Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-07-15

perior fancy work." more or less the
work of the ladies. Art has no sex she
speaks a language that is universal.
In financial and commercial sense
there is, as our old friend Col. Sellers
would remark, "millions in it, The
influence she wields in our moral, edu-
cational and artistic development is
enormous. The greatness Of modern
nations are measured by their art pro-
ducts. France has attained the perfec-
ton she is celebrated for solely by the
wise training of her artizans and manu-
facturers. Italy, without her art treas
ures, would be practically bankrupt.
England, Germany and Belgium are
all fully conscious of the value of their
art schools by providing free instruc-
ton to those desirous of study. The
kindergarten" system is giving the
children their first LESSONS in form and
color, but | will ask what chance at
present is there in the state of WASH
ington for art culture? You will ans
wer, Washington is too young a state
to consider these questions. l wish to
prove to you that the greatness will be
phenomenal if she wisely develops in
all directions. My energy and ambi-
ton is aroused to see in Washington a
state art university, where all portions
of the state may be instructed in all
branches of art and where art princi-
pies, which should be the glory and
flower of our civilization, may bloom as
luxuriantly as our roses.
Our artizans, builders, manufacturers
in nearly every branch of trade do pro-
duce finer work and results with a
knowledge of the laws of form and of
color. Every woman will make her
home prettier, dress more becomingly
and be happier if her surroundings are
artistic, pleasant and appropriate. The
artistic instinct is much more general
then we suppose. Everyone enjoys
beauty instinctively. Even the unedu-
Gated i'll art will enjoy the beauties of
nature and realize the truth of our per-
ances. Why is it that your lowest
grade schools demand certificated
teachers? Why is it you do not de-
mand competent teachers in the great
est Of the living arts? Because there is
no supply for such a demand. There
never will be unless you ask for it. 1t
is my intention to petition our legisla-
ture, first, that the rudiments of draw
ing may be taught in all the public
schools, and secondly, that a university
of art be established where designing,
mechanical, architectural and artistic
all branches, shall be taught by expert
teachers, and students be trained to
teach. The wonderful strides that art
has made in the older states is due, of
course, to her schools and the training
of her teachers.
L know of no one man that has done
greater service to art in this country
than the great and noble Peter Cooper,
of New York city. Thousands through
his generosity and wise thought are
earning a congenial competency, and
the good work goes on widening and
broadening and yielding an incalcuable
harvest. Praise to his ashes.
L was pleased to hear that since my
last visit here Fairhaven had organized
an Art League, of which Mrs. Il. w. |
Gillette is president and Miss Jessie
Templin secretary. L want to urge on
them all the importance and necessity
of such leagues. | want every town of
our state to contribute their portion, so
that our state building may truly rep
resent the state. Your natural scenery
should inspire all lovers of the beauti-
ful with a desire to produce their finest
work, and TO reproduce the glories of
your magnificent bays and forests,
your fruits, flowers, game, birds and all
the unbounded prodigality that nature
has bestowed on this glorious state. /
assure you the beauty spots of Europe
cannot surpass your natural advan-
tages.
L have had the pleasure and honor
OF organizing art leagues in Seattle,
Spokane, Walla Walla, Olympia, Ia
coma, Puyallup, Centralia, Chehalis,
Fairhaven, Whatcom, Port Townsend,
and when the list is complete for this
state l shall ask for your hearty CO.
operation for the aims and purposes
named. As an assistance to my duties
as art director of this state, | realize
fully the great importance of your aid
and cooperation. We must and do
feel that the honor of our state is in
our hands. That every avenue and
branch of art and of trade, and of all
and every resource, must be shown to
be believed. Papers, pamphlets, fairly
reeking with statistics, have been
showered on the people till they have
ceased to realize their importance, but
pictorial display of our resources has
never been made. The Washington
Worlds Fair commission has placed
the interior decoration of our state
building in the hands of William
Skillings, of Seattle, state architect,
and myself, and we are using every
effort to have it represent fully the at
fractions of the whole state. The in
terror is peculiarly adapted for artistic
treatment, the panels of different
woods and many open spaces being
eminently suited to display our scenery
and resources. All the different towns
so far have signified their intention of
cooperating in this branch of our
work, and L will be most happy to
forward circulars of information in re-
gard to any department to all who will
apply to me for them.
Trusting | may receive your active
assistance, l am
Respectfully yours,
JULIA &. SLAUGHTER,
w w f. Com Art Director for State