New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-12-18
pnEr1RArLnN E0E cHRLSTMlN

This Sunday morning brings more than the
usual sense Of relief, rs 1t shuts the shops and
gives a momcntary brcathing-spciI to the rush
ing crowd spending and making money in pre-
pairing for Christmas. Never was the outlay,
or the temptations TO outlay, so great rs now.
There are one or two features in the display
of our retail houses which give significant hints
of radical changes in our social system during
the last five years. One is the enormous num-
Der of articles offered for sale which are not
imported or manufactured wholesale, but are
the handiwork of women working. for the
most part, in their own homes. Pictures
OF every degree of merit and atrocity
embroidery illustrating high and low art
china decorated in every conceivable fashion,
books Of novels, poems from the Princess
Beatriccs regal volume TO the little haui-cOl-
orcd shilling primer, siatucitcs plaques, cards
everything that "a woman's hands can faJri-
cate which will command or miss sale
The first fact proved by this exhibition is that
the universal prejudice existing among Amer
leans (outside Of New Engldnd) fifteen years
ago, in the upper classes, against a wOmau's
earning money, except for charitable purposes
must have totally disappeared. Most OF these
articles betray positive amount of culture
and refinement in the makers. They are un-
mistakably the work Of women who hold the
Fictitious rank Of Gladly" and are evidently
not ashamed to WOO the "drty dollar" into
their fair palms
The second point which strikes an observer
in this varied and large display is its general
mediocrity. The dealers are quite conscious of
this, and put the prices accordingly low. For
II. II Ia :.
the painted leaf or figure on it worth $15 or
$50, hundreds are sold for 81 or 81. Yet
when one remembers the anxious faces and
throbbing hearts which have bent over these
poor cups and plates for hours and days,
and that as much labor and time were given to
the failure rs to the successful venture, the
little daubs become parts OF pathetic human
drama. Ii is the more pathetic because the
failure is deserved. Women have taken up the
pursuit of art since the Exposition of 1876,
precisely rs they took up sewing or dairy work
before that time. For one who conscientiousy
strives for perfection in her work ten thousand
90 at it pell-me, as a makeshift, to put a
few dollars into their pockets until something
better turns up. Some of them try painting
and embroidering and sculpture at once, DASH
ing Oft n poem or tale to fill up their leisure
moments When their embroidery or panel sells
for a trihe or does not sell mt all, they talk Of
"rngs" among publishers or artists, and fight
them and Fate in bitterness of soul aud to no
earthly purpose. This is the dark side of the
cheap art question. AS for the damoralizng
effect upon the public taste of cheap
Christmas cards and chromos, it need
not trouble any one greatly. The man
who buys the chrome with his pound
of tea, or listens enraptued TO the hand-organ,
has the eye and ear capable of so much enjoy
ment and no more. High Art would not help
him much. Our artists forget that Nature
teaches form and color to those who can learn
better than their BURN OF bits OF canvas can do.