The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-05-17
A Plea For Pictures.

| Chromos have been esthetically con )
signed to the shades" Steel engrav-
ings are allowable-a tiny picture, an
immense margin, and still more inn
mense frame being .'good form;" but
etchings, water-colors, and oil paint
ings Especially by the old masters)
are considered the only pictures in
''perfect taste" But how few. how
very few picture lovers can attain to
possession of the last named; and
shall the many be derived of pictures
entirely because the decree has gone
forth, "Have good pictures or none?"
A print of some expensive picture may
be as great treasure in the cottage
as the original is in the mansion on
the hill.
People will have pictures, in spite of
fashions DEGREES. An old lady lately
said in my hearing: They say it
amt fashionable to have pictures hung
all over a house, but they must be in .
hall or one room, an call it a gallery;
but don't like it. Whatever room
I'm in l want to see some pictures
hanging around; they're wonderful
restful to person. Why, l always
have one hanging over my wash-stand
| "a landscape generally-an' it's q
world of comfortP'
l have in sight now cheap chrome.
it must be confessed-but looking at it
forgot that mercury stands uneom-
fortably near zero; that the snow is
whirling through the air. and that last
summer is far away, and next summer
still in the future. Surely, the little
picture has some magic power!
In the foreground is country road
bordered by zig-zag rail fence along
which squirrel seems to be skipping,
and blackberry bushes nodding invit-
ingly in the corners. In the road q
yoke of sleek oxen are drawing a load
of hay surmounted by some riotous
boys. Drawing, said; the oxen do
not actually move, but there is always
the vivid impression that they are just
going to. Beyond the road, and ap-
parently running from under it is q
stream OF ripping water. One can
imagine from what a cool, mossy
grotto up in the mountain 1t has start
ed; how the ferns have clustered
around it, and other tiny rills have
joined it until it comes down through
the valley power for good. Here
and there it widens out into calm pools
which reflect the willows bending over
the edges, and the beauty of the sum-
mer sky. Here the cattle stand knee
deep in the limpid flood and sniff the
fragrant air. Then the stream draws
itself together again and darts under
a rustic bridge and winds on down the
valley until lost to sight in the dis
tance.
On either side are fair, green
meadows, in which | am sure this min
ute the daises and buttercups are blow
ing. Here are wooded slopes, and
there are comfortable farm-houses.
Then the valley ends in forest, and the
background is filled by the White
Mountains looming blue and majestic
against the bluer sky. There is the
Notch, ever inviting one to new
beauties over and beyond those s.De-
lectable Mountains" the Notch, which,
as one little girl traveller said, s.was
just made a-purpose, too cunning for
anythingp Could a thousand-dollar
picture hold more of the charm of q
summer landscape?
Have etchings and paintings by all
means those who can. But do not, o
Critic, deprive those who cannot the
possession of cheap limitations. Do not
sneer if the washerwoman ornaments
the wall of her Door room with a
chrome, awkwardly hung with car
pet tack at each corner. 1t may be
the only bright spot in her dingy sur
roundings. Do not smile scornfully if
a childs bedroom is gorgeous with q
fantastic array of advertising cards,
and do not utterly condemn a family
who, though they may boast of a
painting or two in the parlor, yet dare
to enliven the blank wall of dining or
sleeping-room with pictures of no mar
ket value. Better eheep copies of
good subjects than none at all.-G0od
Housekeeping.