The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-02-16
The Universal Conservatory of Art, Sci
snoe and Industry.

| in the social and industrial world, de-
mands serious consideration. The age,
in conceding greater liberty to her, has
also demanded that she shall assume
the position of an active worker, though
it has made but little provision for her
new life. The vexed question of "wom-
ans rights" with its social, moral, re-
ligious and legal aspects, is not now un-
der discussion. The matter in hand is
simply to draw attention to a common
sense fact, which has been almost over
looked, namely, that the first necessity
of woman's freedom, is her right to self
support, her right to absolute independ-
ence of means. She is pushed from her
old place, and compelled to labor in in
dustries new to oher-industries for which
she is often unqualified by lack of skill,
education, or strength; and women are
now debarred from many labors, not
because they are women, but because
they are ignorant, unskilled in art or
artisanship. If, then, the new order of
things makes this demand on woman,
it is but simple justice to accord them
opportunities for gaining the necessary
skill, education, or strength. This can
be accomplished by Cooperative In
Struetion, through the individual action
of many people dominated by the lead
ing idea. The personal contact of the
leaders in any cooperative movement
is not absolutely necessary; the highest,
most magnificent results often spring
from mental co-OperatiOn-from the
power of an idea controlling advanced
minds in the most distant regions of
! the world; an idea-a principle, once
accepted becomes a power in she land
and all intellectual men cooperative in
advancing and upholding it. This is
not an absolutely unconscious cO-opera-
tiOn; the knowledge that others are
working in the same direction, is an in
centive to renewed eXertion, and the in
evitable antagonisms which are so de-
structive to the welfare of personal CO.
operations, are only propelling powers
to this, its broader cosmopolitan ex-
preston. To create free Conservatives,
academies of art, schools of industry, free
workshops for women, would, to supply
all her needs, demand such enormous
wealth, and such gigantic organizations,
that, even were it possible to originate
such a general movement, centuries
must elapse before its perfect consum-
nation. But individual cooperation
under the domination of an idea, is not
only perfectly feasible, but almost i'm
mediate in its practical operation. As
an illustration observe the principle un-
derlying a conservatory of art or music,
a school or university. This principle
is the simple one of individual instruc-
tion certain masters teach special
branches, which branches united, con-
stitute the general, integral scheme of
instruction, formaliZed for the accom-
plishment of certain intellectual results;
, this plan of instruction constitutes the
conservatory, and it does not necessa-
rily demand a special building or a spe-
cial convOcation of teachers and pupils
| to create it. Each branch taught is
separate, distinct, homogeneous, almost
perfect in itself as a science or art. We
demand only one teacher for a language,
not separate teachers for nouns, verbs
and pronunciation. The science, art,
language or trade taught by one person
J is, integrally a unit, however it may be
! allied, or subordinate to some other
branch.
The student of music who goes to one
instructor for vocalization, to another
for counterpOint, aud to another for
piano lessons, is fulfilling the main idea
} of a conservatory, though the teachers
may not know each other. For, when
ever we have one educated teacher will
ing to give free or inexpensive lessons
for a few hours in the week, at his or
|
of a conservatory, school, academy, or
Industrial workshop.
Even that great power for good of q
: conservatory i'll its appeals to the social
instinct, to the spirit of healthy emula-
a tion and sympathy of pursuit, that sense
of being a member of a noble Organiza-
. ton, is not absent; for the teachers and
q pupils, controlled by the leading idea of
:. the universal conservatory, will feel
T that they are active members of a gil
8 gantic cooperative organization. There
e are thousands of chivalric enthusiasts
! in America, who are willing to assist in
O any plan for the benefit of women, if
e they were certain of the cooperation of
!. others in the work. Individually they
e feel that one man or woman can accom-
e plish but little in the field of the wide
felt need, but working thus co-opera-
8 lively, it will give fresh impetus to
u their labor in well-doing. And, as the
n laborer is worthy of his hire, they will
g often find that they have profited in
l. pocket and reputation, by their activity
u in this new sphere.
The Cooper Union, the National
, = Academy, the Art Students League,
. the Musical Conservatory, are all doing
noble work for the education of women
y in art and its allied industries; but, even
J, for the city of New York, the supply is
:, - not equal to the demand, and the smaller
. cities of the union have no advantage;
e of methodical or conservatory teaching
-. [ propose now to the artists, musicians
y teachers and literary men and women
~ of America to commence a simultane-
Gus movement throughout the Union
for the creation of idea-conservatorie
of music, literature, art, and the allied
10 industries, and ask them to commence
re at once, by giving portion of theil
rt time to the teaching of their respective
Ie specialties, either gratis, or at the low
ID est possible cost to the pupils.
sr need hardly mention that this plar
t, will, in art, embrace drawing ele
7, mentary from cast and life-portraiturt
I, in color and monotone, perspective
is anatomy, ornament, architecture, in
y dustrial design, engraving and lith
is ography, photography, landscape anC
E. genre painting, illumination, ETC.; th,
IS musical conservatory will also embracr
1T it's respective branches in theory, prac
is tice, and languages.
X This appeal is made specially to tht
ie leaders in music, literature, art, ant
e. artisanship; but I earnestly hope tina
the movement will extend to all indus
as tries or trades by which women cal
rt support themselves. Methodical ant
Id cheap instruction in type-setting, milli