Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-04
Premium Chr0mOs.

What is the real value of chromos? The
land is so flooded with them that it has be-
come serious and important question, for in
their general diffusion they must either i'm.
prove the taste Of our people or degrade it !
That there are cbromos Of great merit in
which the outline and perspective are cor.
rect, and the coloring true to nature, is un
deniable. Some Of the German and English
chromos have almost the dclicacy and soft
ness OF a water-color painting, and few
American ones are nearly as good OF a
lower order Of merit are many that are
pretty, and desirable as giving a bit Of
bright color to room We have seen
sprays of trailing arbntus, of apple-blos-
SONS aud other wild flowers, drawn and
eolored with such fidelity to nature as to be
really lovely and delightfully."- suggestive Of
orchards and wild woods, and also fruit pic.
lures Of considerable excellence. Now and
then, too, we see good representation of
animals and human figures, life-like and
pleasing enough to add brightness and cheer
to sitting-room, especially one which has
few ornaments and other pretty things
But after selecting all we can possibly
commend, the great mass remains, Of which
little complimentary can be said. They
are faulty in proportion and wretched daubs
of color and without the least pretension to
artistic value. We believe chromos mav
be good enough to give pleasure to person
OF cultivated taste, but, take them as they
are, we must deny that they often do !;
while nothing more repulsive can well be
imagined than the poorest ones Their great
claim to favor has been their cheapness, and
this is very wcighty one when so many
who cannot afford costly pictures desire
to have something pretty about them in
their homes. Yet to be of any value, such
adornments must be really beautiful in
themselves or suggestive of something good
and noble. The power of fine picture to
refine and elevate the taste cannot well be
overestimated, while, on the other hand,
wretched daub has power to corrupt aud
degenerate it, especially if the owner con.
slders 1t choice specimen of art. Even 10
the matter Of cheapness, chromos have lit
tie advantage over photographs the latter
can be obtained at very low prices, even
good-ones Of some of the best works Of art;
and they are infinitely preferable to gaudy.
colored chromos, and are Of real value as
educators in outlines, Some foreign photo.
graphs OF the works Of the old masters are
almost as fine as eugrayings, aud convey
some idea at least Of the originals
The worst sort Of chromos have been pro.
fusely scattered abroad as premiums for
subscribers to certain newspapers and mag
azlues; these have filed the land till YOU
can scarcely 60 into the poorest house in
the most remote village, without having one
of them stare you in the face. They may
be trifie more CHEEKY, and, therefore, bet
ter than bare walls--though whether they
are or not is fair question--but that SO
many Of our respectable common people
should have been deluded into regarding
them as specimens of the highest order Of
the art " is deplorable. These premium
pictures have certainly proved profitable
lure, and brought money into the pockets of
the publishers; but they have also done
much to degrade the standard of public
taste. 10 most cases they have been coarse
and gaudy pictures, without a particle Of
real artistic value. And to palm them of
as :" noble compositions, -" specimens of the
highest order of the art" was an imposition
on understanding public. 1t is pitiable
that papers, 10 other respects of a high Or
der, should have compromised themselves
with these advertising aids to temporary
popularity. This whole matter Of giving
premiums is denoraizing, alike to publish
ers and subscribers, If the paper itself is
not worth the price of its subscription, it
should be let alone lift is, the price should
be paid cheerfully as for value received,
without decoys Of any kind. We trust the
time is not far distant when an outraged
public shall compel publishers to let chro.
mos and all other humbugs alone, and de.
vote themselves to their proper work Of
making their journals SO intrinsically valu.
able that nothing beyond shall be needed TO
tempt subscribers--SprinQfeld Republican.