The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-27
WAR ART.
spanish Girls Were In Demand at One
Time as Models.

dances CAV the painter the prettiest
Of poses, and 1 could not turn out
enough dancing girls to supply the de-
mand Now nobody wants anything
Spanish. My poor dancing girls are
packed away for fairer weather. when
a maiden with a mantilla may shoot
a winning glance from her bright eyes
once more
Thus spoke a fair artist, whose work
Chicagoans have already had some
chance to admire-Miss Bessie Morgan
Dunster. Her home is in Ann Arbor,
but she was visiting friends in Chica-
go the other day when l met her. If
she were to paint a miniature OF her
self she would be forced to show you
a typical American girl-not a West
ern girl, mind you, for | can distinguish
mighty little difference between the Gull
tured woman of the East and her OF the
West-full of life and the enjoyment
thereof, and not a stranger to the big
world outdoors. To complete the auto
sketch she would have TO ouch in a
goOdly crown of golden hair, item two
dark blue eyes, a strong forehead and
mouth, and for pedestal a striking ng-
ure.
Are we so infinitely and peculiarly
patriotic?" i asked.
Certainly" responded Miss Dunster.
Il had been making a specially OF
dancing girls for a year before the de-
struction of the Maine. and the Spanish
girls appealed to me more strongly
than any others. They were easily the
most interesting, because of the exquis-
lite coloring of their dress and the grace
Of their poses in the native dance. In
the early spring / was contemplating
a large order of these Spanish dancers
when war was declared. My Spanish
girls were doomed in a trice. The peo-
pie We're too loyal to buy them, and
l. a 800. EEA-A hnI %.
bowling successes We're absolutely I'M
salable. My poor little Spaniards were
sent to the deepest dungeons of the
shops, and there they still lie, while
above them are the portfolios loaded
with warships, battle scenes and any
thing and everything to the honor and
glory of u brave Jack Tars and no
less valiant Johnnie Greenes."
Does this patriotic fervor infiame the
public similarly to prefer the American
artist?" l asked.
All, there's the rub" said Miss Dun
ster, IF only Americans would fight for
their art as they do for the flag!
They've had a chance to show their pa
triotism on the battlefield, but l would
like to see somebody lead a crusade for
American art. Here in Chicago, / think,
you need such an awakening very bad
ly. Judging from my own experience,
/ shout say hat Chicago does not Of
fer the possibilities in art for a woman.
or for a man for that matter, that other
cities in this country do. j judge more
from a financial standpoint, for though
| sell more work here in Chicago than
| do in New York, Boston or Philadel-
phia, the prices are not so good. | take
the reason for this to be that the ma
jority of art lovers in Chicago are not
blessed with the means to buy, and
those that are able in purse are neither
overs nor judges of art, and would
rather buy a picture on the other side
because IT sounds better, even though
right here at home they could get some
thing really better at half the price. As
soon as our American picture buyers
are taught to see through their own
eyes and not through the medium of a
European catalogue. American art is
going to take her place alongside her
sisters across the pecan.
Il think the worlds fair helped the
public's appreciation of art in general.
no doubt, but / can't say that ] think
IT improved their Judgment in buying
pictures.' and Miss Dunster laughed
with meaning.
Would you advise a young woman of
artistic ability and ambition to go to
Paris to study her art?" | asked.
IF she were a woman of some bust
ness ability and capable of taking care
of herself. and If she desired to make
figure work a speciality, | should per-
haps advise her to go to Paris" was
Miss Dunster's cautious answer. But
to one of limited means and desiring
not so much the fin de steele style as
what | may term straight, Legitimate
art. | would suggest Germany-Mu-
Mich first of all-for the reason that a
woman can live there more cheaply
and with much less circumstantial ex-
element TO divert her attention from
work. The result is sure to be harder
work and better work. OF course this
is simply my W opinion, and / dare
say plenty of people won't agree with
me. But | know that a girl can live
nicely in Munich for SIS to $40 a month
I mean by that board and lodging
whereas in Paris a girl must be most
economical to get along on 81 a day
If you think it might be usefully sug-
gestive To any one ] will briefly relate
how I have so far carved out my
studies.
We'll, You see. I was born in New
York and brought up in a college towr
Ann Arbor-but having no particular
liking or desire for a regular college
course and finding no opportunity IL
the college for art work. which i ha
even as a child determined to make
life study. | went to New York ant
entered the school Of the Art Students
League of New York in 1890. There
under the tuition of Arnold Beckwlth
George De Forest Brush and some 9th
ers, | completed the elementary stud!
of drawing, which is known in h ar
world as the antique Later in tn
same school | took a course in portral
work under J. Alden Weir. and unde
the great St. Gaudens a course in mod
cling. the latter merely as an aid I
drawing and as such highly adVisaol
in preparing for portrait work,
My ambition. or rather my pet am
bition, is to be a miniaturist. and I
that end next year l shall go TO Mu
; Mich. where l can obtain, l believe, a
that Paris offers the student in m
line. but after that I want to go I
, Rome To gain breadth and color fror
I study under such a master as Mariot
ii. ! may go to Milan, where carer
2 would be my choice, or to Florence an
seek ont MatolinL Water colors ar
. ,.,rh -. 7 A, NOT aSnirp I