The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-04-24
Reviews.

appeal" 1t is for the Foundation of
a Colony Of Self-Supporting Artists"
as the title states. 1t is in the form OF
an open letter to the men and women
artists of all countries. They are called
upon to live for arts sake-not for the
material price of art In the open mar
ket. The plan which is set forth is for
the establishment Of a colony Of men
of genius who shall extract their sub
stance from the soil. living simply and
frugally so that but a minimum of man
ual toll shall be required of each. The
remainder Of their time Is to be allowed
freely to each one and is to be devoted
to the pursuit of art i'm free accord
ance with the genius of the artist
There is to be no labor for hire-no
manufacture Of art to order.
The colony is to be-Or rather Is, for
1t is editorially stated that it is now
organized-carried through on eminent
ly practical lines, the standard Of prac-
ticability. Of course. being purely Ar
cadian). Like all undertakings Of the
sort the ideal brethren or brethren with
ideals, as one chooses, is to return to
the natural life of primitive men of the
soil. giving part of their lives 0or arts
sake) to raising their own sheep and
cows. catching their own fish and plant
ing their own corn even in a wilderness
Of modern civilization" AS the choice
of occupation. when 1t comes to divis-
ion of labor, is altogether free l hope
there will not be too many artists who
will want to devote their surplus energy
to catching fish" or, perhaps. to herd
ing sheep after the manner of their
own painted shepherds and shepherd
esses. Otherwise Jacques Bonhomme-
for the colony is in France-will exact
hard bargains for his corn.
The artists are somewhat particular
about the location of their colony, also.
Among the requisites are "a union with
a mild but energetic climate, having a
balance of sunshine, wind and rain.
A union by fraternal sympathy with the
people of a country already settled.
having an Art future, where the soil
shall favor the easy raising of food;
with landscape varied by hills, plateaus,
woods and watercOurses, not too far
inland" etc. Postoffice handy and
schoolhouse within three miles is evil
IDENTIFY presupposed. The obtaining OF
this location, so the Appeal states.
"necessitates the finding of some one
sympathetic to Art, who will provide
land ready and cleared for cultivation,
and small simple dwellings also
a few sheep. cows, horses and some
farming implements" In return for
this bonus to the Art settlement poets,
their poems and compositions to him"
and it is to be presumed, he will be at
liberty to reap whatever profit may ac-
crue through the rise of his adjacent
real estate. Since the colony is reported
established the sympathetic friend of
Art has evidently been induced to in
vest.
The organization Of the colony is
socialist-the socialism being what is
commonly considered OF the ideal
rather than the practical sort. There
are three fundamental rules to which
each colOnist must agree and with
out which it does not exist" They are
% ITO unite to create, individually
and 10 ntly. an Art for Arts sake.
which is to express the highest aspira-
ton of his soul, renOuncing all egoism