Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-12
The, Subject ExhaustiVely Treated
J. by Prof Thomas Wilson.
THE evidence OF FLINT CHIPPING
,Recimens Obtained Of Decorative
{ Work Of Bronze Age.
SYMBOLS OF GOOD LUCK

Profs Thomas Wilson. curator of the de-
partmeMt of prehistoric anthropology of
the National NJ, serm, has lately written a
book or, Prehist ORIG Art, or the Origin
of Ar. as Manifested in the Works of
PREHISTORIC Man." The book will soon be
published! 1t treats most exhaustively, and
in an interesting manner of the subjects
detailed fully in its table of contents. 1t
begins with the paleolithic period, when
flint chlpIsing was the first evidence of
art IN prehistoric man, leading to engrav-
irg on bong, horn and ivory The work
VIII be profusely illustrated with the diff
ferent objec Is Which the reading matter
Will describes. the whole having been pre-
pared with syreat-care.
frof- wilson says in a comprehensive in
PRODUCTION to the book that art and science
have in these later days come to BE- closely
connected Artists of all countries and
periods ne states, are conditioned by the
circumstances in which their lives are
passed, and by the ideas prevalent among
tneir peoples. Thus art history becomes
junction OF social history and cannot WISE
~ be d1sresarded by the student of the
history of he human race. Ancient works
Oh art brlng the people OF the present into
contact Witt bygone peoples, and are often
the only avenue whereby can be approach
ed far-distaItt civilizations lying silent on
the verge of time. Thus the study of art
history becomes branch of scientific in
curry. 1t has to be pursued by scientific
methods. and its results are of scientific
importance.
Art In the Abstract.
Speaking of art in the abstract. the au-
thor says:
Each art is the peculiar language Of
more or less extensive category of ideas
and sentiments to which it alone is able to
give adequate expression. A work of arr
is 2 material expression of its makers
delight 1t eXcites the nerve centers and
produces sensations of delight or pleasure
his work.
Genius consists of a superior percen.iye
power on the part of an Individual aris-
ing FROM an unusual excitabiIity and ac
tvity. or an exaggerated sensibility and
elasticity of contain nerve centers The
impressions come to the nerve centers NJ
persons of genius in waves sometimes re-
sulisnS in a shock, and while the impress
sions are intuitive. they are also imperious
and demand instant expression The indi-
yidual whom these Impressions invade &c
overcome by them, and he sees or feels
Taught else He is possessed as with a
demon, and cannot be at ease until his
work is essayed. The notable difference
between talent and genius is that talent
can. but genius must
The professor writes Interestingly of
early art He says:
The earliest manifestations of human
art consisted of the chipping of implements
of flint. practically the first known to have
been male or used by man. They belong
to the paieoiithic period. or the stone age.
This period has been divided according to
progress In human culture and divers
names nave been given thereto, following
the taste Of the writer's or discoveries"
Discussion of Samples,
Speaking of the early examples of art
Prof Wilson says:
The man Of that time has passed foo
a savage, and ne doubtless was one. He
had no tribal organizations, no sociology
no belief in future state, no religion: he
did not bury his Gead; he erected no mon
uments; he built 10 houses: he was a
hunter and fisher; he had no local habi-
tation; dwelt in no villages. except such
as could be so called from living in a
cavern for the purpose of shelter. Yet he
occupied in the Solutreen epoch and highest
rank as a flint clipper and I'm the Na1at.l
inner epoch correspondingly high place
as an enSraver on bone and ivory HE
material Was the bones and tusks Of ths