Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1894-07-24
Noble act.
From the Now Orleans Sunday slalcs.l

A4A0AI ~ 1920 ~ - $3.50
of recording a continuance of good
deeds ON the part of the same perzl
son.
Mr.. Charles Broadway Ronss, one
of the merchant princes of New
York, is about to add another to his
many previous public benefactions.
With view of stimulating the pro-
gress of American talent he has de-
termined TO establish competitive
prize for students of painting, under
such conditions as will insure perfect
fairness and impartiality in the
award. This prize will be sum of
money sufficient to support an Amer
lean student in Paris for two years,
and to enable him, at the same time,
to avail himself of all the advantages
of first class instruction. In fixing
the conditions for awarding the
prizes Mr.. Rouss has displayed his
characteristic Judgment and COM
mon sense. The amount of money
donated will be sufficient for the pur-
pose indicated, but will not be great
enough to tempt the recipient to
idIeness aud dissipatation. The the
DRY preceded upon Is this; That a
student freed from the cares and
anxiety of providing for his daily
wants and subsistence will he in the
best mental and physical condition to
prosecute his studies intelIigentIy
and to advantage.
The conditions for competing for
the prize are princi pally as follows;
That each competitor must be from
one of the Southern States and actu-
ally engaged in the study of painting
in Paris that he shall not have been
engaged in such studies for longer
period than two years; that habits,
character and industry shall be con-
sidered by the committee of award
in connection with artistic talent /;
that the tenure of the prize shall be
for two years,
In restricting competitor to the
students from the South Mr.. Rouse
was moved by natural and perfectly
proper feelings. The South is his
birthplace and was the home of his
ancestors. 1t is the abiding place of
many who are near and dear to him.
Beneath the sod in the beautiful VAL
ley of Virginia lie the remains of his
loved and best. In the cemetery at
Winchester are buried hundreds of
his gallant friends and comrades who
lost their lives in sad and bloody war
between the States. Apart from the
desire to eYince his love for his own
section Mr.. Rouss was moved by
other considerations in limiting the
area of competition. There have been
established by Mr.. Chanler, of New
York, and other liberal gentlemen of
tue North, art PRICES, Although these
were declared to be open to general
competition, yet tue conditions were
such as virtually to debar Southern
youths from entering the lists. They
would have been compelled to come
North to execute their competitive
work under the supervision of COM
mittees largely composed of local mr.
fists and teachers. Outside of the
disadvantages of competing with
those familiar with the methods and
style favored by the members of the
committee, the expense attending
coming North to pompOFo- ePnrntad
as an effectual barrier.
Mr.. Rouss limits the tenure of the
prize to two years for the reason that
by the expiration of that time the
beneficiary will either have proven a
failure or haYe acquired sufficient
proficiency to realize money from his
work. The Limitation in regard to
the length of time in which the stu
dent has been prosecuting his studies
in Paris was fixed to exclude those
whose long residence there had shown
that material assistance was not ne
cessary to them.
Mr.. Rouss has wisely provided
against any contingency that could
possibly operate as an ipjgstice
against competitor. The contest
will be held in Paris, consequently
removed from all local influences.
The composition of the committee of
award will be such as to preclude the
possibility of any bias in It's decision.
Mr.. Rouss will request the United
States ambassador to France, Mr..
Carolus Duran, whose reputation as
an artist is worldwide, and Prof. j.
jerome, of the Ecole DIES Beaux Arts,
TO act upon the committee, leaving
the details of the contest to he fixed
by them, STIMULATING only that the
contestants be limited tn those who
come under the conditions recited
above aud that the award shall lac
to the one who, in their judgment,
by habits, character, industry and
talent, gives greatest promise of sue
cess in his profession. To quote the
forcible language of Mr.. Rouss: II
know that there is a number of tall
ented, ambitious and industrious
southern youth in Paris, and 1 would
like TO help them all, but that is i'm
possible. Some of them are crippled
by the lack of means and some of
them have been compelled to aban-
don their studies to earn their daily
rations. 1 admire their pluck in
leaving home and trying 10 fit them
selves for earning an honest living
in the way they think best. 1 am
sure that the moderate contributions
that intend to make will do some
good. 1t will inspire hope and slim
ulate exertions and will be also,
trust, the means of directing the at
tention of our rich men to simple
and inexpensive way of making n sue