The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1889-01-10
ABOUT PICTURES.
The Frightening influence They Have on
Room-The Difference In Taste.

Chromos have been asthetically con-
signed to the shades" Steel en-
cravings are allowable-a tiny picture,
IN immense margin, and still more i'm
mense frame being "good form," but
etchings, water-cclors, 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 deprived of pictures en-
tirely because the decree has gone
forth, shave good pictures or none?"
A print of some expensive picture may
be as great a 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
ali over a house, but they must be in a
hall or one room, an call it a gallery;
but l don't like it. Whatever room
I'm in l want to see some pictures
hanging around; they're wonderful
restful to a person. Why, l always
have one hanging over my wash-stand
landscape generally-an' it's world
of comfort!''
/ have in sight now a cheap chrome,
it must be confessed; but looking at it
| forget that mercury stands uncom-
fortably near zero; that the snow is
whirling through the air, and that
last summer is far away and next sum-
mer still in the future. Surely, the
little picture has some magic power!
In the foreground is country road
bordered by a azig-zag rail fence. along
which a squirrel seems to be skipping,
aud blackberry bushes nodding in
vitingly in the corners. In the road a
yoke of sleek oxen are drawing 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
apparently running from under it is a
stream of ripping water. One can
imagine from what cool, mossy
grotto up in the mountain it has started;
how the ferns have clustered around it
and other tiny rills have joined it, un-
Ill it comes down through the valley a
power for good. Here and there it
Widens out into calm pools which re-
feet the willows bending over the
edges and the beauty Of the summer
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
minute the daisies and buttercups are
blowing. Here are wooded slopes,
and there are comfortable farmhouses.
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 ode
lectable mountains Notch, which,
us one little girl traveller SAID, "was
just made a-purpose, too cunning for
anythingm Could thousand-dollar
picture hold more Of the charm of a
summer landscape?
haVe etcHuuSS anu paintings, ny all
means, those who can. But do not, o
critic, deprive those who can not the
possession of cheap limitations. Donot
sneer ii the washerwoman ornaments
the wall of her poor room with a
chrome, awkwardly hung with car
pet tack at each corner. 1t may be
the only bright spo. in her dingy sur
roundings. Do not smile scornfully if
a childs bedroom is gorgeous with a
fantastic array of advertising cards,
and do not utterly condemn 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
market value. Better cheap copies
than hone at all.-G1od Housekeeping.