New-York tribune., 1876-12-23

lovers, because, unlike most Ne"-i'ih
collections, it contained many good pic
lures and not single bad one; and be-
cause we thought also that Mr.. Johnston was
entitled to the sympathy and support OF an
art-loving public. Now that the sale IS over,
if is worth while to notice that this public did
not always bestOw its favOrs with much uls-
elimination. There is certain ilunkylsm In
purchasers of pictures which sometimes taxes
ridiculous forms. Mr.. Johnston, Tor instance
had in his gallery old examples OF half dozen
of our New-York artists who are uo-uaS III
their prime. These were good pictures uoupV-
less the best they could do then' Dut ny ho
means 20 good as they are dong no" every
day. In nearly every instance higher prices
were paid at this sale for these early and conpar
otiveIy crude pictures than would now be charged
hv the artists themselves, if commissions were
given direct at their studios for the very best
work of which they are now capable. The ILL.,
informed enthusiasts paid more than the
price of the best in order 10 ee'
good examples of their yOuthiul "orh'
This is excellent for Mr.. Johnston, Dut IL s
unjust to New-York artists, who are NOT now
adays having any too good time OF IL any
way. If the gentlemen who are anxious "
nav double prices for youthful pictures Dy New
York artists, whose fame has since been esG,o-
lished, will supplement that performance py
poinr TO the studios and giving respectable
commissions for the best work OF wIlch tnese
artists are now capable, they will do some
thing more substantial for the encouragement
of American art, and gain some better title 10
the rank they seek as art patrons.
DR.. Holland and Mrs. Lowell, In Striking
letters printed in other columns TINS morning.
take exceptions to q recent article Ill lhE
TR,RuNE abOut the freezing to death OF
child in Frankfort-st. The article expressed
the horror which every right-feeling person
must have experienced at learning that child
careIessly passed by scores of people on
the street. was then freezing to death
in the midst of Christian COM
munity, and, as it were, under the
very hands of million people, that would
have been stretched out to help II only sure
that help was needed. DIR. Holland dexter
ousy improves the opportunity to make
strong argument against liquor selling, and TO
fasten the responsibility for the tragedy upon
the iauor seller. Mrs. Lowell perenptOri!y
objects TO the theory that when the mother
who sat on tle StlctJ WIFI lulS ItNHihb b"''
in her arms received no help from the passers
bv they were responsible for the tragedy.
PERHAPS that did state the case strongly.
And vet we think Mrs. Lowell will not disa-
gree with us as TO the duty of making inquiry
in ali such cases of obvious distress, and OF
telling the poor sufferers where relief can be
obtained. Certainly it would be unwise in
most cases to give such relief on the
spot in the form of money, and it is
quite possible that vast majority OF
the applicants are utterly undeserylng
But it would be better for well-tO-do people
to waste several hours in telling women ap-
parently helpless and suffering, on bitter cold
nights in the street, where they can find relief
from the organized charities, than that one
out of a hundred of such persons should be
found too late to have been real sufferer
and TO have starved or frozen to death III the
very heart of a Christian and wealthy commu-
nifty. We have preached too long the gospel OF
organized charity for our readers To need
special instruction and warnings against the
evils of indiscnminate aims. Such lamcntable
cases as this one in FrankfOrt-st. remind us
that what is rather needed is an occasional
suggestion that all apparent sufferers are not
impostors, and that we cannot be wholly freed
from our individual obligations TO Gods poor
by making regular contributions to the State
Charities Aid Association.
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