The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-21
ART IN AUSTIN.

A few earnest ladies of Austin, de
voted to art, have concluded to eStab-
lish school of design and art decora-
tion in this city. The Art Loan
association has already done much to
produce growing interest in art In
our capital city, and its successful
existence seems to have given origin
to this movement in favor of the art
school, which, if properly established,
must do as much in increasing love OF
the beautiful, as our university may
accomplish in inaugurating an
era of science and letters in our midst.
In the case of the art movement there
is to be at present, however, no rails
ing of edifice, with corner stone and
carved names of an immortal seven,
with ceremonial master and orators
and such things; but these ladies are
going to inaugurate, at the outset,
something symbolic of art, in the ma
ture of an entertainment, which
will not only require expendl-
ture of taste and means,
but which will at once begin to create
votaries of art. They announce that
this new movement in favor of an art
school will be called prominently into
notice some time in January, through
a grand fancy dress ball, at which 1t IS
proposed to re-establish for one night
in Austin the Elizabethan period, one
noted for taste as well as letters-the
artistic era in English society. That
scope, however, will not be given to the
tastes of individuals on this occasion
is not to be deduced from this state
ment, for it is proper that taste in other
ages may be represented. The rigor-
Gus hauteur of a Queen Bess will
to bend on this occasion. She willnot
smile and then frown upon Essex,
neither will she condemn and execute,
but she will hold her court with smiles
for all; be unlike her grace in the six
teenth century;l admit Spanish court
iers as well as Teutons and
Gauls. She will not sail out
with an Armada and demolish
any one, though she may capture
many; and there will be no violent
hands placed on any poor feminine
Salisbury. She will preside in favor of
art, and inaugurate a more perfect
taste in art. But it was not our pur-
pose to write about the vagaries or the
vanities of any real or imaginary
queen of bygone centuries, or of to-day.
1t was to the subject Of art in our
midst that attention was to
be especially called. By some
it may be called a "craze,' .
but there is nothing crazy about art.
The world is strongly enlisted in the
movement; we live in period when
art of high order in multiplied chan
nels is leading people into higher
planes of perfection. To love the
beautiful, to admire what is elegant
and chaste, elevates, and this is what
cultured art leads to. There is
nothing more lovely, nothing
more fascinating than art. One
dwells upon beautiful statuary, and is
elevated; gazes upon conceptions of
Raphael, and is lifted heavenwards; is
noble captive when contemplating
the works of a Cannova. Art refines
and it makes a people exalted and true
By it we are brought "nearer to Thee,
and a shining divinity penetrates tC
our very souls, when contemplating
the granduer of art. Why should we
not encourage, by every means in ouI
power, this growing love of the beau
tiful? Nations have become more
noted because of art than because Of
arms. Greece became more celebrated
through its monumental era thar
through Alexander's conquest of the
world; Rome is more to be remember
ed because of it's lives upon canvas
it's Coliseum and it's st. Peters than be
cause of Caesars victory over thu
greatest of Africa's generals. Th'
ashes that descended from Vesuviu
upon Herculaneum and Pompei
swept almost out of memory thei
once existence, but the ar
treasures that have been unearthe'
from their ruins have made then
familiar to all. A monumental er;
begins in Austin. Along with it lie
art in all that is elegant and attractiv
in the household be advanced
These ladies are moving in
grand undertaking, one that must ad
brilliancy to the capital city of Texas
Let the school of design and art b
established, and in coming years it wi
be attached to our great universit.
and draw funds from the state to max
it what it should be. The pleasan
: occasion fixed for January is but
stepping stone towards great accom-
plishment, and hence it is entitled
the STATEsMAN's most hearty al
, | DrOVal