The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-02
Forging Ruskin's Name.
PUBLICATION OF VIOLENT LETTER IN HIS NAME
WHICH PROVES TO BIZ SPURIOUS.

WHICH PROVES TO BIZ SPURIOUS.
Tn many OF tbe London papers OF Situr-
day, November 18th, the following letter
was published, with the statement that 1t
bad been sent by Mr.. Ruskin in response 10
an invitation TO lecture before the art classes
at Chesterfield
HARLEsDoY. LONDON, Thursday.
Nv Dear Sir: Your Ietterreacbes me
here. | have just returned from Venice,
where bave ruminated in the pasturages
OF the home OF art, The loveliest and holiest
OF lovely cities, where the very stones cry
out eloquent in the elegancies OF iamblcs.
could not, IL | would, 90 TO Chesterfield,
and much doubt whether would 60 II l
could. do not hire myself oui-after the
fashion Of a brainless, long-tongued pup
pet-for filthy ducats. You, and those
who told Won to write me, want
me, presume, TO come, that you
may make money for your art class !;
and il | should get you much mo-
ney, you will then tolerate some good
advlce from me. No, will not come. /
have heard OF Chesterfield. Hath 1t not a
steeple abomiuation. and is 1t not the home,
il not the cradle, OF that aich-abomination
creator, Stephenson! To him are we In
debted for the screeching and bowling and
shrekipg tiends, tt only for paDdemoDlim,
called locomotives, that disfgure the love-
liest spots Of Gods own land. L will not
come to Chesterfield. Tell your students
that art is holy luxury and they must pay
for IT.. Tell them to study, 10 ponder,
and TO work with single thought for
perfection, observing loving and street
obedience 10 the Inonitions OF their
teacher. Let them learn to do things
rightly and humbly, and then, by the con-
yiciion that they can never do them as well
as they have been done by others, they may
be profiIed. My good young people, this IS
prCeminentIy the fOOlishest--yes, quite The
| foolisbesi that YOU can yet into your
emptv little egg-sbells OF heads, mat you
can be a Titan, or Rlphael, or Pbldlas
or that you can write Ike seneca. But be-
cause you cannot be great That IS no reason
why YOU should not aspire to greatness
In ioy, humility, and humbleness, wolk TO-
eether. Only don't study art because II VIII
nav, and do not ask for payment because
| YOU study AIT. Art will make you all Wiser
and happier, and is worth paying for. ii
YOU are i'm debt-as | suppose you are, OF
why peser me ?-pay off your DEBTS your
selves. IL YOU write 10 me only that you
NAV get money, you are on the foo'lsheS'
Of all errands. Wisdom Is more precious
than rubies. and is offered to you as
blessing in herself. She IS the reward
Of industry, kindness, and m0desty. She
i the prize OF prizes, the strength OF your
life now, aud an earnest OF the life that Il
TO come. This advice is better than money
aud | give it to you gratis. Ponder it, anC
profit By it. Ever faithfully yours,
JOHN RUsKIN.
There was nothing to show that any sus
picion attached to the authenticity OF th'
letter, and the Telegraph, Ne,oS, Spectator
and other leading journals made 1t the SUD
ject OF editorial comments, IN whicn IL wa
spoken OF as quite characteristic u'ter
ance of the choleric Ruskin. On Monday
however. all the papers published the fol
lowing statement
"Mr. Ruskn telegraphs that the letie
read at the Chesterfield School OF Art meet
ing as coming from him, and when wa
published in yesterdays papers, is iofge