New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-09-25

In the -prinsof 1868 We -Ermernber CON
yersing most earnestly and encourasinsly
with the above mentioned young lady, then
student at Oberlin with regard to art.
She had exbbited some signs OF talent in
drawing and9ainting hadrvinced such eng
thGsiasm Tor the art which adorus and cnno-i
bles that, from kindred artistic love. we
were led to advise her to geek the East, and
by study prepare herself for work and further
study abroad. Ten years have passed, and
the half-Indian maiden has gained 4 reputa-
ton which many artists might envy; hut has
not, We trust. reached the highest round Of
the ladder which it has been her good for
tune h climb She i nov Tcyi,iting her natiye
land. bringing with her some Of the works
Of her chisel. These = now on exhibition
in san Francisco. ami have received the
I praise Of all art critics IN that city. SO emil
nent a character has Miss Lewis become that
she has been interviewed" BY the Graphic
correspondent, and criticised by an able
writer in the Cdpit1l. Artists have never been
noted for their generosity toward each other;
an the contrary, their jealOuses have rather
/ been prominent. Weare not surprised, then,
! that Miss Lewis should have induIged in
some sharp criticism other fellow craltsw oman
winnie Ream. ~-
Miss Ream's friend, ar. !. H." above
referred to, comes to her rescue calamity,
: bat By no means discnurteousiv II Mis-
Lewis, recognizing the latter merit, and only
blaming her hasty Judgment Of the much
abused Winnie ~
! We arc aware thar, in Italy Mis- Lewis
has enjoyed some advantages on account Of
! the accident Of complexion; has met encour-
agcment where she would not had she been
white. We know that This was the case in
Boston bat We are still painfully aware that,
she has suffered many discouragements at
the hands OF her own fellow countrymen and
women, which have tended to cripple her
energies and clip the wings uf her progress.
| The Marquis Of Bate tI.othair) has assisted
her; Charlotte Gushnan, generous as she is
gifted and great. has been her friend. Others
have given her ertlers, because struck by the
novelty Other work. What she needs however,
is the assistance other own race; the patron
age, the favorable mention Of colored members
of Congress when appropriations for artistic
purposes are ON foot She ccrtainly could not
execute worse. etii9ies than sundry statues
which are supposed TO adorG our Capital and
Capitol. 80 e. .g. t.,.,' ":' t..
. We do not think Miss Lewis has done JUS
tice to herself in anything she has yet
accomplished. The possibilities are there
as Angelo said. The statue is imprisoned
in the marble, waiting only to be freed.
Miss Lewis is yJuns:, has ability, and what
is sometimes worth more, independence and
a wonderful amount Of courage.
Give her such orders as will allow her to
devote her time to the seyerest and critical
study give her the opportunities which have
helped to make Miss Stebbins, Miss Hosmer,
and Miss Foley, all able and gifted women
in their profession, and she will in a few
years rank with any Of them. We hope
Miss Lewis will come East with her collec-
ton. Here in Washington she might meet
with that encouragement in just and discrim-
mating praise, OF the more satisfactory en-
enlargement Of pecuniary aid, which we are
afraid will not be found even in the FL
| Dorado