The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-21
SEATTLE AN ART CENTER.
Half Century's Progress of America in
Higher Realms of Art.

1t is a gratifying evidence Of the increase
OF educational prosperity in a country
when its young people evince q disposition
to try their wings. SO 10 speak, in the
higher atmosphere of study, and SO reach
out amhitiously for recognition among the
many who have already received it. In
America today '.higher education" has
taken a strong hold on all classes, and the
youth of former days who was contented
when the three Rs were mastered has
given place 10 the youth who is not salts
he'd with such requirements, but who
desires To do something original. Fifty
years ago brushes and paletteS were con-
fined almost entirely 10 the profession.
In a few converts and other female acad-
euiies water colors were taught in a way,
but nothing ever came of it. Today all
this is changed. The artistic tastes of the
people have been elevated: nearly every
city of any size has its art gallery. and as a
consequence youthful minds have been
stirred to emulation, and that city is poor
indeed that has not its conservatory of art
and It's instructors in painting.
Seattle is peculiarly fortunate in this
respect. Ii Is not IN the least exaggera-
tive to say that the favored city OF the
Sound possesses IN a greater degree the
requisites of an art center than any other
city Of its size III the country. Its people,
coming as they do from the great Eastern
cities, ami being OF an Infinitely more re-
nned and superior class than usually seek
new homes in new countries. have brought
with them the delicate tastes which were
80 carefully cultivated in the intellectual
hothouses of their former cities, and have
transplanted their roots into most fertile
soil On every hand one may see evil
dences of the high order or talent which
Seattleites display in matters of art, and
in pastels particularly Seattle possesses
some most excellent delineators of the
beautiful. There are, too, scores upon
scores of young people here who are am
hitiouSly striving TO attain position among
the masters of the palette and brush. To
such persons recognition means encour-
agement. and serves as an incentive 10
spur them on TO better and more careful
endeavor. At this glorious Christmas
time the friends and relatives of this
young Carolus Duran and that juvenile
Rosa Bonheur have an opportunity 10
render them incalcuble service by giving
them a substantial impetus upon their
artistic way. No one takes up art from
mercenary motives, any more than he
does poetry. man or woman may
choose medicine. law or the other learned
professions because il is their duty 10 be
something and money is TO be made at it.
But artists and poets are what they are
because there is within them that grand
love and true appreciation of the beauti-
ful which resistleSsly urges them on TO
depict il either in color or in words
Give a young poet a volume of Keats
and his heart Is nllcd TO overlooking and
thoughts strange. new and grand surge up
in.hls soul and he sings better songs in a
tcnderer key.
GIVE the young artist good picture-be
il in oil or an engraving or an etching, so
long As il is good, and his heart will throh
with delight at its beauties and a voice
within him viii whisper: '+Perseyere and
you may even excel that" Such gifts stir
up the ambition and make the blood of de-
termination course through the veins of
achievement with a bold and impetuous
vigor.
To select giit Of such nature is not
difficult If one will visit the art palace of
Bake. Cole K Co. No. i.2i7 Front street.
Their walls are hung with exquisite gems
IN oil, while their collection of pastels ami
water colors i fairly unrivalled To beaa-
tiiy heart or bcautify home, one may
ind here the material with which 10 do ii.
The portfolios of engTavingS and etchinCs
should lse examined by all who love art for
art sake. and the particular attention of
such : directed 10 the deliciously naive
and suggestive work Brewing Mischief"
the latest effort of that master p4rhpr