Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-11
OBJECTS OF ART as EDUCATORS.

UBJELlS w AhI AS EUUGAlURo,
The Daily Bee OF Omaha, Neb., after
speaking of the exhibit of 500 pictures
made by the Western Art Association, sees
"no reason why Omaha should not become
a center of art culture worthy of her high
culture in other educational directions"
If the people of Omaha are true to them
selves they will build an art gallery for
the free use of the people and store therein
a collection that viii do them honor and
tend to elevate and refine the tastes of
their citizens and make them better in all
respects.
They may not be so fortunate as Sacra-
mento, and receive out of hand such a
splendid collection of art works as Mrs. E..
B. Croker bestowed upon this city. They
may be so fortunate, however, as to be en-
dowed by wealth with the means to ac-
cumulate a collection something like it.
In this hard and pushing age, when
money and goods inspire most ambition,
no community can give some attention to
art works, literature, fine architecture and
parks without experiencing immediate and
great benefit. Art is an educator, and the
more clearly this is realized the better for
any people. When New York recently
opened an exhibition of art, that was su-
perior 10 any ever gathered in this coun-
try; when Philadelphia, about the same
time, threw open its Exhibition of Art
Industries, it was discovered that the at
tendance was not of the connoisseurs alone,
but that the masses of people hocked to
commune with the beautiful, elevating and
helpful exhibits. Close observers were
surprised to find among all classes of visit
ors evidences of keen appreciation and en-
joyment quite unexpected. Moreover, it
was made apparent in both cases that
there is a growing love for the beautiful
among the people, for but rarely was
an Indifferent glance given. Some hun
dreds viewed the exhibits hurriedly, but
there were not the poor, who are unable to
possess art treasures.
There were few who exclaimed against
Stocking up so much money" in art works,
and who insisted that it could be better
used in relieving human distress. But
these forgot that art is stimulant to be-
nevolence; that it directly contributes to
the labor of worthy humanity; that it
breaches the lessons of charity and the
virtues of the liberal use of wealth for the
good Of men.
In recent lecture by Rev. Joseph
Krauskopf, D. D., of Philadelphia, that
distinguished, vigorous thinker, who is pre-
eminently the friend of the poor and of
education, referring to those who hold in
vestment in art works t. be waste, pointed
out that there are two charities
which we owe to others, that which we
owe to ourselves While it is a duty to
minister to others, so, too, it is imperative
that we minister to ourselves. While there
are bodies to be clothed, hands to be filed
with employment and fainting stomachs
TO be satisfied, there are also hearts and
souls with aspirations, desires and ambi-
lions that elamor for our aid. Ii, he well
said, there are any of US who do not give
all we possess to the poor, we have no
right to rail against those who, not neg
Iecting their duty to the suffering, expend
superhuous wealth to CRAFTY pure tastes
and educate the people in the love
for harmony, beauty, grace in architecture,
painting, sculpture, or any other OF the
fine arts. In short, we are not to make
life more dreary by refusing of abundance
TO feed the better tastes.
He saw in art galleries fine art exhibit
lions and encouragement of regard for the
beautiful, an educational force of i'm
Enense value to US as a people. He well
coined what he believed has dawned in
America, the age of which Bishop Berke-
ley wrote $50 years ago in his vision of the
destiny of this nation
seThere shall be sung another golden age,
The rise of empire and of arts,
The good and great inspiring epic rage,
The wisest heads and noblest hearts.
We are rich in energy, courage,
agriculture, commerce, industries, men
and women, but not in art, and the recent
exposition at Paris proved that while in
80 much we lead, ain the pure and applied
arts we lag painfully behind" England
expends S2,19l, 12O annually on schools of
art and science; the United States expends
nothing. 1t took 25.oOOOOO pounds of
American copper to buy the artistic
bronzes we imported from Europe in 1888.
We boast that this chiseling, that tapestry,
wonder bronze is of European production,
and thus publish the artistic poverty of
our own country.
Are we not too intensely practical? Do