Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-21

Noting her y1ct' r1es as the cresclNe soul
Goes forth in truth for armor and defence:
So doth the future bend to her control!
MI. Corcoran and the School of De-
sIgns
Editor Star: AS a former student of art,
have for years felt the deepest interest in the
cultivation of the popular taste in that direc-
tion not only because know that this is indis-
pensable to the production Of really meritorious
works of purely artistic character by native
artists, but because glance at what has been
done In Europe will show any one how well
judicfous expenditure to encourage it pays any
nation, even in a pecuniary point of view
What is IL that has made France the acknOW-
lodged master OF the world In the production Of
elegant and tasteful wares and fabrics, but the
fostering care OF far-seeing. though sometimes
tyrannical government, exercised for many
years, in providing extensive galleries, museums
and schools OF design. and throwing them open
freely to the public, so that even the humbIest
citizen has the means OF studying and fitting
himself for The higher branches of his work. SO
clearly were the advantages of this course
shown by tie artistic superiority and enhanced
value Of her productions at the first Worlds Fair
In London, that the British government, fearing
to lose her markets for all but the the coarSest
goods applied itself at once to the establishment
of schools OF design in the principal manufac-
turing centers, open in the evening to the
working classes; and the beneficial results were
apparent at our Centennial, particularly In the
beautiful productions from South Kensington.
Realizing our own deficiencies in this regard
and the vast importance OF the matter to a
country so rich In natural resources, and bleSt
with population so quick to seize on new ideas
when properly presented, have watched, with
great interest, the result OF such experiments as
DAT of Massachusetts,, which, In connection
with the city of Boston,, secured, at high
salary, a few years since, the services of Prof.
Walter Smith, the able superintendent of seve-
raj schools OF design In England, as art director
OF the state common schools: with view of
developing some native talent to take the place
of foreigners as designers In the extensive man
ufactories Of Roxbury, Fall River, Lawrence,
and others OF her cities. Not only has Massa-
chusetts profted by this move, but the common
schools OF the whole country as well, where the
admirable drawing books published by Prof.
Smith have been extensively introduced, with
the gratifying results shown In such exhibitions
as we may witness every year at the Franklin
and Sumner buildings here at home. But,
though this is something gained, have felt
that 1T was but a foundation, which could only
be properly developed by thoroughly organized
schools of design, such as the European govern
ments have provided for their peoples. Hence
was greatly rejoiced, on attending the annual
exhibition at the Franklin building some two
years since, to hear the late Prof. Henry, who
presided, authoritatively announce that Mr..
cent gift to the nation, of the gallery which has
proved such an attraction 10 our citizens and
strangers, with one still more useful and valu-
ble,-a fully equipped school of design, where
the latent talent evoked by the common school
course could be nurtured and made to flower
into the artist or skilled designer, OF whom the
country would be proud. These, under the
guidance OF such director as Prof. Smith, or some
one who has enjoyed the long and rigid training
in the principles OF drawing, anatomy, perspec-
tive, &C.. given by the E,Ole des Bea.tE Arts. in
Paris, (and which our artists generally so sadly
lack,) students from all parts of the country,
who now waste so much time In cropping blind
ly after artistic skill by mechanically copying,
week after week (and often with Slight SucceSS),
the excellent paintings In the gallery, or In the
petty decorations of the ceramic craze" would
soon, being once put on the right road, be able
f0 <1rInn To nr.d ficffn
drawings from the Statuary in the gallery, as l
saw young gentlemen and ladies (probably from
the South kens1ngton schOoD making, ia crayon
year or two since.
Hoping for the speedy arrival of this state of
things, have been quite disappointed by the
cOran's plans, until / learned, some months since
OF the cause an expose of which appeared in
your last SATURDAYS issue. 1t seems to me that
Rear Admiral Lee, ''whose carriage {or lot)
stops the way" can have no idea of the national
Importance OF this enterprise, or he would not
be willing to stand before the country In the at
you say, make him an admiral" but, being the
brother-in-law OF Cabinet minister during
the war, he was given several particularly .'SofJ
billets, where, as the commander of squadrons,
he raked In large amount OF prize money-the
result OF captures made by the vessels under
him-wfth very little risk or effort on his own
part and is it too much to ask that he part With.
for fair equivalent, small portion of the pro-
petty thus acquired, for the national benefit?
You describe him as ga Virginian;" has he none
OF the spirit which led the Washingtons, the
Henrys. the Lees, OF the last century TO lay. not
merely a few feet OF ground, but their lives,
their fortunes, and their sacred honor" on the
altar Of their country? Or does he wish to
stand, in history, beside that John Hook, the
army contractor, whom Henry described, ac-
cording to the well known anecdote, as inter-
rupting the general joy, at the close of the war,
with hoarse cries Of .'Beef, beef! beef" Per-
haps the plan suggested by one of your contem-
poraries, that Congress pass an act authorizing
the condemnation of the lot In question, to be
taken for this public purpose, might be consid-
cred little arbitrary, but certainly the object
Is much more important than a local railroad,
for which the thing is often done. Veybum sap.
sat. II. II. r.
kSu1..<>=-a-Rs<.l