The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-12-08

Every child OF from SIX or eight
wears of age to fourteen is, without eN-
ception, perfectly capable of leaning
If prnperlv tauyht-in what would
seem to those who are ignorant to be
an incredibly short time, 50 much OF
original design and hand-drawing as
to produce simple patterns fit to 'put
in hand' or be worked out in easy
panel carving, indenting or stamp
work, or embroidery, etc. Design
drawing is easier to learn than writing,
and those who begin with it, invariably
learn to write better for such prepara-
ton. The mere habit of handing a
pencil prepares the hand for the pen,
and for curves.
When Il boy or girl can design 4
simple pattern, he or she can learn
enough Of simple carving in wood,
modelling in clay rcpousse or any kin
dred work in half an hour to master
the rudiments, and run groove with
eouge, or outline and indent sheet
metal or leather That is to say. the
pupil can learn, as many manuals
prove, enough to execute with care a
piece of renumcrative work, and this
first lesson, carefully reviewed, will
''set the tyro up sufficiently to excel
in time.
Now be it noted by all who think
that some great original genius or gift
or talent is required for design, that
any child Of eight years of age, if told
to arrange 4 dozen or twenty dried
pressed leaves, or flowers, in circle or
square, never fails to do it fairly we'll,
and if then requested to lay sheet Of
transparent paper on the leaves, and
draw them with a crayon, the result
will be a wreath or Il square pattern
for a frame. With little simple in
struction on growth or organic develop
ment, such as was followed by G~thic
artists, all children speedily learn how
to make patterns. To make circles,
spirals or wavc-ines into vines is easy,
also to convert two or more contiguous
circles into a vine, and add to it side
leaves or "crochets'' and ''iinals'' or
''end-fowers. This is the very easiest
of all known methods to teach design,
but those who master it can progress
towards anatomic or figure drawing
rapidly, for it makes every curve
familiar.
1t is to be desired that every student
while at the university should learn
some art, arts. or handicrafts, in the
manner which | have Indicated. do
not mean that he shall merely make
shoes la Tolstoi. or weave baskets.
bat study, if only briefly, the principle
on which all arts are based, and how
to work it out in some material. If
children of from eight to fourteen years
find this not only easy, but even a
recreation, young men should certain
ly excel in it, and be it remembered,
the process never fails to develop that
peculiar intelligence which aids in all
studies.
Children who have thus learned de-
sign and art or handicrait, are invari-
ably preferred by manufacturers as
apprentices, because they are prepared
to begin to learn. 1t may well be un-
derstood that in a very great majority
of manufactures designers, however
elementary, would be favorably re-
gardcd. This is, however, very differ
ent from mere copying, especially
human figures, cattle, horses. And all
people who have thus learned some
thing OF art practically, generally come
to the fore, even in mllncrs' and
drapers shops, where IN eye for colors
and pattern is always of value But
with many callings the artist is ever
in demand, as, for instance, really first
class taiIors and drcssmakers, uphol-
stcr r., ho0tnlkers, contectinncrS, and
all concerned in building. Even shops
Of any kind require skill and taste in
arranging Goods to show, and this
alone is often the best advertisement.
Exquisite taste can be us well shown
in contrasts OF color and subject in
shop window as in any picture, for one
by happy thought can So bring objects
together rs to make cpi4rams and
amusing or poetic ideas. H. most
cases the assistant vino has studied dc
81 n and Iiantiicratt will excel in this.
\ vast number Of people are igno-
rant that pounding brass" and
'whittlins wood, and moulding mud"
-'or the vulgar have an invincibIc re-
pu-na:cc to calling anything 10y its
+ ght namc-is all the same with
".lncy work, Berlin woods, and making
wax fruit. And, in fact, if the one
who prlctiscs sheet meta! work or the
like depends entirely on copies of pat
terms taken from magazines or drawn
by others. he or she will never be more
than Il mere artisan-not an artist.
The result will be fancy work. how
ever skilfnlly it may he executed An
article to be truly artistic must always
tnllil two conditions. 1t mast be quite
| original, and it must be made by hand.
However elegant or beautiful anything
may be, it IS not work Of art if it is q