The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-16


termed process OF evolution the poster
OF today has become a thing OF beauty
II not n joy forever Think Of the csrr,,s
poster OF TWO generations ago-ths ,av-
eFa-inouthed niETopotamus the ss..nhar&
whose ears were 50 long that thu e.nu
had to be supported by two atten.,arss
and the dromedary with holiday allow
ance Of no less than four humus FrrnIv
those posters were not only an array IN
the primary colors, but n most marvellous
Illustration of the works OF nature ana =
revelation of possibilities never hssor,
dreamed OF by the student OF natural his.
tory or the humble observer of ansn,af..s
nature, but. once seen. were uroinc os
horrible visions. Today we have inss..ss
OF the crude. giaring REQ and yellow hor-
rors. a finished work. printed in Aarmoni-
Gus coiors. with every regard for draw
ing and perspective. One circus poster
| saw here in Seattle within the past year
a representation of the chariot race
from Ben Hur,' and. in its way. IL was
really an artistic production. Practically
up TO 1870 no pictorial effort was made in
posters that did not make the angels
weep. at least. those of an esthetic tenn
permanent Even those realists who sar-
castically declare themselves not culti-
waited up to admiring turquoise cows in
magenta meadows must admit a marked
Improvement In the advertisements of the
present day over the earlier sixties This
has been partially accomplished By
changes in the method of production. the
substitution of photographic stone for tho
hard wood block. the credit for which il
said to be due TO the late Matt Morgan.
an English draughtsman and caricaturiss.
In studying the history of the poster Wa
find that the genius of patent medicine
was among the FIRST To institute a new
departure in the pictorial advertisement
The old-time poster. OF noStrum-venders
was about the most pitiful object imagsn-
able. In conception. recent writer
tells us, III never aimed TO be more than
feebly Instructive. and in execution IL was
as hideous as cheap work could make il.
II was constructed upon enc OF a few
simple formulas-simple TO the point OF
idiocy. Today We find ourselves con-
fronted with a poster which. though it
bears the name of some well known nost-
rum. bears also highly attractive pic
ture. we'll conceived and executed, EVIL
IDENTIFY the design of an artist and not a
mere artisan. and made especially for the
use 10 which it is put, and reproduced by
the costliest skill. The subject is moth
ing-a simple figure. perhaps, and the
article advertised; the latter. while recog-
nizable, is not unduly prominent. and the
figure is an admirably drawn study of a
type well chosen to interest observers of
every class. In designs the range of sub
jects is large. In bicycle advertisements
even mythology Is drawn upon. Mercury
no longer wears wings TO aid him, but
spins along on a wheel, as does the up
to-date Diana and swift-footed ATLANTA.
American poster designers have received
their best encouragement from magazine
and other publishers. as may be seen In
the recent prize contests. where Ameri-
can students won most OF the laurels.
e. -
than those of other countries, and they
possess also a graceful and often whimsi-
cal humor peculiarly their own. and which
are doubtless indigenous to the SOIL
Ruskin's Stones of Venice will be the
subject of the lecture on Tuesday evening
next. when artists and others interested
are invited to attend. The public recep-
ton of the league will take place next
week. and pictures intended for exhibit
at that time should be sent to the studio
as soon as possible. The outing yester-
day proved most enjoyable. and number
of pretty sketches were made or scenery
along the shore OF Lake Washington. in
the vicinity OF Leschi park. Next Satur-
day Madison street park will be the re-
sort. the sketching party leaving the
studio in the Hinckley building at 1.N
o'clock as usual.
The Orptec Club met on Friday after
noon at the home of the president. Mrs.
j. p. III. Morris, and the roll call was re-
sponded 10 by a goodiy number. A most
interesting literary programme was en-
ioyed. each member of the club taking an
active part. The historical talks and
biographical sketches being particularly
well given. Miss Kuhnke gave charm
ing character sketch of ceciie chaminade.
a French composer. illustrating the mu-
sicians style by a piano solo. A compre-
hensive survey Of classic French writers
was given by Mrs. NJ. A. kellogg. Mrs.
w. A. Majors gave a short sketch or the
late Henry Drummond. closing with an
appropriate poem. The active members
present were: Mrs. j. p. II. Morris. Mrs.
f. s. Berry. Mrs. C. L. Hibbard. Mrs. NJ.
A. Kellogg, Mrs. VIII II. Parry. Mrs. ].
III. Jennings. Mrs. w. A. Stewart. Mrs.
w A. Major. Mrs f. O. voswinkle. Mira.
l. A. Nadeau Mrs. Presnali. Miss Kuhnke.
Miss Josephine Jennings. Miss Alice Tuck.
The Orptec class. auxiliary IN the club.
will continue their studies, meeting every
Friday afternoon.
The woman's Century Club met in
rooms 336-337 Occidental block Friday
afternoon. After transacting the usual
business the time was most profitably
devoted TO a paper by Mrs. Elizabeth
Mooers who treated her subject. Count
Tolstoi." understandingly. comprehensive
~ generously. The meeting closed with
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