The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-08-01
ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT.
frs sEKp IN THE UNITED STATES ArPARKs
IN TUE INDUSTRIAL ARTS.

rrs sExp IN THE UNITED STATES APPARENT
IN TUE INDUSTRIAL ARTS.
7 United space allows but q brief
IL glance at only one side OF this IN
teresting question, . question OF great
importance TO any manufacturing com
munity. On the quality Of It's manufac-
lures depend largely the condition, the
happiness OF the majority of the In
dividuals that compose that community,
and this equality" which "a Of such I'm
portance, is in proportion to the skin and
taste OF those individuals.
Scarcely dozen years have passed since
that memorable party at Philadelphia to
which the United States invited her sis
ter nations, and told them oil ''to bring
their work." They came, they brought
their ''work," and when 10 was spread out
for exhibition and comparison our proud
dame was forced to admit that she was
far behind In those accomplishments
where taste and artistic skill were re-
quirod. Her only consolation was IN the
evidence shown that she was fright
smart" In other directions, and In the recoI-
lection that her mother had . similar ex-
periencs about q quarter OF . century
before.
England profited by her exposition Of
1851, and America has already profited by
the Centennial. IL 10 true our country has
let valuable time slip by, but the improve
ment In the design OF American furniture,
stoves, pottery, glassware, jewelry, wall
papers and print cloths, are evidence that
our manufacturers are fully alive 10 the
importance OF the art quality In every
object that has shape or color. The re-
cent report of the chief OF the bureau OF
education shows that our government too
Ia not blind 10 the needs In this direction,
and contains an eloquent appeal
for industrial art schools. From its
earnest words on this subject quote.
"As nations progress and consequent
competition increases, the preparation re-
quired for the struggle OF life varies as
well for the individual units which com
pose Il, as tho nation itself. What was
not felt here as a necessity century ago
ia indispensable today. From an agricul-
tural country the people Of the United
States must OF necessity, with accelerated
strides, become moro and more manufac-
turing. Such Is the worlds development,
TO be successful 1t is clear that our manu-
features must become moro and more ar
tistic, 1. e., possess the genuine art
quality. The United States every
year continues TO pay millions
to superior artists and artisans
OF other countries. Every cent OF this rep
resents foreign tar, voluntarily paid,
simply In consequence OF Ignorance and
want OF skill"
No one will question the ability OF the
American workman or American manu-
facturer TO learn. II IL simply q question
OF development, OF education. Shall we
allow our workmen, our handworkers, our
manufacturers, To be forced into the moro
poorly paid avenues OF life, where little or
no taste OF skill Is required, until the
higher faculties, those faculties which
more than any other separate the man
from the brute-become dulled--from
want OF proper exercise, and they join the
vast army OF ignorant laborers, or become
part Of some great soulless machine, a
servant 20 thing, and from childhood 90
old age doomed TO make the iniintesimal
part Of something In which he takes no
Interest and OF which he probably does
not even know the user
r. q. wu.pY