The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-29

1t was necessary that the Telegraph,
which never did stick at trifles, SHOULD
have articles purpOrtlng TO come from
the beleaguered city. OConnor was equal
to the occasion, and penned some re-
markable descriptions, perhaps more inter-
esting than if he had been on the spot; and
his imagination was perhaps assisted by
the fact that in London he was not on short
commons of provender. In ono little matter
OF detail, however, he sadly blundered. lie
made the moon shine in Paris when there
was no moon, and some curious, prying
people found it out An almanac would
have helped him out of that scrape.
Art criticism is not one of the exact
sciences and the conscientious reader
should make allowances for the imperfec,
tons of taste ana judgment when scanning
contradictory statements about the same
pictures. Some delicious examples Of an
tagonstic opinion are presented every year
in the criticisms on the Royal Academy.
Artists whose works are pooh-pooEed ID
one paper have only to turn TO the columns
of a rival oTgan:tO find themselves lauded for
transcendent achievements, and they are
almost forced to the conclusion that crlti-
cism is foolish and superficial and that
writers are guided by caprice ana
whim rather than by any stand
ard The value of criticism to the
public is very slight. Probably nobody
buys a work because it has been praised
or blamed. and the artist may therefore be
quite Indifferent about what is SAID by the
critics. 1t Is not clear that matters would
be any better were the articles written by
artists who are often violently preludlced
or prepossessed and would err In judgment
II not in knowledge. BY some people Rus
kin is regarded as immaculate as critic,
but that is not by any means the general
opinion OF artists. He was tritie too hard
upon Whistler in bygone days and Whist
Ter now has his triumph IN popular recog-
milton. He is even admired by the culti-
waited.
One of the great pictures in this years
Salon represents the cOnquerors of the
world marching across plain strewn with
CHASTITY groups of the dead The glories Of
the battlefield arc few when studied from
this aspect, for war is horrible in the misery
it entails. Alexander. Julius Cesar and
Napoleon are seen grouped among leaders
OF less note, and the impression of how they
obtained their power is brought out with
vivid strength by the painters concep-
ton. War has at all times been
the same in the horrors that iol-
enable us to do without war. 1t only adds
to its terrOrs by making 1t more deadly or
q grand scale. But as conflicts between
nations are soon settled nowadays there Is
less devastation than in former times. and
the population is not swept away by pesti-
lence and want There are no signs Of the
good time coming when nations are to turn
their spears into pruning-hoOks. I ct the
burden OF being prepared Tor war is we'll
nigh uncomfortable.
The Presbyterians of the United States
have an advantage over their brethren in
Scotland, the home of Presbyteriansm. in
the periDatetic character of their meetings.
This year they are holding counsel in Port
land, Or, and that must have involved
Journey of three or four thousand miles 10
most or the ministers and elders. AS often
happens at these gatherings, the assembly
has case OF discipline on hand IN dealing
with what is known as the Briggs case.
These trials always excite intense interest
throughout the denomination, and the
amount Of intellectual exercise involved ia
bringing them to conclusion more or less
satisfactory to orthodoxy and church law is
phenomenally great. Dearly does the
Presbyterian love good, thrilling
discipline case, which brings into an
thoritative ruling the catechisn and
the Confession Of Faith. 1t is species Of
ecclesiastical tragedy IN which the audience
as we'll as the participants in the debates
assist, for it is no uncommon thing TO hear
applause and Kisses at these august arralgn-
ments. One who looks back over series
OF tneSe meetings calhot heip HotCiik hVN
many things have been modified in the
direction of liberation and liberty. The
man who whistles on Sunday in Scotland
has even chance of not being mobbed to-
day by the deyotees who have very strict
notions of what is termed Sabbath obsery-
anee
There are very few Presbyterians who
can look with favor upon game of golf,
cricket, tennis or billiards on Sunday. All
such occupations are regarded as the devils
work. If music is allowed at all. it must be
sacred-a descriptive phrase, which hardly