Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-01-11
The Macon Art Exhibition.

We have already briefly alluded to the
fact that our sister city of Macon is con-
templating grand art exhibition, and,
Judging from the remarks made thereon
by the press Of that city, there is eveiy
prospect that the enterprise will be sue
cessfully consummated. We certainly
hope it may, for We believe that such an
exhibition would rebound greatly to the
benefit not only Of Macon but of the en-
tire State.
The Atlanta Cotton Exposition has
worked, and will continue to work, i'm
meuse good to Georgia and the South
by teaching our people inestimably valu-
able lessons regarding the development
and manufacture of the great Southern
staple, and by opening their eyes to the
vast wealth in prospect for this section
when the information thus conveyed
shall be utilized. The effect of that Elk
position, therefore, is entirely practi-
cal; and will result in substantial bene-
fits. But as the beautiful and practical
always blend together tremendously, so
now it will be eminently appropriate for
the Macon Art Exhibition to be held.
and mellow with its elevating and rein
ing influences the solid aud substantial
lessons fnculcated by the Exposition at
Atlanta. In other words, it will IN
doubtedly prove advantageous to our
people to be afforded the opportu-
nifty to cultivate the beautiful as well as
the useful, since the elevation of taste
and expansion of mind incident upon
the latter will all the better enable them
to appreciate the former
This, however, will not he the only
benefit to be derived from the proposed
art exhibition. The Southern people
have frequently been twitted by the
aesthetics" Of other sections on a lack of
home literature, and while the source
from which it emanates is frequently
worthy only Of ridicule. still the charge
has in it much Of truth, and all efforts
to improve our taste in this, as well as in
art, deserves encouragement. This will be
one Of the main objects of the Macon
enterprise, and on this point the Macon
Telegraph Of recent date well says:
The Southern States have a history
peculiar and impressive. In that history,
if he cares to, the reader may find a
cause for the lack of home literature and
home authors, for even now the list Of
native Southern writers of distinction
embraces only a half dozen. Orators
she has produced. Her sunny skies,
bright flowers, blue waters, mountains
and valleys gave them fancy and meta
phor, but of authors she has few only.
Aside from the narrow pride of section
limited at, we believe the want of art
collections and art centres has more than
anything else to do with our feeble litera-
ture. Scenes and shapes ga2ed upon
through childhood and youth lose their
inspiration after awhile. New scenes,
new tints, new combinations are re-
quired, and each, comes it from what
quarter it may, brings with it a written
history. Upon the two do mind and
imagination feed. and if the mind and
fancy grow strong. from them are off
springs born. Friction and attrition in
the busy world make men valuable, and
it is friction and attrition in the mental
world, the rubbing of one idea against
another and the feeding Of fancy with
fancies that makes the mind productive.
1t will be seen, therefore, that the OBJ
iect Of the promoters of the proposed
exhibition under discussion Is to in
prove, in every way, our people by en-
larging their minds and strengthening
their intellects. Such an object is truly
commendable, and we fully agree with
our Macon contemporary that ian art
exhibition, if it be a worthy one. will
scatter seeds that if they never reach a
seed time, will make the field in which
they bloom seem less rugged.