New-York tribune., 1879-12-22
THE RUsKLy DRABINGS

on FXHIBIuON AT TIE AMERICAN ART GALLERY,
no. EAST TwENrY-THIRD-sT.
In an age of what we call personalities
an Old word for thng-when success OF an hour
IA most easily by talking about ones sefand getting
ones self talked about-Mr RuskIn. writer conspieu-
ous among things by hi- persistent acrd aud too
often unjust upon the times he lives n has built
himself showy reputation humoring those times
10 the top of bent pouring forth river OF takws
and FOOLISH sad and amusing conceted smart and some-
umes witty about anything and everything but largely
about himself Take from the long series OF his books.
the catty the serious talk about himself and MS REM
iniscences and his diskesten OF these TO one
of those his opinions aud his whm whams-his whIm-
whams quite dear him his opinions anu offered
to us as the same Importance; and take away also,
from his latest writings the pages Of sedeprecation,
the brood OF dyspepsia begot yanity-and how little
interest charm what remains would have FOR bis
readers
harmed 80 constantly, aad with such de-
light on the theme OF SELF and after-cOmers will this
resemblance between the Engshman ana the swiss
though the lives OF both were uneventul, neither OF
them doing anything OF Importance IN the world outside
Of his books yet each of cOuld write del ghtfuy
about a broom,t STICK and make rs thnk him, while we
read a mau Of the hrst Importance. IN Mr.. Ruskn's
ease this perpetual sefasSertOn has had lts reward In
the foundation of sect OF worshppers-he word Is not
too strong the fac sect strongest In England but
with well managed brauch-ohise or caapeofease, In
our own country. This sect devoted 20 the per-
soual cult Of the author of Modern Painters.
to the spread OF his notions and t. the disSenina
tion OF his works Ia Elgland there Is
the ST. GEORGES society" and the "Ruskin Society,"
with the Art-schOOl al Oxford" and the Sheffield
Museum" not speak of the mech TRADE NOT known
VINO subserbed for FOrs Csvigera; and Of late
advertisement appears In some English iOnrna inquir-
ing for "A Lady knowing Professor Ruskins Works who
Is wanted to begin a small school in the country upon
mis- me hods of teaching "as II Mr.. Ruskin had ever
propounded method OF teaching that was sensible,
or a eensibe that was new; and finally, we have
literary gentleman at loss for task. undertaking
"Ruskin photography" and finding public eager 10
buy II.
An this country the sect is fewer In numbers than
it IL in England, but It makes up In zeal
for what IL lacks in SIZE Its members have established
branch Of the oxford School at Harvard and Professor
Norton u in his purely diSinterested iaDors
TO disseminate tho doctrine OF bis master.
II Il in pursuance OF his loyalty accepted
mission as lay-preacher OF Mr.. Ruskn's gospel
to a wicked aud perverss generation tnat Mr norton
has brought 10 New-York the collection OF drawings
which was atoy exhibited in Boston, aud wneh Is no"
placed ON view at the gallery oil Mt. H. l.
Moore No East Twenty-thirst. (the kurtz GalleTyl
The collection Is accompanied by catalogue whcn'
barring the long and extract from obscure swiss
writer named Gotthelf, Is entertaining reading some
thing not often possible 10 be said or an eahOition GAIA
losue IL Is by way, eminenily Characteristic Oh
MIR Ruskn that he should call the writer OF this proy
description the greatest OF Swiss authors ito snub
Rousseau we suppose, he did it; but We viii trust
something TO say for herself In reply TO
sueh au lmplie aunt Mr. Ruskn ahould not be unjust
ia Rousseau lie to him his discovery, how 10 en-
tertan his readers with the narr ve OF his you'niu
peecadoes. and with the picking his own characterize
pieces But we are suppose that Mr Rlsknmeahs
us 10 a all this seriously Most oft s
10 be- understood IN Plckwiekian sense, ana much OF
IA merely Intended forestall the critics Ihey may
~ they please make fun OF these drawings. but Mr.
Ruskiu win have had his shy at them beforehand
The drawings themselves have no interest whaeyera as
Art they arc only the exercises Of hard working student
Of facts and some OF them prove their author to nave
gained an EXCEPTIONAL skill with brush and pencil IN the
delmeaon Of certain things that will stand Sill 10 DO
painted The collection begins wtn two maps one OF
France the other OF Africa which for neatness ana ac
curacy might be matched In many an American schooE
room They are In sense remarkable, ana arc
as much out Of place In woudbe serious coueetion
.uch as this as II the little patchwork bedaut ma"s
nv the late william NJ. Hunt when achiidapd dspaye'
In glass case all by itself IN the present rxaio'''oa