The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-05-17

are to lose their holds upon the minds of
men. or unless art in despair is to cry out
| that it has lost the secret OF expressing
them, either in the spirit of the old mas
| tiers or in some higher mood, art must
still keep pace with the pulsing thought
and life Of the age and must. yet express
itself in masterpieces when nelShoeii
the enthusiasm, refine the feenng anu
| inspire the imagination of the world;
1t is in this spirit that these works OF
art are given to the public schools OF
Portland, that the great events OF our
| national history, our natural scenery
where it is most beautiful and grand, the
scenes of the past in which the hlgheso
human experience has been lnvolveu,
noble historical characters, figures that
| stand for what is highest in human
thought and purpose and feeling, ana the
| ideals of life as they have been interpret
ed and portrayed by men OF genius. may
be presented to the minds of the children
as they pursue their studies
1t is an event that we do we'll TO cele-
hrate. to annreciate the noble spirit which
has prompted the gift and the far reach
| inc results which in the future are to
flow from it, May the generous devotion
| which has lavished so much time and
labor upon the accumulation of these
beautiful works of art, and their distIibu-
ton among the schools of Portland, not
be disappointed of its aim. May the
good flow from it which is anticipated
and may this gift be but the beginning
of an important collection of art for the
use of our public schools.
Then Mrs. Josiah Burnham told the
story of the movement to procure the pict-
said:
A little more than year ago, a mem
Der of the Woman's Literary Union, in
conversation with the Superintendent of
| Schools, said: What can the Union do
to help the.cause OF. education in our city,"
why not place some pictures and casts
| in the school rooms?' was the reply. The
suggestion was happy one. The matter
was brought before the Union, favorably
received, and committee appointed for
| the purpose.
erosity of the clubs and citizens you have
now before you, but an outline of the
means and methods by which it was at
tanned, may not be out of place.
| The Union had entertained the State
| Federation in October, and the treasury
was somewhat depleted in consequence,
but the sum of fifty dollars was cheerfully
subscribed to start the fund. Individual
clubs pledged as much more, and lee
ture was given which Melted seventy five.
But one hundred and forty rooms in
one hundred and seventy-fve dollars
was only an example in short division for
an enthusiastic committee, and, like
Oliver Twist, they "called for more.''
Feeling that whatever touches the pub
lie schools is a matter of interest to every
citizen, and hearing of many outside the
Union who would gladly contribute, we
started a subscription paper and soon
found ourselves with a delightful sum
total of six hundred dollars.
Having thus successfully overcome the
financial difficulty, the committee next
turned it's attention to plans for the vari-
GUS rooms and teachers were consulted to
learn the line of pictures most helpful in
the different grades.
Our aim has not been the purchase of
pictures just because they are pictures,
but pictures with purpose, and of &C
knowledged merit.
All pictures are not suitable. The fact
of its being masterpiece does not make
it appropriate for the school room. A
Madonna teaches asshigher ideal of woman
hood than Bacchante, though both may
be on the same artistic plane.
1t is not necessary that the pictures be
expensive. They must be large and good
of their kind, but a photograph or photo
drawing, composition and perspective,
and above ALL the thought of the artist.
For the Kindergarten and first two
years in the Primary, pictures were Sc
lected suggesting paternal or maternal
affection, charity, kindness to animals,
any subject to assist the teacher in guild
ing the ideas of child in the right direc
ton.
In the third year language study is
taken up, and for this grade story pic
lures have been selected. The fourth year
brings geography, which can be illu STRAIT
ed by forms of land and water" the
lake, tho sea, the mountain; by home or
foreign cities and scenery.
The fact that the Primary schools out
number the Grammar by nearly two to
one, proves that but half the pupils in
the city go beyond that grade. This has
been taken into consideration by the
committee, and although the study of
American history is not taken up until
the third Grammar year, it wass thought
best to give those likely to go no further,
pictures that will impress upon their
memory incidents in the history of their
own country. American poets and their
homes are suitable for any primary room,
since the children in all these grades are
taught to memorize their poems, and to
know something of their lives.
In the Grammar schools, home and for
eign cities and countries. American his
tory in its different periods, discovery,
colonization, revolutionary and modern,
and something of cart for Arts sake in
famous pictures by famous artists, give in
a large variety from which to choose.
For the High school there is the whole
wide world of art.
The next question for solution was
where to begin, since our funds would
only warrant the expenditure of about
twenty-five dollars for one room in six.
This was decided in way to bring the
greatest good to the greatest number; for
by beginning with the highest grades in
both Grammar and Primary, the pupils
who are graduated this year would de-
rive some pleasure from the pictures;
while starting from the lower grades we
should fail to overtake any now in the
higher.
This plan has been adhered to except
where money was given for some particu
lar room or purpose, or where pictures
came into our hands which were more
suitable for other grades.
icin md iY1i