The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-09-15
WITH THE PAINTERS,
A Novice Tells Of Some OF the
Things He Saw at the
Worlds Fair.
Works That Affect With Wonder.
full Force the SympathieG Of
Beholders.
Csilession-FrsnolA Painters Whose
CanvAsscs Attract Thousands.
Hpeoial to The independent.


Special to The Independent.
CHICAGO. Sept 11.-Ons OF the surprising
things connected with tho ans arts depatt.
msnt OF The Columbian exhibit II the OK
ossdinaly varied standpoint from which tho
exhibits are viewed by the mulsitudss who
visit Tho ART rooms. The estimate which
different persons place upon tho Same / ice
IL - different a. the persons thsmselvsA
while the comments, could they be written.
would form a volume that would place
Josiah Aliens writing far In the back
ground. He who has spent considerable
tins In those halls OF modern art and who
has studied the visitor a. we'll - the paint
era, can not but como to the conclusion
that Americans 10 . rule have not boen
educated TO a point whore they arc quail
fed to fully appreciate The works OF the
great artists. It 10 not our wish to impl,
that they do not enjoy good pictures. but
rather that they are not able to discsimin-
ate between those that are regarded 90
masterpieces Of art md those that are con-
aide!ed ns ordinary. II any In tho vast ool-
lection may be 80 termtd. Ii IL not the
purpose OF tho writer to poae as q critic.
but rather TO place himself in the larger
GLASS OF ~novices, and from that standpoint
to discuss some OF the paintings that
pleased him most and created In his mind =
deep and lasting i'm pression.
There are in this vast collection OF pic
lures, many Of them perhaps of ordinary
merit only, not a few that appeal with won
dsrful force to our neutrality-suspicious.
that toll sto:ias of wonderful interest, that
cause tho tears unbidden to flow or IL may
be to excite tho ~livclisst emotions of NOR
riment and humor.
Among all the paintings on exhibition
thero IL perhaps none that has been exam
ined with greater interest or that hos pro-
duced a profoundo. impression than one in
the United States loan collection by ThoH.
Hovedcn, called breaking Home Ties"
The picture rep esents what may DO a New
England family. consisting of father,
mother, son and two daughters. evidently
dwsllers In the rural districts. the father a
we'll. to-d do famcr. For years they have
lived in peace and happiness. laborinR hard
and enjoying the comforts of life. though
few of it's lnxuries. AZ tho young man APP
proaches his majority, he longs for new
scenes and the greater opportunities at
forded in the west and, therefore. dator-
mines to leave tho old homestead md seek
his fortune amid new surroundings. Tho
hour for departure has arrived. Tho stage
10 at the gate. tho driver, with whip Ia
troubled countenance, stands with satchel
In hand; tho sisters have said good bye, and
with tear-stainsd faces await his departure.
in the meantime gazing lovingly upon his
manly face; tho faithful dog oven seems to
reslizs that tho old home is about to lose
one OF Its loved and vnlusd members. The
mother. with loving heart we'll nigh brenk.
ing With grief over his departure, stands IN
front OF her dear boy. her hands on his
shoulders and looking deep into hi. large
her last words Of tender, loving advice.
The strength Of the picture lies not in
high colorinR, nos In any sentiment that
appeals to passion, prejudice or pride, but
rather in the fact that it touches delicntely
yet powerfully the bond Of sympathy and
periences OF the great mass of humanity.
Visttora stand before this picture and al
they read in IL the story OF pnst happy
years, the fsars and misxivinps that wiring
the heart Of the loving mother as her dar-
ling boy is about to go ont alone in the
and sorrow burdens the heart. 1t ia clearly
evident that the fond parents are not con-
cerned with the past. They have beon
years of toll it is true and yet years of hap
pinoss. They have seen their 10y grow ur
to strong younG manhood. foil Of energy
has formed habits of industry. Temperance
and virtue, but they think Of him
away from tho beautiful homo Influences
surrounded by the temptations and priva
tions of tho far west. They know ths
rover of evil associations and how insidu-
ousIy the tempter lures the innocent little
by little into unforhidden paths. These ar.
the thoughts that fill their minds with mia
Rivings and their hearts with nhmeies!
fears. We PASS from this simple. touching
scene to RGze upon otntrs OF ravishinG
beauty, Others that call for exclamation
of wonder md delight. but ere we leave tn,
department We ~instlnctively return to this
to us. masterpiece of the artist and drop
tear Of sympathy for the loved ones TO b.
left alone md to bid a God speed to hin
who is to meet and battle alone with thu
cold, unfeelin9 world.
In tho +. ench department. situated II
the extreme ensterr portion OF tho building
is a representation of Don Juan in Hell
Catalogue No. 6G0), by Rixeus. of Pnris
This superb painting ID remarkable ii s
and second for the oharncterh with wllicl
he peoples it. Unlike tho orthodox hell j
is not q place of fro where multitudes o
both sexes writhe In the aGonies Of rhys!ca
suffering. but rather a region whoue noun
tainous contour is in part enveloped ii
CiouNb, Wullc "hbcE IL dOuu0huCo llbb I'll
depressions and lows in it's nulnerou
ST. eams. In the foreg ;ound Don Jual
stands erect in a boat about to DO ushe,
ON the shore by muscular oarsmen. Will
about him and in tho background arc mul
titudes of lost souls whose neony OF min
is 30 intense n, to produce tho most horri
BILE Of facial expressions and TO render thel
insenaible to the keenest ply steal ~sufforin
as they throw their nude forms upon III
cruel, jagged rocks and unconsciously treh
upon each Other in their cnGerness to cor
verse or plead with Don Juan to do some
thing to alleviate their mental tortu
The most striking pecn iarity Of this pain,
ing is the gent number of women an
children In this abode of the lost, and tn
absence of men. IA l stood gazing upo
the magnificent work of at, admitting i,
richness and beauty of coioring and motto
ing the depths of despair depicted on Ia
faces Of the loaf and the indsseiibabls G,
preston of Don Juan ns he stood wit
folded AIMS gazing into tho shnaowy dis
tnnce, l could Tot but recoil with horror q
the conception that would people this abod
OF the damned With innocent babes. w
may Q iticise tho nrtist's conc ption, bu
We arc compelled to admire tho exquisit
finish with which the details OF his wo.
are executed.