The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-06-16

III w Sh III L ~ VI n -heNoNSl
Artist.
Here is Pen Picture That Will awak
en- Pleasant Memories in ThOus-
ands Of Readers.
The following is private letter by al
artist to an artist friend. 1t is so stri
kingly beautiful that we give it place
II will be read with interest by thos
who saw the wonderful Fair and thos
who did not.
1t is so like a dream At tn
first glimpse of the City Beautiful
my heart gave a bound, unbiddei
tears filed my eyes, and l felt as on
translated into an ideal world. Sine
then / have looked upon the scene {
score of times, yet the splendor 0
the vision is in nowise dlmmed, bu
rises anew in majesty and beaut,
with every added impression. A
you know, the patriot is not easil,
stirred In me. Yet the thought tina
this marvel was wrought in Ameri
ca by A mericans sets me all afame
What a future for a people tina
could work this wonder-make al
epoch in art while still in swaddlin.
clothes and possessed by the spiri
of materially! How did it all COM
about?
Reconstruct Athens as Pericle
saw it! Restore the Rome of tn
Caesars Renew the Carthage o
Dido! Yet Chicago, the Chicago o
of 1893, whose material vaunting
and untamed aspirations are thu
butt even of its own wits, presents {
spectacle that outsplendors them all
Day after day approach this mira
Gle with increasing awe No soone
does any part of the scene break up
on me than ! stand rooted. By al
effort go forward, but in momen
am again transfixed. And so loi
ter and linger, drinking draft upoi
draft of this new world wine, this
nectar distilled from the spirit o
all time Art, until the Joy arises int
complete intoxication.
Three weeks are gone, and, except
the treasures of the Art Building,
have seen little of what these palaces
contain. How could it be otherwise
Should one spend time over drops
when there is the boundless ocear
to envision? These countless dome'
and minarets, these miles of arcades
and colonnades, these myriad groups
of heroic modelling, this wondrous
color scheme, and, above all, the
sense of Cyclopean proportions anC
the spirit Of creative energy that in
forms the whole, SO expand and up
lift the soul, that, to put roof owe
ones head and deliberately shut GU
this surprising spectacle, even to in
spect the most costly fabrics, the
rarest jewels, or the latest marvel
in mechanism, seems like profana-
tion of things divine. Within these
temples is nothing that will not bt
reproduced or bettered. But what
is embodied in its structures-wher
shall man look upon its like again
How it all uplifts and inspiresl Ii
the artist is awakened deeper feel
ing for the beautiful in line ant
form; the poet is borne to heights
where new joy gives wings to bis
muse; to the lips of the singer there
rises spontaneously song of thanks
giving and praise, the patriot has
opened to him broader and farthel
vistas of the meaning of art as ar
influence upon national life; while
none is so Indifferent to the sense Of
beauty as not to feel the richer fol
what he takes away
What a thought that all this is
but the vision of an hour! 1t wa:
born in night; it will vanish in q
day! Truly, these airy palaces have
wings. Even now they seem to poist
as if for flight The gracious spirit
of Art transplanted them from the
realm of the ideal to tell for a short
time to this utilitarian people their
wonderful story of beauty-to in
struct a nation devoted to Mammor
in the immortal possessions of the
mind. 1t is as if the spirit of Art
would say: "Americans, l show you
these things, not because you are
worthy of them, but that you may
become worthy. A little while and
l shall return them where they be
long, to the sphere that is to you as
yet shadow-land or no land, but
which to eye of Art is the land eter
nal. That you might see, o, Ameri
cans, boasted treemen, how enslave(
We are to dress, l inspired a few
among you, who were prepared, tt
see visions and dream dreams, anC
they were enabled by rare fortune tt
show you their thoughts, fashioned
of cloud mist and the foam of the
sea. 0, Americans, take this vision
into your hearts, let it kindle your
imaginations, and keep before your
minds that your quarries are rich il
the enduring substance which thi:
evanescence prefgures."
Mans temples typify his concepts
l cherish the thought that Americs
stands on the threshold of a great
awakening. The impulse which this
Phantom City will give to Americs
culture cannot be overestimated. The
fact that such a wonder could arise
in our midst is proof that the spirit
is with us. For years we chained
our inspiration to the driving wheels
of commerce All at once it was en-
listed in the service of beauty. With
what exultation is hailed this deliv
erance we all know. How ready the
hands! What brains teemed with
wondrous designs! What creations
uprose to our pride and glory! Ath-
ems had her Phidias to plan, but al
so her Pericles to realize the artists
conception in structure. 1t was trib
ute money that built the Parthenon
What of the tribute held by our mil
lionaires2 Use alone enobles wealth.
Here are sermons in 'staff." Who
will transmute them into everlasting
sermons in stone? What possibil
ityl What an opportunity! / tremble
with the hope of it. Even to dream
Of it adds something to the fairnes;
of the morning
The first time | stood in the
Court of Honor" surrounded by Q
splendor that shadows the most ex
uberant fancy, superb band in one
of the pavilions that grace this
matchless rectangle, gave selections
from Wagner's immortal "Tetralo-
gy." You, who know what this mu
or sr e. m