The San Francisco call., 1898-04-16
AN ART GALLERY FOR SAN JOSE.

D the generous offer of Mrs. M. P O'Connor ! ot that city San Jose has an opportunity to ob- - tain an art collection valued at about $Ioo,ooo The offer of the donor is subject to the sole condition
 that the city its people provide for the collection building suitable for the purpose. site will be granted for the edifce in Normal School square, SO that the city will have further expense entailed upon than that required for the construction of the building
 The terms and conditions being so favorable and the collection to be gained valuable there can be no doubt the San Joseans will be prompt to avail themselves of the opportunity to enrich their city for all time with art gallery which from the start will be one of the most notable in the State It is re- ported that upward of $5ooo has been subscribed al ready to the building fund.- and the movement to ob- tain subscriptions has hardly more than begun
 This liberal offer on the part of Mrs OConnor is to be passed over as comparatiyey unimportant event in the history of San Jose or even in that of the State Artistic development has been one of the most salient features of American life during the last quarter Of a century and there is every assurance that in the future art culture and art work will en- gage an increasing amount of the attention and the energy of our people. Those communities that have advantages Tn the way of such culture will become more and more esteemed as places of residence and will therefore gain Ill the contest for preeminence with other cities equally favored perhaps in other respects but lacking in that which IS now becoming so essential to our intellectual life
 It is to be noted, moreover that even commerce in these days is developing largely along artistic lines Among articles equally good as to quality and use the preference of customers is always for those which are presented in the most artistic forms This fact has been strikingy illustrated in the course of the industrial struggle between France Germany and Great Britain. A generation ago the French held almost monopoly of certain valuable lines of trade because of the superior beauty and taste of the ar tlcles produced by their workmen. The establishment of art schools in Germany and England has broken down that monopoly, and the people of those countries are supplying not only their own markets but those of the world with such goods in compet- ton with France.
 Similar results have been accomplished in the United States though on less extensive scale Enough has been done here, however, to show the commercial and industrial value of fine art The of fered gift of Mrs OConnor to San Jose is therefore public benefit of the widest scope and highest char acter The effect produced by such an art collection there will be felt an influence throughout the State and indirectly all California will be benefited by it.
 generous deed has been done by generous woman, and the San Joseans in providing building for the collection should bear in mind hey are to build for all time and for an institution that will grow with the years and consequently their edifce should be made spacious durable and noble