New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-11
DECORATIVE ART.
MISS sANBORN,s FINAL LECTURE.

MAKING HOMES NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or HOUSE
HOLD ART IL THIS CoUNTRY-wHAT WOMEN
ARE DOING.
A good audience of ladies, undaunted by
the rain, assembled, yesterday. IN the paror OF Dr.
Crosby church listen Miss Eate A. sanbOrns con-
Guiding Wednesday morning lecture, the subject being
Decorative Art" This of lectures. begun early
in January has been very popular. and the attendance
and interest have revealed growing taste among Ia
dies OF leisure for systematic study of English literature
and household art To illustrate the subject OF yester
days lecture, Miss sanborn exhibited, through the
kindness of several ladies' beautiful examples of porce-
lain and tile painting and embroidery Several dealers
also sent IN unique obj ects of decoration.
After expressing her thanks for the constant attend
and generous applause OF her auditors, Miss san
Born sad:
Nothing is certain the unexpected. That could
attract ana hold sucn an audience us nus se tRese
land spinster lIAnghter Ii is true that one critic
speaks Of me ms the "new woman lecturer" Another
condemns my efforts to eondense literature of the past
as mass OF stale quotations and slaug Otherwise
should be spoiled by kindness. Many times have
asked assistance from gentlemen who could III spare the
time but they have always responded with valuable sug
gesons and references aud earnest wishes for success
Inc DAYS OF ehvary are not yet over Neyer was mere
time when wOmans work has been so applauded ana
encouraged by men, as now Even II the work Is only
tOleraby well DONE If there is desire to improve and
willingness to work hard for 1t, every true gentleman
cries GOdspeed. Decorative art may be tie rock on
which go down ilaughterl, for rs Mark Twain says,
have selected this subject because 1t Is the topic on
theme and wanted to be better informed. I am told
that decorative began about the time of the building
Of the pyramids shall start from that point because II
is too far TO 20 back 20 tue ig-leaves. lAughterl
The monuments Of Egypt the mother OF science, were
In existence 1000 years before Christ the Egyptian
tombs covered with drawings paintings ana sculp
ture, and the Oldest known pottery Is Egyptian. art
know aud 10 do decorative art IL making the useful or
namental Decorative was aus height before TIC dark
ages, coming rs many affirm, from the East TO Egypt
Greece aud Rome; through the middle ages anglshed
10 be revived IN the present era Decoration IL IKE
tating the ancents interior decorations, personal
ornaments and costumes As MI Prime says, 'he cups
the builders OF tie Pyramid child Is sometimes
told 10 hold shell to his and hear In IL the sound OF
the sea- That same deep sound. which may hear in
OF Coprlard coming down through long succession Of
generations Of potery-hat IL the roar Of the deiuge
In this age we lind decorative an among the middle
classes. Once it known only to the rich New in
vcntions in multiplying pictures have familiarized the
masses with the conceptions Of the great masters and
made forms OF beauty accessible to all people above abb
soluc want This is not true art but Il pleasant aud
hearts. Much WIT has been expended upon cheap
rbrImos hut they are doing good work. Let dwell
for "a few moments houses and the art
Of furnishing rooms. Rooms are quick tell
tales of character aud taste or the lack OF IT, and each
room should express something and be- In harmony with
itself There elegant drawing rooms which chl you
you enter and simple, cosy sitting rooms IN which
every chair SAYS, do sit down with me-" and welcome
brcaibc- from the very walls. Household taste Is but
synonym tor household culture ana she Is wise woman
who surrounds those she loves with objects OF beauty
II s said OF owen Jones thai the ann OF his life was TO
bring the beautiful IN form and color home To Ee house
hold 20 mnge It's subtle influences with tne whole frame
work OF social and family lite. It Is by a
thousand little iecities pretty bracket an aftstic
gem OF picture, statuetc 81 bust gauzy curtain veil
ing little recess pretty hanging graceful stand
of flowers a tiny cabinet OF choice treasures, cosy
chair, or comfortable diyan-thCse ana many another
object tring IN itseli and easily gre to
traps 10 catch sunbeanls which simmer ana ngIteh
mp aud glow through the dwelling WIerc taste dWes III
unity with utilities and love.
house decoration aud art at home IN a small volume
They do not interfere with individual tastes my give
simple rules for general guidance. Ihey say; Always
secure considerable amount OF plain neutral color Ia
your room as % ~ a 9 nottsr b Tl
more beautiful than contrast" believe in furniture
which has au air OF homelike comfort To Inc East
lake" means square and prim discomfort.
Walter smith, OF Massachusetts,, has opened an art
school in imitation Of the South Kensngton School, In
London There is school OF design at the University OF
Michigan and a Museum Of Industrial Art at New
Haven the secretary OF which writes The work began
one year ago We have the old state House, containing
about twenty-five rooms They are now about hait
filled, ana the collection "a Increasing. We
ornament ncTain' Wood carving is being
cnnat the ornamcnted panels 10 the new grand organ
win their own hands Mr. Putnam, Principal OF the
private Art Department, enthusiastically says The
american girl of the future will live palace OF her
own making" Boston is never behind IN art movements
Ladies and artists are active IN the study ana practice
says the Phade pha Industrial and Free Art School Is
tLc hest p this country. There are 800 In the
W0men's Art school the Cooper Institute which Is au
imitation OF the kensiugon Art School IL i,a eschoO
the object being TO educate teachers OF art A few
months ago number OF ladies In this city founded the
Society OF Decorative Art AT No. East Tweutieth-s,
for The exhibition and sale Of decorative work and To
encourage such work among women, ana II mas met with
abundant success. For many years women nave been
employed In this city IN the decoration of porcelain. The
M GrcaOreN OF this city, have obtained celebrity
through their painting tiles and decoration oil pOrce
lain long they decorated the tiles tor mnntcl
of medieval design for Mrs Alexander Mitchell, Of MIL
waukce, ana also "A dinner set IN unique patterns
The Ladies' Art Association OF this city, at No. 20 East
Eighteenth-sL Is doing good work In promoting the
interests Of women artists. Miss Susan Hayes Ward
and Miss Heta Ward sisters Of Dr. Ward, Editor OF The
Independn are connected with this association. They
have made Il real OF decorative art Their house In
Newark has an air Of elegance aud comfort yet not
more than 500 has been expended on the Interior
The ladies have painted the floors. Their
oil paintings and winter cOlOrs adOrn the walls lhey
prepared carpet carrying II To the weaver TO be
made up He inspired by that, produced Turkish rug
effect, with nothing cheap or homemade about H. yet
the actual outlay only - ID. Their china was all
painted by themselves The furniture Is either od iur
nitirc transformed by them, made after their
plans ut Onethrd the ordinary cost They are painting
the tiles for fireplace for the library Of Newfork
gentleman, aud also for the Fireplace In the dningr room
The former will have Illustrations IRON GOldsmlths
deserted Village"
this kind OF work. | thinking OF one who has
changed. rs II by magic an ugly seVengabled mouse
into marvel OF beauty. The young men VINO want 10
marry but find city girls too extravagant would DETER
make "a tour Of investigation through New-Eugiahd'
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MIDNIGHT WEATHER REPORT