Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29
ART EDUCATION.


| ADDRESS OF MRS. WINNIE REAM-HoXIE.
The following is the full text Of the interest
| Ing address on Art Education, delivered by Mrs.
Winnie Ream-Hoxie. at the opening of the an.
| nual exhibition OF drawing and penmanship by
the pupils Of the public schools of the District
OF Columbia, on Friday, 21st instant.
/ have warm sympathy for all Of you who
are studying art, whether 1t be for the sake OF
It's many useful applications, or for the purpose
or SculptOrs. For the few who may contem-
plate this, every moment Is precious A draw
ing from nature, sketch from life, will never
be thrown away.
NATURE THE TRUE TEACHER
Go into the woods and study the humblest of
GODS works. Do not come back from any stroll,
or drive, or picnic with your sketch-boc k
empty, but each day return with something.
These will be the suggestions which Will fill
your mind with riches laid up for the rainy
eay-the less fortunate hour, when you cannot
go into the woods and study them. If you lie
down to rest OF the green grass, watch the
sunlight glisten and the leaves glow; coax the
birds to come and sing to you. Watch them
cunning. Watch the ants toll, and take lessons
from their patience. Watch the spider weave
its web, and take lessons from its Skill. Listen
to the thousands OF voices, and hear how busy
Nature is She does not lose a moment. She
does not tire! Why should we? Watch the
clouds as they canopy you In fleecy folds, and
artist your Will d ueSlTo 10 1ml-
tate these wonderful works of Nature. She is
the great teacher, and every true artist bows
down before her. Her brightest robes and SUM-
NEST smiles beckon the discouraged onward,
and In her transient frown, the lowering
Heaven, and the storn-tosSed pillows, there
lies an immortality for him who can impress
its image on bis canvass AS art more nearly
approaches Nature, 1t Is the more excellent.
The truth we can never quite attain, but per-
feet Nature stands forever before US. Ney er
sneering, but encouraging to greater effort-a
Just and generous critic.
How naturally and 1ntuitively we desire to
paint the green meadows, that we may view
them In the bleak days of winter; to paint the
storm-tossed sea, and contemplate the picture
In quiet hours. When we leave our homes we
desire to take with US pictures that will recall
dear and familiar scenes, and when we return,
to bring back pictures OF the wonders and the
beauties of nature which we have visited !!
What a comfort they are! Here. In our rooms,
hang the sketches of Venice. and we are in the
gonGOla again. 1t Is mOOnllght-the air Is full
OF music, and we are floating over the Lagoons.
Here are the pictures OF Naples, and we are
again In the shadow OF VeSuv1uS. Here are the
pictures of Trieste. We are again on the Medi-
terranean, and can hear the melancholy waters
as they dash themselves against the palace OF
Macmillan.
CHOOSE WORTHY THEMES.
Michael Angelo said: '.The proper end OF
painting Is to purify the affections, by imi-
tating in color the actions and sentiments OF
men. and the human figure itself; which 1t
3, d limitation
ture, or art, or OF whatever object may be pre-
Sented to the eye, but by giving expression to
the sentiments and feelings OF the human
mind" Choose. therefore, worthy themes; such
as VIII elevate the human race and eunoble
human nature. One OF the lessons which the
past has taught us is that art has not always
been used to dignity and ennOble, but some
times, unfortunately, to degrade. RuSkin says
that we should place truth first, and beauty
afterwards Let u.s. then, select the beautiful
and try to represent IL truthfully. To take the
color from the EARTH or clay from the bank-to
take that which is nothing and create some
thing from 1t, Is an almost divine attempt, il
our subject be worthy. We cannot all be
Raphaels or Titians, but we can aspire to follow
in their footsteps; and though the pathway Is
full OF thorns. yet the flowers that blossom
along the road are redolent with perfume, and
If we are wise enough to gather them we may
weave them into immortal garlandS.
HARD, EARNEST WORK NECESSARY TO SUCCESS
To succeed in anything we may undertake,
means hard, constant and earnest work. Espe-
c1ally so is 1t In art, and he who Is not prepared
for such struggle and to encounter and over
come all obstacles, had better seek some other
field Of usefulness. This Is not the hard work
that has always something to show for itself In
return, but the study OF weary hours, the days
of painstakiDg and toll, which may meet, as
return, with only heartless criticism when the
effort is over. 1t Is so difficult to do anything
we'll, and so easy to crit1cise, that there will be
always more 1aultfinderS than workers. More
liberties are taken with the work of artists
than with that OF any other profession, and
many will venture TO criticiSe who cannot do so
intelligently, and from whom you Will derive
no Denent-only encouragement. The effort TO
dO-the desire to undertake something excel
lent, is creditable, even II the result be fall
ure. To aspire even to accomplish something
great or beautiful Is noble and 1t Is possible for
every human being to succeed In some direc
ton II he tries hard enough; 1t Is even
said that industrious mediocrlty has the advan-
tage OF negligent superiority. Yet would not
advise any one TO adopt the profession Of art
unless he feels in his heart great love for It,
Ii must have only mechanical results, il under
taken as a task. To succeed requires the weary
waiting and patient working that can only be
endured by the heart that loves its work.
THE CHOICE OF A PURSUIT.
II you are undecided as to the pursuit to which
you will devote your Efe, and surely it will be
somethiDg-no one can afford to be an 1dler-
vince yourself what will be best Then apply
| yourself with your whole soul, and soar high.
| DO not frttter away your youth, undecided, un-
employed. If you cannot decide, pick up some
| thing, and go to wOrk-work Is healthfuL II
| you should change your mind afterwards, and
| find yourself better lifted for something else
we'll and good, but the study and application
| you have given will not hurt you. Do not be
| Idle. Do what comes to your hand, and do 1t
| earnestly. Never mind II people do say you are
| ''crazy." Robert Hall said, That zone must
work with an enthusiasm bordering upon In.
| sanity, to succeed"
II after trying your powers in various direc-
lions, rising like the young bird trying its delt-
| cate wings, you find they Will not lirt you into
the realm Of love fer art and devotion to Its
| shrine, abandon the idea and turn your thoughts
to other channels. Literature, poetry music
all hold out allur1ng fields and all are divine In
/ their Inspirations; but II none of these ensnare
| you, and you have head for practical matters
| II business entices you, still keep as your com
| panion, your m1nisterng angel In time OF need
| your assistant and helper In practical matters
| the sweet spirit OF arr,-She aids and graces
| every calling, and should 60 hand In hand with
| all useful Industries Never scOrn her nelp
\ She embellishes what she touches, and even Il
| money making only be considered, she adds In
| trtnsjc value where her touch Is laid.
| You have exceptional advantages here. You
| schools are the best In the country, and have
already a worldwide reputation. Your teach
ers are competent, earnest and pafnStaklng
| You are learning the rud1mentS OF art. When
l your school days are over you must still Con
/ tinue to study their widespread application
l even after acquiring In technical schools that
| knowledge which Will nt you for entering upoI
| your chosen pursuits.
| BRAIN WORK AND HAND WORK.
We must all belong to the working class
We must try to make demand for the worl
that calls for brains and pays fair wages. Eacl
Of US Las his special fitness for work-sOm
haye hearts and brains for the greatest o