New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-03-20
GE7z1NG RAcK 7REIR DESIGNS.

COMPLAINTS AS 10 THE CHRISTMAS CARD coAPE-
rr1oN-afR. MooRFs STATEMENT.
The award of the prizes in the Christmas
card competition only ths beginning OF many
troubles Several complaints have been made by dis
ammo nted contestants against managers These
pear TO be twOiold FIRST that the OF the con-
tributors were withheld from persons wishing to buy
cards; AID secondly that II difficult 10 obtain the
return of the designs sent In j. Ratbbone, one OF tue
contestants, s2Js:
Sunday, March 9. thore appeared advertisement
for twentyught OF the desns exhibition. signed by
Donaldson Brothers, Of Five Points, who sta ed
that they we're Obliged to appeal in this way rs they
we're unable TO obtain any information from those in
charge OF the exhibition fhe names OF the contributors
being withheld March z. my number was adver-
fsed wanted and tue exhibition was over. sent
for my card Informed that 10 had been sent 10
Boston that Inopna foI Mr. Praag to decide regarding
its pareha . Not hearing anything urfher. fOi
lowing ThursleY sent aRaih asking hOw long 10 woold
be before 1 wOnld know regarding my design ana
received IN reply a written communication 10 the effect
that It might be week more, as Nc Prang thought
of exhibiting s cards Ia Boston; and that II 1t
returned could get II any time IN the dim future by
calling for IT, immediately Messrs rang Co.
70 return my design ut II IL not wanted
had good offer for 1t. On the 18th received letter
from them saying that my design had never been In
Boston, that there be mistake, and asking
TO call again the gallery. did 50 Immediately and pro-
cured my design lub1erhlanu that otneF Hlisis hNc
had similar experitnces"
Ia regard to this particular CASE Mr. Moore one Of the
managers OF the competition said to a TRIBUNE re-
porter;
sIn the frst letter received the number and motto
were not specified there way OF Identifying
tbs card Mr. Prang, who unable 10 DO here during
mu,i Of the exhibition, wished 10 take about bundled
cards TO Boston for close examination with his assist
ants IN order to select designs suitable for his
purposes. These cards not TO be exhibited, ana
nothing was ever said or written about exhibiting
them. One of Mr. PTank's men picked them out. and
aoug the number. It seems, was Mr. RathbOne's card
Aterward Mr.. Prang mads another selection ana Mr..
RathbOne's design was left ont. But OF assist
ants, who knew that this card had been at
first selected. supposed that 1t had been sent.
and wrote Mr. EathbOne. to that effect
when he to smother request for It's return speeded ne
was c0rrt oed BY hndi0g the card here and was re-
turned TO its owner. - -
ing 1900 they were handled over and over
again, Numbers placed on the envelopes aud the
drst seleetine about 500 Then Mr.. PraDg went over
them, picking out few ana Justly they were all
bltiO Each lime The cards were thrown into confusion
and had 70 be rearanged. few competitors forgot to
almost impossible or the cards held ready
s @.ns S sG ba no the sa
lssy BY the degner ana we We expected ., that
Ike ike manner We did not feel justiaed in send
ing them back By EXPRESS causing tho artlsts to
sDcur an expense and only awaited requests for
turn, accompanied by means Of Identification (Which
often were forg0ttenl. aud stamps Twenty-hye or
thirty letters received every day ard the cards arc
promptly returned Last year all were returned but
about dozen which could not De identified although We
made every effort. The names OF the competitors were
nnr 10 be made known. 7 was offered 800 20 give the
names OF the designers Of twenty cards. and my partner
was offered large sam.
"ia regard % Mr. Donaldson, we offered 70 sell him
desgps exhibited here at the artistic prices he would
them Tor Christmas cards Mr.. Prsng felt that
as be had tho trouble and expense OF this compet
ton, not inst 70 himself that other firms should
select the stock Of Chrismas cards which he had
brought together and by adyertising themselyes
through his Christmas cards gain benots OF his c1nl
pettOn But we offered 20 sell the cards for any other
purpose No names were giveR as H was understood
That the cards should DO known by numbers, and Mr.
PraIR felt that he had right 10 protect himself"
one OF the firm OF Donaldson Brothers saye;
We might have done Just as Mr. Prang did, but there
"a ths side 10 II The fest circular said that artists who
did not wish their names made known would have thsir
sgfshes respected conversely, II artists did wish
their names Known they ought 70 have the PRIVILEGE
irrnu Bff Prang claimed that all this composition
sn,iy 10 advance American art Then why should not
the erfists be allowed TO sell their designst From the
ia point OF view Mr.. PranR appereutly sought
solely 10 bene1t and advertise hinseli Bat we have
carried point, and obtained the ueslgus We Wsheu
In epfto CT the Opposition"