man will secure the
confidence of apothes1nore readily, who can
make himself perfectly understood; and the
power to make ones'self understood is
tremendous agency in helping other people
To understand themselves. Ii the carpenter
can draw plan vi ~ houss, manufacturer
plan Of his machinery, tbs merchant give
pattern of his material, each SO far, has the
advantage of his rival who Is destitute of
such an Accomplishment, i therefore 50 far
ahead in the race for success.
'But there Is another aspest IN which the
art OF drawing becomes blessing to those
who master it. In the unculiiyated mind the
the power of imagination is always stronger !