The San Francisco call., 1895-05-22
EVENING SESSION.
Interesting Papers Read by Miss
AbbieA Sage Richardson, Miss
Katherine Ball and Others.

Interesting Papers Read by Miss
AbbieA Sage Richardson, Miss
Katherine Ball and Others.
The evening session was opened by the
usual devotional exercises, followed by a
very able paper on George Sand (Mme.
Dudevant) and George Eliot, by Miss
Abbie Sage Richardson. Her treatment of
the works and lives of these two great au-
thoresses was mastery, showing study
and an originality of philosophical treat
ment.
The Elements of Good Taste" was the
subject of the paper of Professor Bolton
Colt Brown of the Stanford University,
who said:
do not think all the art in the world will
make good home. 1 do not think all
the good taste in the world will make a good
character. Good taste is not an element OF
virtue. Broadly speaking, good taste is part of
well-developed character, though not prim-
. -purest kind OF common-sense. A barn is in
good taste if it is furnished in common-sense
- The second element of good taste is the es-
thetlc-beautltul forms, beautiful colors; and
perfect harmony in these colors and forms is
the esthetic part OF good taste, When trained
not only SOURCE OF pleasure TO us in the
house but In all our walks of life. I don't
know.to what extent one is elevated bv know.
ing the difference between good color and bad
" Ot course IL Is not agreeable to go into room
and see blue walls and red curtains, or any
: other equally outlandish combination
Whether this sense of good taste in color
makes us good citizens or not do not know
1 want to think about it twenty wears longer
before / can give an opinion. Whether 8 man
is a better citizen because he cnn admire a
beautiful sunset or an harmonious combination
of colors is an open question. II is obvious,
however, that it makes them happier and bet,
ter men and women.
Miss May Keeler read highly enter
tanning paper on "Art in the Home" She
said:
Art is a, common possession. Art in the
not practical. But it is the most practical Of
all the elements of human happiness because
II lives in the home. The subtle potencies of
verted channels 1t is spontaneous It
blossoms for the enrichment of humanity.
Once all the arts were included in and con.
tributed to architecture. Now it is too often
in the exclusive possession of the wealthy
Nothing is accidental or meaningless in art
Natural man like the animal had beautiful
motions. There is freedom, strength and repose
\ in purely animal nature. ALI feeling is born
OF natural causes, but is drawn forth by ex-
traneous causes The subtleties of art extend
throughout all nature. We lind II in the modu-
lation and culture of voice surely as one
finds 1t in the dressing of the human body.
One or the other soothes and comforts us. In
illness how strongly is this illustrated Artf
has use not alone in the home but in all
LIES decisions and should be cultivated for the
advancement of human happiness;
A garment should enhance the peculiar
characteristics of its wearer just as the voice
clothes a sentiment, and this same theory ex-
tends to the home. In decoration color Is the
hrst consideration. Nothing is more quickly
felt than the restfulness and refreshment
which proceed from room decorated in colors
which are in perfect harmony. But all houses
are not homes and all decorations are not art.
At the close of the last paper ten min
utes were given to a general discussion.
Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Stetson said she
would break spears with Professor Brown.
She said she could not agree with Pro-
lessor Brown in that good taste did not
make man better. Professor Brown said
that good taste was nothing more than
common-sense, and Mrs. Stetson said that
II good taste and common-sense did not
make man or woman better then she did
not know what did.
Miss Shaw's name was called and she
responded in her inimicable manner. She
said she knew very little about art in the
home. She knew, however, that in some
rooms she felt restful peace come over
and that it was due to the harmonious
trimmings and furnishings of the apart
ment. In other rooms she felt like going
into mt, SO inharmonious and incon-
gruous were the furnishings thereof.
Much she thought depended on the art
displayed In the decorations of the home
Tor the shaping of the thoughts of the IN
mates.
Art is a God given faculty and its exer-
else IN the home is one of its most exalted
functions
Miss Susan B. Anthony said she was in
an abolition convention in Rochester,
N. Y, in 1852, with Wendell Phillips and
others, when black woman, six feet tall,