The record-union., 1893-04-01
OUR DUTY TO A LOCAL INsTI-
TUITION.

Sacramento nearly eight years ago es-
tablished in semi-official way School
of Design. 1t was and is the only art
school Systematically conducted as an in
stitute and strictly upon the line of thor
Oughness, in interior California. Its es-
tablishment testified to the refined tastes
of the community. It has been main
tanned with varying fortunes, but never
has had my interregnum OF cessation, and
this fact emphasizes the credit of the com
lnunity as one of more than ordinary art
perception.
Of course, it has been struggle at
times; it is now to keep such an institu-
ton moving, III a State of such limited
population, for it has the friendly opposi-
ton of an older association in San Fran
cisco, backed by membership in some
100000 population. Artistically consid-
cred, as to results, it has, however, held
its own against such competition, and to-
day, we are assured, could exhibit practi-
cal work alongside that of it's competitor
without any fear of contrasting results.
These facts we can point to, and should,
with that commendable pride which
every community ought to feel in refn-
ing and elovating influences promoted
by it.
1t is not necessary to dwell upon the
practical benefits of this school of art
they are known, we assume, to all our
people. The two hundred and seventy
pupils who have gone out from its classes
prepared for higher work of the same
order bear testimony to the great benefit it
has been to themr to the aid it has been in
practical ways, aside from the gain in
corrected and cultivated tastes, the en-
largement of the capacity to enjoy and
the fitness to enter if desired school of a
still higher grade.
But when we have said this of school
that is to all intents and purposes city in
stitution, and probably the only one that
is so closely related to municipal life, it
remains that it has not had the support it
deserved. There is such thing as being
too near to desirable object. There is
loss of fine sense of responsibility often
by being too closely in contact with duty.
And this is true of the Sacramento Art
Institute. In later years its chief mem
bership- has been drawn from abroad.
In one respect this is highly cred
table to the institution and the
city also; in another sense it is not
creditable to so large a community
as this. One feature about it, however.
is very agreeable and the source of much
local pride-a large number of pupils.
both of the home and outside order. have
been 'aided" pupils, have been enabled
to embrace the opportunity the school
offers by reason of the generosity of a
self-sacriicing body of Sacramento
women, who have done honor to the city
and their greatheartedness by untiring
effort in this direction for some four
years.
And this leads up naturally to propo-
sition that we think is undeniably strong
to wit, there ought to be further develop
ment of this kind of laid" work. Let
US see. There are, it is ascertained, some
forty or fifty youths in the city outside
of the schools, by native popularity
adapted and by inclination strongly de-
sirous to enter the school for from one to
three years and outfit themselves even ii
in but an elementary or preparatory way,
for many vocations into which knowI-
edge of perspective, of the laws of light
and shade, and facility in drawing, enter as
capital, as does trade well learned oapi.
talize the native capacity of the artisan
But these forty or fifty have not the
means to enable them to enter the school
and give the time necessary to its courses
There are more than hundred of oul
citizens who can afford the $50 to so nee
essary for years scholarship, and moi
miss the pitiful endowment from any one
of the bill of indulgencies they grant tC
themselves. There are fifty or more
strong organizations in the city, every