The herald., 1896-04-18
FRIDAY MORNING CLUB
Papers Read Yesterday on Industrial Educa.
tion--Watts the Artist


After Il short business meeting held
yesterday at the Friday Morning club
there were two very excellent papers
read by Mrs. Mary NJ. Bowman and
Miss Casey. The paper of the meeting
on the history of Industrial education in
southern California was presented by
Mrs. Bowman. Her remarks We're as
follows:
The history began with the opening
OF the first kindergarten school
in Los Angeles in 1876 by Miss
Emma Marmedell, an experienced
kindergarten teacher of Washington,
d. c. In 1885 the Free kindergarten
association was formed, with Mrs.
Caroline NJ. Severance as president.
Tho first free Kindergarten school wa,
opened through their efforts in October
of that year, with more than thirty
pupils. In June Mrs. Wills sand some
other ladies assisting opened sewing
school in the same building, furnish
ing the materials and instruction free
In 1883 u second free kindergarten
school was opened ON San Fernando
street but was discontinued after two
years for want of funds. In 1SS9-30 the
board of education ingrafted one year
Of kindergarten training IL the public
schools of the city, In 1892 Mrs. Wills
opened at her own expense cooking
school in cottage owned by herself on
Spring street. and engaged teacher
from Boston. This continued two years.
the children OF the public schools shar-
ing in the instruction. In 1892 Mrs. Wills
and Mrs. Stimson erected A permanent
building on Lafayette street for indus
trial training. Sewing and cooking
classes We're taught in addition to kim
dergarten and kitchen gardening
In 1885 the kindergarten association
opened a free kindergarten in connec-
tion With the social-settlement work in
'l,, felI q ia yf,at
building was formally conveyed to Mrs.
Il. D. Sirnson by Mrs. Wills a few
months ago. Mrs Stimson is prepar-
ing to erect a larger and more suitable
building. where industrial training can
be extended.
Mrs. Bowman gave a brief sketch of
the work at Whittier.
Miss Katherin Casey took for her sub
ject Watts the English Artist. Miss
Casey said ii was difficult from an ar
lists standpoint to write an article on
and of artists which will he in sympa-
thetic feeling with the opinion of the
public in general. With a true artist
il is never what man paints. it is how
he paints. Paintings have their
styles and fashions as distinct. if not
so frequent, as my lady bonnet. Skies,
shade and trees are governed by die
tateS of prevailing mode. III speak
ing of Watts. she said there is probably
genuine pleasure out of his works than
G. Il. Watts. His dominant power lies
in the graphic expression OF his brush.
II often expressed regret that his tai
ent did not lie rather III the pen, but
his work as an artist has been such
that we would not have him changed.
Waits is the most selftauSht modern
imaginative artist of the day. Miss
Casey gave a running account of his
success and the honors that have been
bestowed upon him from the age of 20
up to the present date.
His fresco paintings have become
celebrated in great buildings abroad.
In 1S4S he began portraits of eminenr
men which will be donated to the Eng
liSh public at the time of his death.
The poetic side of his nature is shown
III the painting of 'Lifes Illusions. Isaiah
and other well-known works. Watts is
by far the best modern delineator of
human aspirations. In his portraitures
his aim is IDEAL His insight to human
nature comes from his sympathy with
fellow men: His portraits are all con-
scientious and subtle and of great pres
ent interest.
Contemporary friends of Watts are
Frank Hall and w. w. Ouless These
three men have been considered the
three best painters of the pre- Raphael
ite school. Although his portraits are
not all of equal excellence, they are
faithful and intelligent.
His study of children is not pleasing.
but his nude figures are considered by
many critics to rank among the best.
He Is never crude, nor does he appeaI
to the animal senses. AS an allegorical
painter he ranks with the late Lord
Leighton.
Watts painting of Love and Death
alone would have won for him an envi-
able reputation. He has twice refused
the title of baron, but the greatest honor
ever bestowed upon him was the request
to bestow his portrait to the great por.
trait gallery of artists in the Uffizzi at
Florence. Uulike most celebrities he
won fame while young. The all per-
vadng human interests. this direct eX-
preston of humanity. the purity aua
loftiness of his sentiments, lifts Watts
above the common place
Miss Ledger was the guest of the
morning. She comes from san Jose
and spoke briefly on the excellent work
of kindergartens OF that city. Miss
Johnson, travelling correspondent o;
the Iowa Mail and Times, was also
present and left a very pleasant inn
preston on the club by her bright re-
marks. She claimed not to be CONVEX
SAINT with either topics of the morning.
but spoke of the club life of Des
Moines, Iowa
Cor'f