New-York tribune., 1886-05-08
DECORATIVE ART SOCIETY.
AN APPEAL THAT MUST BE HEARD.
PURPOSE. METHODS AND SUCCESS or THE SOCIETY,
AND ITS PRESENT NEEDs

PURPOSE. METHODS AND SUCCESS OF THE SOCIETY.
AND ITS PRESENT NEEDs.
TO the Edfforor The Tribune.
SIR: The Society of Decorative Art in this
city IL not receiving the aid to which its objects and
methods entitls It, For eight years th little institution
mas progressed under the gratuous direction OF board
OF cultivated and competent ladies' until At last 1t has
reached point OF usefdlness where its failure would be
a real public loss.
Tho American peonle has grown up under highly
avong conditions OF bodily comfort; food. ramen and
fuel to be had at the price of work but Is
safe to say that no country within the limits OF cvila
on Is under greater disadvantages in the direction of
art and no people obvous to its history OF 80
Ignorant OF its meaning Uut very Htely American lie
has been hare dry aud unembellshed Now there is a
sudden general waking to the charm and comfort OF
beauty. EveIywhsre In Enrore history Ia absolutely
visible; one is OF inspiring monn
ment which serves "s the memorial Of great deed or OF
some chain OF historic events The poltical and religious
buildings which cover Europe mark whether In use or
In ruin the passage OF centuries and the stately process
sion o! dynaste the conquests Of the swot or victories
of the cross Peasants and princes alike are born and
buried within sgnt OF tangible tact OF hi-tory
and gain thererom deeper views of civilization and liis
over the greater part OF America there Ia nothing
eradcr than an abomnable county court house. nonng
more venerable thln a freight depot Most historic
monuments works OF and very many are OF the
highest artistic ccnIus hence the two IDEAS history anc
and hence again deeply grounded veneration for the
past takes OF the popular heart and gives rise
TO abundant national PRIDE in the achievements OF ts
and love for the expressions OF its arste
talent. Naturally South Europe. which had reached
high civilization before Julius Crsar put his iron heel on
the nnwashed of the Rhine has inherited and
cherished the traditions OF gh art and kept alive the
sacred flame OF appreciation.
Our Cerinanic lineage Ia against in the Tate- o.
art but snreiy every stldont OF America must realize
that already radically different from our trans
atlantic ncestors. Just Encishman is something
more than mtigated Saxon; and that feeble and new
is hunger for art and the Of life gives
promise OF rising to the dignity OF national PASSION
We are quick and clever. have a restless inventive
mini and hands obeiient enongh to produce works OF
What lack ia taste and Judgment, know ledge OF
style and that chasenei and cultivated feeling which
undeFles all artistic effort; but all that comes only
from the study OF standards Our artistic development
must be a hundredfod less and true because we
have not the treasures OF an artistic past facn; Us
wherever We grope in dargness unillumined
by the works which positively crowd Europe Not
only have ev OF the masterpieces OF oil European
art 20 serve fountains OF inspiration and guidance, but
the people who make our laws have actually. put the
penalty OF 30 per cent dny the importation of art
works They have legislated Remhranit and Titan,
Raphael ard velasquez down to the level Of Dusseldorf
daubs Paris spashes and grind them all alike through
the Custom House 30 per cent mill One need give him.
mpos oa art, it is bad to last but every one
should disturbed when any phase OF native talent ae
the Society tor Decorative Art faters In Ire upward
career.
In building and home decoration we have made fine
Thus far size and costliness o. structure or the
display OF sumptuous wealth OF color and material
have characterized efforts rather than the careful
expression OF and elevated taste Yet even in
these Departments there abundant signs which |
evidence the dawnng of ahghe and more eiaeting public
opinion Painting and sculpture remain a. our hardest
task for the OF schools and pub c galleries Elm
broiery shond he within the reach OF all There Is no one
art OF universal applicability as neelIework Any |
~oman with reasonably good eyes and fingers can. II
her MUD is educated and her taste refined, create
hundred ,mng objects which will brighten home and
feed craving FOR delicate and beautiful surroundings
little public education In this delightful field OF
feminine art. AMI the hdeOus crazy quilt Will be as
extinct m5sathcrilm a few more gears of the
Decorative Art Society and those morbid growths ia
earish worsed thai once made many homes urd will
have persisted from OF the earth. II women only
knew what rich and splendid things, what gay ami
iainy things what serious aud profound things, be
made with the needle, they would be astonishei All
this ladies' Of the Decorative Art Society do know
know thoroughly Whoever has led the gnincent
works Italy ant Spain duri-g the Renaissance.
has the bright captivating things done under
Louis Ky. and XVI, knows as these ladies' know, the
wide range tor design purpose anf method within the
art o. embroidery so much has been Ia America
that we are Longer danger of Ielapsng into the
lark ses tidy and lamp mat, and very little
more popular education would put finally the right
road and save another generation Of graccless,
ignorant productions.
No educating IN this direction has been better
directed than the society rt has encouraged and stmu
lated .ooi design popularzed inte gently chosen
roors aud revived unremenbeed methods ~ work.
Within past years It has pail Sll,960 to working
contributors o. whom there the rolls 3-i3,
An increase ID twelyempnth OF l20 It mas
prepared 1890 pieces OF work for its customers AMI
turned out 6ll finished The classes in decorative
fully and enthusiastically attended In
snort TIC lelven intelligence is working admirably
Ia tile American lump. Yet in spite OF IT. undoubed
success II capital enough To enable it to enlarge
Is rrogr lnne the actual nee Il of s students
and contributors. II would be easy enough To convert
the society paying shop which should purvey the
costly demanded by wealth and fashion. but
hat aud ambition OF the society. lis true
func ion It's work OF teaching classes o;
workrIs to cultivate by care and example hISh taste
inons neelewDmen aud TO execute as many com
nercial Vries IL without reducing the standard
Di excellence. For the rest, New York ought u De
happy the deficit. which Will never he large
understand that capiTal OF $4,000 Is all th't Is
needs rDat lbe society the shadows surely
there can difficulty securing that amount
among in the metropolis II only they VIII
small pains tO lamiIiarze themselves with the
abOIs and successes OF the society.
Neo- York, May /, 1856 CLARENCE KING