The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-06-04
THE EDUCATIONAL IN ART.

The mere capacity in man at apprecl-
ating the beautiful is an evidence that
the tSthetiCal constitutes an element ol
the spiritual being and the general RI.
joyment Of u kind Of beauty OF
another warrants the conclusion that
the appreciation Of art IN Il high or low
degree is a mental characteristic unIyeT-
sal. 1t may exist as a taste for poetry
the drama, the decorative 10 archilrc.
ture, sculpture, painting or music. But
whatever the phase of this taste ion the
beautiful may be, the certainty ot It's
presence is incOntestible and the NEGLECT
Of a general development Of It is nothing
less than an unfortunate disregard Of an
Important feature IN the education Of
every man. Indeed, 50 mutual are the
relations that connect all ideas, will Il
dlslinctness only in their terminal
points that there is III ant a side where
It touches mathematics, the understand
ing: another, where 1t touches the world
OF language, reason; a third Where II has
a correspondence with the representa-
tiOus of nature: a fourth, where II coin
CldeS with religion. And since IN m.
tiStic tendency and the appreciation ui
art Is found IN every man, he It rude ur
refined, the development ut this side al
our spiritual natures can br nu,hIng
less than imperative. This position doe,
tI4t ttttt.IN HAT AN.f 4 lttA4 al. a. a 1.,.f.
himself to an extended STUDY vi some
branch of AT: but Il deus ulran that all
should III IA measure Nr al IT, Ia apple
Clatr and understand ME work Ut at
A comprehensive plan OF education
must therefore necessarily consider, at
an early period singing, drawing ualut
ing and modelling treated a..
Jects Oi study the .,,'' ",t f.,
',''' ..a.Ic Proficiency for each puIll,
but L. secure an all sided development
that shall till ,lr him To see mal ~ the
universally NJ his nature, aud prepare
him To understand aud appreciate thr
productions Ut true ant.
hold that a superior quality ol mind
Is one and the same, only presented M
different rhis,s, whether he pussr.aII
I've "A philosopher, naturalist, general
state! man, poet ~ musician. that Ito
AgassiH. Wellington, Wooster, Shake.
peare and Beethoven aCe I, lunprr,ldIcrt
funds equally great aud deserve Cqua.
gratitude aud admiration. With lhl'
lruet, II need scarcely br Rild that | alsD
believe that genius III any AIT mlgh.
With varying circumstances have hrrl
p, directed III almost any other line aud The
success be scarcely less remark ,hlr, Al
the arts, lays CICERO, which pertain Il
= refinement have Il certain common char
{ and are. As IL were, bound together ~ 3
1 certain relationship, an llin,trIOl.
ye~IllicatiOn Of which opinion Is ailOrdr,
, in the genius OF MendelsSuhn. At hI,
= death, many excellent drawings wrr,
t found among his manuscripts, which
cOnuOisseurs insisted were of such wOItl
e that had MendelssOhn devoted his liit
to painting, instead Of music his crlehTl
ty IN the art world would have heeu h,
no means dimlnished. Wagner was a
> once poet, aud musician, the llhrrlll o
whose operas based uponrich legends d
l. Middle German are a revelation IN ever
q German scholar and whose music is O
surprising beauty and grandeur.
With the highest estimate of thri
, combined influence III the education u
man, ! insist that all the arts have bee
potent factors in the amellulatiOn q
humanity Whether 1t be IN the epic q
10 dramatic form, the moral teachings II
t. the best specimens of tragic poetry az
* decidedly salutary. The greatest an
H., best poets IN all ages OF the world hay
been genuine mnrallsts. Never has
y been better told than by tragic poet III
y strange story Oi man. complex ulluI,
ir with conflicting passions IN ]CraseIr,
Ia agitation and all that enters into III
mystery Of the human heart. And s
far rs the teachings Of the poet me rol
yeGtrd into active principles ln tile
" practically hecume influential IN II
Is formation ut character. Where is ~
~ lishncas unallOyed better portrayed TIA
X IN shakespeare King Lear, Il tEul ,
Ia character attaining u luNurlant govt
iTom that habllual exercise Ut pow,
IL hud llIr possession Ut lIIcsuuusIb
- strength; aud the more CLOSELY III
- drama Is studied the more complete
ct does Lear become the PRESERVATION
"a intense sellishncss. lie Is alone. NJ rol
ri SOFT shares the throne; even the alI,
lions Ut his children are the objects
command. lie recognizes no emu.
everything h subordinate, everything
ceulered III self. NOthldg rules him III
ne the pilde Of despOlism and the sIIghtp
u injury 10 his royalty Is punished b.