New-York tribune., 1878-03-16
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
AMERICAN WOOD ENGRAVING
SHALL II NOT BE SHOWN Al PAEls'-A cAKD 'E'A
Mr.. JOHN La FARCE

N MOI bk SHOWN Al
Mr. JOHN la FARCE
Ys IA. gdffor Of rae IrfbHHs
srR.I sbould Ike 10 make al appeal th-Ougn
THE TRIBUNE toan lovers Of art and persons oi
culture with regard 70 the representation a. ''e
Pa-is Exposition Of department of AuerleA a. an
which has never been fairly represented abroad
While thesumber Of artists gagged In II is s'oAa
we have attained 70 hgi standard for TIE D-tSea'
cav, ID the ait of engraving on wood and on 'his
grourd We can com pete favorable with Lurofeaa
nstioa, U,ost of which are decidedly O1r iateIl0rs
A ike sureriOrIty we eanDo, with certainty nlain-
tain in any oiher department Of FArt-
know al lovers Of art with Is II
America would regret our throwing away TIE
opportunity Of deserved sueoes. and hono.- Ia
practice the means 70 obtain this oisti1ction tof te
United States are easily secured A space s1 o.
eight fee, SQUARE would be more than Is needed for
such Al exhibition. The nunbSr ot o1r ANS,
enSravers are snail; their works are ci
small Dimensions. necessarily, s1d think have
not underststed the space required With regard
10 ny appreciation Of the nerts q or best Ainer-
car work an able 70 state thai have ihe concur
rent opinion Of many European artists and eE-iles
q whom T. ght mention Mr. Ruskin as the latest
one and one Of tae least liable 20 oTerate any woiE
done il rlvaIry q his owl oouutTyne1.
The committee who have taken n charge tie
laansgeInent q the representation q the UDlS71
Ststes II at al t5e Pans Exposition, encouraged
tie offer Of the best specimens OF wood eHgTsFllS
that could be found here f5T exhibition a. Pans
but ewing 70 some circumstance - far unexplained
they bscsne unwilling the next dAy 20 allow tn1s@
ergraviDE. 20 De entered II the Fioe AT Depart
aent. believe. tha! overWeighted with tie cares
of business and the representation of great p7ble
Interests and unsCcu.toned al IneXP-It "A tAls
-no-s recondIfe and technical an, they did not
r-coruize the injury tbey were i8dict-ng uP'n the
standing q : 1-e.lsorioUs though les weL-kIoEn
elias. Of artists nor % tie harm taey we've dong 10
alt AID iis culture il America. Your o"n IL
r,er.erce and knowledge OF life viii have shown
you how ditnculi II Is country OF
commerce and manufacture 10 iIft trade
INTO high AT II /. dificult il sny part
OF the world; 70 have had il happen here
= something Of which should a. Dc proud.
Nor should W, II seems - ne, lOse any chance OF
letting i be.knoTn. ! hope that through such a
public statement on American Committee VII take
the matter into consideration, unwilling IS tbey
mus; be - pa. over lightly an American sltees'
which has ssd the praise aud approval Of The
principal an - and critics that hsye met, al u
as been ny good fortune 10 know good many,
both here ald across the Atlantic.
Were there any practical difficulty IN ihe way,
such a. want q space. gTe@; weight o. ci.ncuiy
q transportation. / should not BE- 90 urgent bat
such collection as would represent our best woIk
would not cover more Nsll-sQsce tnan have stated
above aai Il not framed. could al be carTl-d over
il a .4rse envelope. ! an, -, respectfully,
Eee-YoTk, March -. JLF