The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-12-03
Every Child May Have Faculty
Of Representation.
FACULTY SHOULD Be DEVELOPED
The Initiative as Well as Creative
Ability is of Great
Value.


ginning, invitations was extended,
through the Press TO teachers and
schools TO visit the rooms during this
exhibition. We believe the League had
higher aim in this, than the mere
pastime of an afternoon. The appre-
citation of the invitation, as manifested
indicate to a great extent the standard
OF the teachers in our city upon this
subject Art and Education" One of the
ablest public school instructors in the
States has advanced for 20 years the
system of putting the drawing book
and copy book upon the same plane,
in fact, Of the two, to give the drawing
book the preference. for the reason
that by its use, a larger development
may be attained, and a freedom and
character to expression that will not be
acquired by the mere practice of re-
producing only letter forms.
Note the first tendency of a child
with pencil. Is it to reproduce copy;
or is it not rather to express for itself
the thought of its mind by object out
the child the word ''c-a-t?" BY associ-
ating it with the picture of a cat Sup
pose the child were taught to copy the
picture of the cat, before being taught
to write, or copy the word cat If such
were the case, would it not result in
the child thus taught, having better de-
veloped powers of observation, greater
ability to represent that which is OBJ
served, and withal having acquired an
ease and grace and dexterity in letter
formation, that practice in writing
alone could not possibly give? Sup
pose some such experiment were tried
with two children of the same age and
and of about equal natural ability and
advantages. We believe that at the
end of a year, one would possess much
greater knowledge of the properties of
matter and forms of life, have a broad
er intelligence and keener judgment,
than the other. One would be study
ing largely Gods most perfect handi-
work; the other narrowed to servile
imitation of mans feeble efforts. Which
of the two would have the better foun-
dation for lifes study and work? But
leaving the theoretical for the prac-
teal or feasible; have you ever enjoy
ed the companionship of children in an
art gallery? If not, then let me sug-
gest that you sometime this week, take
your own. or somebody elses children,
and visit the rooms of the Kilohana
Art League. You may find yourself
not only giving pleasure and instruc-
ton, but receiving some in return.
Children are often the keenest to notice
truth and beauty in art, or detect de-
fects in an attempt at it. Standing
one day in an art gallery, 1 noticed a
little girl about three years of age,
leave her mothers side, take hasty
glance at several pictures, then stop
and gaze at one; pasture scene, a
flock of sheep were grazing, the hill
slope seemed bathed in a flood of sun
light. l knew the picture was consid-
cred a gem by even able connois-
seurs. l watched the little creature, to
note what so rivited her attention. She,
unmindful of every thing about her,
looked from the picture up to the cell
ing. then back of its frame, and around
the room. as if in search of something.
Then calling to her mother, she ex-
claimed. ooh mama, do come tell me
where the sun shines from: l cannot
see it." Methought the artist could
have shed tears of joy to hear such
prattling praise and appreciation of the
embodiment of his vision and thought.
Again l saw little girl of eight, i'm
mediately upon entering. the gallery,
drawn to a most vivid representation
on canvas, of "The Christian Martyrs"
She knew not the subject of the pic
ture, but gazed on it intently for a time
then with her sense of sympathy keen
ly aroused, and consciousness of its
helplessness, she burst into tears, and
begged to be taken from the room.
wondered if the proud possessof the
canvas, who had obtained it at cost
of $4,000 felt its intrinsic merit more
than did that child
The erroneous idea exists that real
art is the work of genius, not educa-
ton. That artists are born-not made.
All may not that which we often call
genius, be simply the awakening of in
herent faculty, touched by the skillful
tact of a mother, teacher or friend, at
some fortuitous moment, aided by the
inspiration drawn from a scene of ex-
quisite beauty in nature or representa-
ton of such in art. Rest not too sure
" on the belief that only the excep-
tional child has the genius. but rather
act on the belief that every child may