The times., 1899-07-30

on natures effects, prefering scenery in its
wild state, but a park is a park and while
it may not be just paintable. 1t may be
more attractive and suited to the city pur
pose for which it was intended. Lafayette
Park, for instance, is one OF the most
lovely spots in any city, and very attrac-
tive to the eye in color and form. Imagine
a bramble patch here oyergrown with
weeds, tangle OF bushes and cowpaths-
At once one will discover that the park on
modern lines is the thing for city. When
one hungers for undisturbed nature, let
him go up Rock Creek or along the banks
Of the lovely Potomac. There he may en-
Joy all of that comfort which comes OF
feeling in close, intimate touch with nat
ure. Along this rare river, about Chain
Bridge, Glen Echo, and Cabin John Bridge
are pictures innumeTable.
The palisades OF the Potomac. on the
Virginia side offer a fine opportunity to
study wooded hills and great ledges. From
the Virginia side of the Chain Bridge are
subjects to paint in oil or water color
quite as fine as may be found anywhere
in the Blue Ridge. This charming mate
rial is so little known that artists take
long journeys away from home, searching
frantically for something new and worth
painting, while along the Potomac is ma
terial that is not to be found in more at
tractive or convenient shape anywhere
This is undoubtedly the sketching ground OF
the future. AS our local artists and stu
dents discover the intrinsic value OF this
neighborhood and the public learns, as it
soon must, through the convenient trans
portation, how very beautiful this river Is.
they will have pictures OF the Potomac
In this neighborhood one cannot possibly
go astray Leave the car anywhere and
climb the hills or descend to the attrac-
tive road which follows along the canal,
as ones taste may direct. and unnumberet
good things to paint will meet the eye on
every hand.
The question will not be where is there
about Washington something to paint, but
rather: In this wealth OF good things,
which shall do frst?" Morning or even
ing, or at high noon, on grey days, in
spring. summer, or autumn, or in winter
even. when the hills are masses of lovely
puzzle grey, this country is paintable for
its own sake, without any local string u
IT, A picture of this material Will appea!
TO the connoisseur because the painters in
terpretation is personal and artistic-so 4
picture should be. When a picture must
be bolstered up by sentiment or considera-
tious of local pride, it is apt TO be weak
and incomplete. y good picture is good
because it is true to fundamental traths
of nature, because the painter was a poet
sensitive to the subtle beauty and tender
haImonies which pervade nature in her
tuneful moments and because he had the
technical skill TO deliver his message clear
Is and intelligently. There is fine ma
terial about Washington. The artist kept
at home for whatever reason need not re-
main in his studio and try to make bricks
without straw when right in the heart OF
town or thirty minutes by train viii take
him to a country so very rich in things
to paint"
Benjamin Constant spoke truly when he
told washington lady that this city
abounded in fine views Why" said he,
do your American painters not paint the
charming glimpses one meets with on every
hand in this beautiful city?"
JAMES HENRY MOSER.