The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-07
AS TO ART.
A Brilliant Art Collection to be Seen for
the Asking.


A Brilliant Art Collection to be Seen fol
the Asking.
Those who have busted themselves
inventing pretty things for the rich tC
spend money upon during the hOli-
DAYS. have done wonders this season
but it is even more true that those
who have made pretty things for those
of moderate and slender purses, have
done greater wonders. 1t was not
many years ago that the pretty
things" in art were something to be
looked at by the average man, but not
to be thought of as possession by
hundreds deemed even comfortably
'tiXed" in this worlds goods.
Now all is changed. Art and its
productions, thanks to modern inven-
ton, has passed, through the cheap
ening of material and the perfection
of labor, from the rich only to the
homes of the middle classes and of the
poor
This thought is particularly i'm
pressed on one who takes the time to
enjoy an hour in the storeof Hapeman
& Graham, looking over the arrivals
of novelties for the holidays. The
choice line of bronzeS in figures and
vases, the choice selections of Crown
Devon, French and japanese crockery,
in vases, candle-Sticks, rose-jars, etc,
and that new glassware called the
Jersey Lily" is in plain sight, but
down Sin the bowels" of the show
cases, piled one upon the other, are
the choicest of the dainty things OF
the season-that is, to lover of books
and pictures. What, for instance.
can be more luxurious or more artistic
than the portfolios of Aquarelles, re-
productions of the famous water-cOlOrs
of the season, and of the most famous
water-cOlOr artists of the day. In
similar form come lportfOliOS and
bound volumes of the great etch'
ings of the day, both accompa.
MED by sketches of the artists.
Then again there are the pho
tOgraveurs, reproductions in black
and white of the famous paintings OF
the Paris and London salons. These
are all incomparably finer than any
work of this kind ever heretofore pro-
duced. The Aquarelles are new; the
etchings, for the first time, are within
reach of the moderate purse: while the
photographers, though still cheaper,
are perfect for the first time, and, to
many, superior in tone and real arts
tic results to the steel work which
they have practically supplanted as too
cold and wanting in feeling. In adj
ditiOn there are the daintieSt and
most eXquisitely bound art books and
kindred novelties from the presses of
Prang, button, Lee and Shepard, etc,
in the IvOrine volumes, booklets lin
water colors and black and white) and
in calendars-of which the stock is
particularly large and varied.
This is the merest mention of these
things, and but family conveys the
idea we would like to emphasize, that
in the variety and excellence of this
line of goods, it has been the writer's
privilege never to have seen an equal
showing in this city, and he has kept
close watch for the past fourteen
years.
This line includes, though we have
not mentioned them, an unusually
large line of steel engravings, photo
graveurs, etchingS, photographs,
panels, pastels, etc, for framing (ot
which they carry full line of ma
terials), easels. ETC., which will be
found very choice and desirable.
MISCELLANEOUS GOODS.
Their line of plush goods, in toilet,
manicure and perfumery sets, is also
noticeable. The line is not a ''cheap
lot" made to sell with rush, but the
assortment is especially noticeable for
it's real value. These things are all
useful, as well as pretty-if they will
stand wear. This line is to be COM
mended for its real, substantial worth;
yet prices are lower than we have ever
seen them in this city on an equal line
of goods. While here the ladies will
also be interested in the line Of card
cases and pocket-bOoks in Morocco,
seal-skin and Russia feathers; and a
nice line of smoking sets, which the
men folks have failing for.
Returning to books, the line of
Bibles and prayer-books should not be
overlooked. These are always appro-
pirate gifts, and we believe this is the
only complete line in the city.
The line of photograph albums is
also feature of this seasons stock.
This notice of a stock, which, in
fancy goods particularly, is simply the
best in the city, might be heightened
by note on the cheapness of the line
of standard books, in single volumes
and sets, and of the marvellous variety
OF juvenileS-which make one wish he
could start life over again just to get
the delight of being boy or girl to
read them: but we refrain for the
present.
But this fact is the great conso-
lation to be had by visit to Hope
man & Graham's: One must admit
that the usual plea Of poverty at
Christmas will not ''go" this time, for
it is agreeably amazing to see how far
a little money will 60 in the purchase
of the pretty things - which are
doubly pretty at this particular season.