The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-05
vULeARlTY IN DESIGN.

JeweIsy, Furniture and Bric-a-Brac That
shock the Esthete.
There is nothing in modern life more
discouraging to the person of taste tnan
the deliberate vulgarity in design which
is so conspicuous in modern manufac-
lures, and this is especially true in those
matters of adornment or luxury where
it would be supposed that if anywhere
would be found the evidences Of refine
ment and cultivation. II in the articles
with which the dwellings and the per-
sons of the rich are adorned one does
not fna evidences Of good taste it is in
deed a discouraging outlook for the
seeker, and yet it is in precisely in these
things that the most fragrant violations
of all aesthetic eanons are encouraged.
One has but to consider the tricks Of
the makers Of jewelry to understand the
extent to which this evil has gone. The
last within of the makers of slang Is to
be seen in the windows of the jeweler
wrought out in precious stones. Now
the art of the cunning goldsmith is de-
voted to the making of pigs in gold and
gems, now it is some other beast equally
inartistlc, again it is some idiotic pun,
which is enshrined in costly stones or
rich enamel, and yet again the para
phernalia of the turf, the gaming table,
or what not, absorbs the best skill
which the modern world can show in
this line. Even worse are the coarse
and vulgar designs which are to be seen
In the cases of respectable jewellers of
the feminine leg or foot. the suggestive
and semi-indecent ornaments which ap-
peal to the taste of certain classes, not
only of men, but Of women, who are APP
parently perfectly proper members of
society.
The designs Of furniture and bric-N-
brac are, if anything, worse. It is true
that there are coed designs to be found,
but it Is 10 less true that the reign of
cheap vulgarity is at Its triumphant
height. The hard and unsympathe.ic
execution of mechanical means which
would be tolerahle only when directed
by the most delicate and sympathetic
taste is made the more detestable by the
coarse and forced manner in which IL is
W htA b&AI NNoi4EDi thSo ~ AA4E
past to purloin design, If he wishes to
hit the popular taste he selects some TO
COCO motive of the worst period, and az
a rule it is popular in direct proportion
to its worthlessness.
When one compares the ornaments OF
today with these of the times Of our
grandfathers he NAV well ask whether
our grandchildren will have as much
reason to respect their heirlooms as we
have to look with pride upon ours II
one takes the 80 called souvenir spoons
with which the shop windows have been
filed, how many of them are even toler-
able in design
II is always easier TO find fault than
to find out remedy, ard it is undoubt-
edly true that in the present case the
matter is largely the result Of the in
crease of material prosperity among
those classes where neither taste nor in /
telligence has had time 20 be developed |
The markets gre controlled 70 q great
extent by the new rich. and IL is not nm |
natural that the impress Of their vulgar |
ity should be left in broad marx upon |
the arts Of the time. II Is no less true !
abroad, however. than it il IN this coan- |
try that the designers have apparently |
degenerated, and the explanation given !
does not 50 well apply abroad as In this
country.
No doubt the taste Of the world Il /
being educated, but the problem today |
is TO educate the taste Of the many IN |
stead Of the taste Of the few, and IL IL |
far more difficult than any which has |
ever been pre~ented 70 the devotees Of |
the &sibetic ii the history Of civilization |
betore--EOsfxn Courier.