The morning times., 1896-04-19
THE PASSION FOR ART.
Written for The Times.


that which may be classed under the gen
eral head of eccentric art, takes 10 I'M
chainpg itself for Wild untrammeled
flight, it is impossible TO tell just where
it is going to stop. There has always
been a fascination about carving which
it Is difficult to explain.
Tie earliest. phase OF this weakness may
he. noted for the small boys passion for
whiting anything from soap box covers
to piano legs. When lrifle older he
endeavors TO follow the example of the
retired mariner, Whiting out httlc boats
to sail in the bath tub. He will always
find keen delight in cutting according to-
his own ideas or physiology The human face
on the great warted pumpkin that lights
his dreams with Il torch of pie.
But in fitting himself To- carve a for
tune he is unfortunately not so alert as
in carving the pumpkin aforesaid. Nor
is he so industrious as are the art loving
blessed damoselS who are now devotiug
themselves religousiy 10 the latest pf.c-.r
Of lunacy in the large and 1IOwcry field
OF the beautiful.
The latest note or art / con
That SaYOrs of no rut
Is that or carving faces
The shaggy coCoaDut.
lis practiced by the dreamy maid
Who PrStWhiie painted scenes
OF ianbkins skipping down the glade
On ribbOncd tambouTlreS.
Such is the gist OF the latest trumpet
blast from the seat OF art. ana rom some
specimens already made ii il but fair to
assume that the COCoanut has Il great future.
If endowed with human intelligence,
| nothing could now sour il sufficiently
TO interfere with the quality OF its milk.
Some faces Of Indian chiefs and OF Pre>i-
Dental aspirants. which have been carved
upon the shell of this luscious tropical
| fruit, are very natural and life-likc, and
reflect great credit upon the Carvers.
who may yet Ike their departure from
| the beaten tracks of art popular by giving
| an exhibition of their works in the ble.- cd
| name OF charity.
When dogs, cats, horses. orchids and
| what not have shows given in their honor.
| why should The cocoanut face exhibition be
| a fixture? IL is unreasonable to suppose
| that il would not be u genuine artistic
! as well as n genuine pecuniary success.
| Studies i'll Cocoanut ought to become popu-
| lar, and rank above those OF the more
| eyanescent pastel. The fibre or this sphere
| or ovcid is or such quality that portions
| of il may lie allowed To remain to rep
resent side whiSker, gOatee or any other
! facial hirsute acorumcnt peculiar to the
! subject. This hirsute may be brushed and
!
! the head look very like that OF the poser
darEcned by wholesome coat of tan.
/ 1t is cutie likely that before Il great while
| a consensus of opinion viii he 10 the ef-
/ feet that the cOcOanut was created fer
| uses OF sculpture only, Just as the faithful,
| patient camel, soOthed and sustained by
| the fat confined i'll his cupOla, was created
| for the purpose OF being ultimately, so to
| speak, translated into sha wis.
| In ancied security the cOcoaDUt once
| blOomed upon the jungle tree, and was
! rocked by the wind without having its III -
| churned 1t was solaced by the sOuglct
! of the irdescent cockltoo, then it was
utilized by the tribe of Jocko as project lie
| with which TO make the stranger within
| their gates the recipient OF a compound
fracture of the skull, not the less painful
! because unexpected. But now it is a part
and parcel OF art, a nd although its influence
! may at first seem mysterious and eso.eric,
to the la yman, it will before great while
| be generally appreciated and understood
| For when it is dedicated 10 art aud. so
| TO speak. emancipated from the Calling
| fetters OF the cook.
The gods with widest Joy a1oat
Upon olympus high,
| VIII dance AMI clap their ha ndS tonote
The passing or the pie.
The Chinese farmers meek aud mild,
| But knows Il thing Or two,
| And when niS Sha ughai roOster's wild
RitOoral coral 90.
Goes shriek;ng TO the sky rs II
TO close the eye or day,
lie gives the bilious beeve a blff
And goes on making hay.