Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-05-15

planted. will not be eradicated. For the
diffusion of taste for art among the peo-
pie is the best possible guarantee for the
perpetuation and extension of that taste.
In the first place it compels the establish
ment of cheap processes of imitation and
reproduction. When the chromo-litho-
graph was introduced it was regarded with
exaggerated horror by those super fastidi-
Gus art critics who have fallen into the
error of making themselves the slaves of
Art instead of employing Art as an Access
sorry to civilization. But the chrome
Autograph was distinct step in advance.
1t enabled hundreds of thousands of poor
people to hang upon their walls more faith
full and artistic copies of Nature than had
ever before been accessible to them. 1t
made possible the decoration, the bright
ening, the Identifying of countless humble
homes, and in so doing it lifted up and
broadened the national intelligence. De-
spite all criticisms it was wholesome
revolution, and it paved the way for still
better things.
Manufactures have also of late years done
much to popularize Art. Not only in
household furniture, but in all kinds of
crockery, porcelain, China and glass wares,
the desire to introduce beauty and grace of
form is conspicuous, while the most cult
waited art-sense is employed in the perfec
ton of patterns and design for the fabrics
whose splendor and brilliancy are now at
the command of almost the poorest classes.
There is scarcely anything noble or sug-
gestive which cannot now be procured in
cheap form, and as the demand for cheap
art-work increases, so does its excellence.
In a short time the only privilege reserved
to great wealth will be the monopoly of
costly materials, for all conceivable de-
signs will be equally accessible to the poor.
Already this almost silent art-progress has
proceeded so far that the difference between
the homes of the people now and ten
years ago is quite marked. There is not
only love of decoration generally observa-
BILE, but an artistic taste which governs
and harmonizes whatever is done in this
way. We are not referring to the periodi-
cal crazes for this or that kind of fancy "
work, but to the steady and enduring cul-
tivation of art-perception which is becom-
ing apparent all through the middle classes,
as they may be called, and which has
taken the place Of dreary and stupid and
uncreative Journalism peculiarly hostile
to all real intellectual growth. 1t is of
some Importance to point out also that
there has never in the history of the human
race been a period when civilization had
made so great an advance as in the pres
ent time. 1t is not only that there is a
more difused culture and enlightenment,
but that there goes with it larger appre-
citation of the requirements of ripe civiliza-
ton, and a diminution of the coarser
tendencies of human development clearly
demonstrated by statistics And the i'm
provements which have already been
produced by the diffusion of Art among
the people are certain from tkeir nature to
extend yet further, and to influence the
coming years yet more powerfully. For
since already the change which Art culture
produces has established religion of
health as opposed to religion of sickness,
and has substituted clear-sighted and
joyful appreciation of the beauties of
Nature for the canting, artificial, fetish
istic gloom and misanthropy of the
Puritan period, so in the future this joyful
and robust view of life must exercise
controlling influence upon the coming gen.
erations, and must give to them very great
advantages upon their entrance into life.
They will have their difficulties cleared
away for them at the beginning. They
will grow up with rational and scientific
views of life and duty, and will not have
to waste half their lives in correcting the
blunders of their early education. And so
they will be in position to make the most
of all their opportunities, and to meet
abuses and evils with the strength derived
from sensible and natural training, and
they may reasonably be expected to ad-
vance Society much further than we, with
our imperfect means, are able to do. So
much is the diffusion of Art among the
people doing for civilization and progress.