The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-16

across the largest basket, crushing the mass of
roses which it contained, leaving several of the
articles undelivered, and cutting off the retreat
of one bewildered actor.
A STREAK OF COMMON SENSE ABOUT ART.
Art has swooped down upon the city with three
big exhibitions of paintings and a number of
small ones. This is a time when society hastily
informs itself to a limited degree in the knowl-
edge of palette and brush, takes considerable
further pains as to toilets and goes to the gal
leries to make false pretenses of deep and adept
interest. Sauntering through the Academy of
Design, a conventional picture of Dutch peasant
girls reminded me that the same subject was
ever present in each exhibition here, and usually
in a number of instances. / asked an artist
friend why the painters kept on making them 80
tediously.
Because the artists are compelled to eat,
drink and wear clothes, all of which costs
money" was the reply. There is a demand for
Dutch girls on canvas, and therefore the sup
ply. Who buy these pictures3 Why, the first
families of New York, to be sure. Dutch ances-
try Is the basis, you know, of Gotham arlStoc-
racy; so Dutch peasantry are found on the walls
of most of the parlors whose occupants desire
that their Dutchiness shall not be forgotten.
Holland scenes and people have for a century
been salahle for this purpose, and doubtless
will continue so"
AN unSyinphbneLc VlSlU TO one OF the picture
galleries leads to the cynical conclusion that
there is far more of arrant huInbug than of
merit in pictorial art. What is the use in trying
to find delight in painted seas when the reality
is within a half-hour's ride9 or in skies which
family resemble those which are overhead
or in landscapes which but family produce the
charms of Central Park views to be mad for the
lookingf The genre pictures are. in nineteen
cases out of twenty, still further off from salts
faction. One of the most admired of the Acad-
amW DipturaS TanrpSAnfs Italian women in the
background of q dilapidated house in the Italian
quarter Of New York. Two are at work wash
ing. and others are asserting rags. The result
is good enough, as paintings go. But where is
there a grain of sense in putting on canvas a
scene which isn't lovely, and can be found in the
original if wanted} This is heresy, of course;
and when l talked it to an artist, he replied:
well, my dear fellow, you avoid the bad
smell by transferring the scene from Mott street
to this place.
In other words, distance really does lend en-
chantment to unclean views. We read of the
Mabille Garden, with the Atlantic ocean between
us and the prosy reality, and make a mental
note that if we go to Paris, we will see what we
conceive to be, somehow or other, a poetizatiOn
of vice. Right here in New York has now been
opened the positively worst public resort of that
kind to be found within the confines of civiiiza-
ton. Science Hall used to be the meeting place
for philosophers. Women's rights conventions,
schools of reformed photography, seances of the
Andrew jackson Davis cult of spiritualists, con-
ferences of various sorts of unappre-
ciated philanthr0pists have hallowed it
to the memory of many social pro-
jects for tn betterment of mankind
in intention at least. The name on the sign.
board is unchanged, but a terrific shock befalls
the unwary disciple of progress who enters now.
The last assemblage of a revolutionary character
in Science Hall was of dress reformers, who
sought to shorten women's skirts and add panta
looms. If any belated disciple of Bloomerism
should go in through that portal, on one of these
midnights, she would see such liberties taken
with skirts aud feminine trousers as she had
never in her widest moments dreamed of.
Science Hall is possessed by the infamous Billy
McGlory, and the can can which his coterie
dance, cannot be described in print.
FOREIGN INVESTMENTS IN AMERICA.
If you wish an opportunity to invest your cap
ital where you will never have any further
trouble with it, and at the same time receive
promises of dazzling returns, l can tell you how
to do it. Farini is a Yankee resident in London
with an Italian name. He is a Snowman of the
Barnum kind, In his English museum are some
African dwarfs, whom he exhibits as members
Of a pigmy tribe. He is now in New York, with