The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-23

/ tower named after
be hung not with the syInOo.a-.- 49,
mage, but with the victories of that art
which was so long ago recognized in my
text as pleasant pictures" Oh, the
power of pictures! l cannot deride,
as some have done, Cardinal Mazarin,
who, when told that he must die, took
his last walk through the art gallery
of his palace, saying: Must quit all
| this? Look at that Titan! Look at
| that Corregio! Look at that deluge of
| Caracci! Farewell, dear pictures!"
As the day of the lord of hosts, ac-
cording to this text, will scrutinize the
pictures, l implore all parents to see
that in their households they have
neither in book nor newspaper nor on
canvas anything that will deprave.
Pictures are no longer the exclusive
possession of the aff1uent. There is not
a respectable home in these cities that
has not specimens of woodcut or steel
engraving, if not of painting, and your
ing or depression. Have nothing on
your wall or in books that will familiar
ize the young with scenes of cruelty and
wassail; have only those sketches made
by artists in elevated moods and none
of those scenes that seem the product
of artistic delirium tremens. Pictures
are not only strong but a universal
language. The human race is divided
into almost as many languages as there
are nations, but the pictures may speak
to people of all tongues. Volapuk many
become worldwide language; but the
pictorial is always a worldwide Ian
guage, and printers types have no en-
phasis compared with it. We say that
children are fond of pictures; but no.
tice any man when he takes up q book,
and you will see that the first thing he
looks at is the pictures. Have only
those in your house that appeal to the
better nature. One engraving has some
times decided an eternal destiny. I'm
der the title of fine arts there have come
here from France a class of pictures
which elaborate argument has tried to
prove irreproachable. They would dis
grace a barroom, and they need to be
cOnfscated. Your children will carry
the pictures of their fathers house with
them clear on to the grave, and, passing
that marble pillar, will take them
through eternity.
Furthermore, let all reformers and
all Sabbath school teachers and all
Christian workers realize that, if they
would be effective for good, they must
make pictures, if not by chalk or black
boards or kindergarten designs or by
pencil on canvas, then by words. Ar
guments are soon forgotten, but pic
lures, whether in language or in col
ors, are what produce stronger effects.
Christ was always telling what thing
was like, and his sermon on the mount
was a great picture gallery, beginning
with a sketch of a 'city on hill that
cannot be hid,' and ending with tenn
pest beating against two houses, one on
the rock and the other on the sand.
The parable of the prodigal son, pic
ture; parable of the soweH, who went
forth to sow, picture; parable of the
Inmerciful servant, a picture; parable
of the ten virgins, a picture; parable
If the talents, picture. The world
wants pictures, and the appetite begins
with TIE child, who consents to go early
to bed if the mother will sit beside him
and rehearse story, which is only a
picture.