The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-10

tendent defends his
punitive originality by pointing TO the
vicious lot he has to deal with. In fact
some of the boys are pronounced murderous.
All the terrOrs of electrocution are inspired
by the preliminary arrangements for tor
ture. The punishm takes place in dark
room and the electricity is applied to the
face, neck and arms. Each shock. although
the power is low, gives such q smarting
sensation that the incOTrigibie youth en-
tiers involuntarily urOn a dance, leaping
into the air with spasm die jerks and DO
doubt tingling all over as if a riot of
needles were progressing IN his body. The
bowling IS doubtless continuous aud sin
ceTe. L ssiby no harm results, but the prob
ability Is that nervous shocks OF this nature
are felt long alterward \ birch rcd or
leather strap is surely not obsolete in effec-
tive fageliatiOn at ref0rmatOry institutions.
Il wonid require strong scientific assurances
to give general sanction to electrical punish
ment in the training of hayward youth.
A Pittsburg telegram is veracious au-
thority for the announcement that the
Prince of Wales is about to soil his hands
in the oil trade, wherein he Will have the
assistance and guidance of the Tranby
Croft Wilson's, who rendered his Royal
Highness such service in playing the
game of baecarat. The project is to
lay llHc VI pipe HUN cOUItN HtI6 III
the oil region to Philadelphia, and then TO
convey the oil to Europe in tank-steamers.
The enterprise is almost as alluring as eX-
plotting a diamond mine, and it may be
worthy OF ali encouragement 10 reward
an investment of two millions sterling
but if it depends fer success upon
the cooperation of the Prince of Wales
some time must elapse before the pipes are
laid. The fact that one Of the Wilson's has
an oil scheme in hand perhaps suggested to
an imaginative correspondent the pr0priety
Of bringing his friend the heir preSumptive
in But as the Prince runs horses under
an assumed name, there is no objection to
him figuring as director under a purser'S
title.
Alas for newspaper criticism! Ii is value
less 20 those who are criticized. 1t may
do the public service hy shaping their
taste; but to the artist it is wshy-
washy. fiddle de Gee and vexa-
ton. Art is ineffable, Incompetent
sible through words. and only finding ex-
preston and appreciation in feeling. So
much may be inferred from the deSpairIug
wall Of Theodore Thomas, who yields
the baton for the Chicago orchestra ::
In the art of music almost everything that
is written for the daily press is rendered OF
no value on account of either the prejudices
or the ignorance OF the writers. Hence
rarely read newspaper cuttings about either
myself or my work, as find in them othing
that gives me either assistance, knowledge,
suggestion or encouragement In my art"
But what would he have? There are must.
clans who write criticisms. Is their sense
and nice perception of qualities any less
nonsense, prejudice or ignorance to those
who disagree with them? Are they adoied
as embpdiments Of wisdom or taste?
1t is notorious their criticisms pro-
duee as much discard as those Of
untutored seriDes. Musicians are con-
stanuY quarreling among themselves -
an distracted professional class OF limited
range of ideas, peevish and irritable to a
ludicrous degree, and singuDarly sensitive to
praise or eensure. IL is quite likely mu-
sicians learn nothing from criticism,
but they derive great benefit from it
when the public are Influenced in their
favor. They know bow to make use
of praise when securing engagements.
Painters are also afflicted with the knowI-
edge that words are in vain 10 do their
works justice. but bow they can fight among
themselves about ideals in art and the
tricks of techniquel Words cannot do
everything. A deaf man may re q, but he
can know nothing of music: and a blind
man may read by his fingers, but can
know nothing OF pictorial art. In music
and painting there is a range of feeling be-
You'd language, however skiiliully used
BRUSH.