The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-10-23
CENTRAL PARK ART RULES,
NO sKETCHING ALLOWED WITHoUT
., A PERMIT

4 PERMIT
Il a-..Lr s- .--
Permit Must he Renewed Every Day, and
Designate the Spot where the sketohinE
Ia 20 Be- Demo = Experience of an
Artist, Whose Permit Lacked These
Essentials, with n Park Policeman.
The path Of the artist in New York Is q
thornV one. and wherever two or three artists
are gathered together there one may hear q
wall over the narrowness OF art ideas and the
| restrictions incur country. A great deal of the
lamentation s,like the waiting at n wake. mer-
ly q matter Of form but aside from the Grsuu
questions OF national art appreciation there are
a host Of petty annoyances which try the soul
Of an artist and might be avoided. Y
Europeans, through years of association
with the genus. hnveuome TO the conclusion
that artists are eccentric but inoffensive and
trustworthy members of society; and the stu
dent may study and copy. in tho great gall
leries, without annoyance or hindrance. Over
| here there seems to be q popular impression
that the artist is an Individual of dark and evil
intent and must be watched closely. 1t takes
an artist OF steady nerves to do satisfactory
work at the Art Museum under tho eagle eye
OF the guardians. who hover restlessly about
him and evidently suspect him OF sinister de-
signs; and sketching in Central Park is an of
fence which cxcites the Park policemen be-
yond measure. There is n tradition that BY
| ODbhinlnR u DeTIllG from thrk authorities one
may plant his easel whore he will and sketch
but those who have, tried It know better.
An artist who has recently returned to New
York after years spent In Paris met the Park
policeman on his native heath last week and,
retired in poor order. Now he signs for Paris
and washes his hands Of Americas art future.
He has n large canvas on hand and needs .
vista OF archinG trees for a background. The
Park wasn't exactly the sort OF thing he want
1 al lHA ~ lxa.n 1910 -~Nl1-- Al-- "a 4. -
he decided to utilize the Mall. An obliging
friend told him that a permit was necessary. so,
he trotted cheerfully up tc the powers and pre-
| scented credentials from theSecretary OF the LOU
vre, the Superintendent OF the National Gallery.
The Secretary Of the Beaux Arts and several
OF the most famous French masters. The per-.
NIT was graoiously handed to him and he went
on, his way rejoiaing. Then he waited for .
day that would give him just the atmospheric
effect he wanted. After q week the day ar
rived. He packed his canvas. easel. paint
box and other paraphernalia on his bicycle and
tore madly to the Park, for the special light no
wanted would last for only q short time and he
must make the most of every moment. He
reached the Mall. set up his easel and was
about to plunge into work when a policeman
swooped down with wrath in his mien.
haughtily.
"The painter smiled in a genial propltia-
! Il way. ~ -Nua uNNuSNoLlNiA ~ Ao aLAO
Rendarmes and didn't know the adamantin0
Qualities Of the New {{oFF polisq5{ores: -,'u~
oh, that's al! right" he said. cheerfully.
I've got n permit" -,
will you let me see that permit. sir" said
SCertainIy.S and the painter searched
through his pockets for 1t. meanvhile casting
impatient glances at the shadows down the
Mall. Here you are" d"
The Law examined the paper. and a CLEAN
Of triumph came into his eyes. He was justi-
fed in his suspicious. .
That permits no good" m
The artist was rufied. but still amiable. =
""9Y es;. | BIT SH e sin II T. been F fene 1t @SS toldiay, and 70
don't.state just whore you are going to SKETCH
But you don't mean TO say that, q, permit
"Them's ORDERS"
must take it right then. He hasn't time. to
spend half a day chasing officials. and lose his
The Law was infexible.
"Them's orders. and you has to tell just the
SPOT you wants to use"
How can i tell the exact spot? 1t depends,
I'm not like the leopard. 1 change my spots"
3 YOU! mean to say I've got to give up
OK neS %eain for Eren Week iHe or s'q month"; nf1 m and that Il I
/ came here every day I'd have to 60 each
morning and get n new permit?,'
They reads our orders. and we has to en-
force them. That's what they read to us last
spring. Folks used to get sketching permits
We'll, you could take the permit away from
any one you found abusing it. instead Of max
utterly impossible for artists" q
II has my orders"
Then the artist abandoned argument and
cursed the American ideas Of art, the Park
Board and the policeman. and his own luck.
from the naughty representative. of the law.
wheeled of in a cloud of dust and sulphur.