The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-06-09
800 Roger $so

H., his subject being Life as Fine
Art" Some of the points emphasized
by the speaker follow:
Art is defined in various ways by
different critics each of whom reads
into his definition something a little
different from the others. 1t is an
expression of the beautiful says one,
an expression of truth says another.
But if all cannot view a work of art
with the intelligent discrimination of a
critic it still remains true that all can
derive pleasure from it,
There are as ordinarily considered,
two kinds of art, the useful, industrial
arts, the trades, etc. and what are more
properly called the fine arts, poetry,
painting, music, sculpture. The latter
comprise the ideal and is where the
higher life finds expression A critical
study of fine art reveals the fact that
its purpose is to express truth. If this
were realized and if aesthetics received
more attention there would not be so
much poor work in this world. Out
line has been called the grammar of
art the true purpose of which is to
represent truth in its most beautiful
manifestations. But if the outlines are
false the picture is marred. Thus
before the artist can put in the pleas
ing colors he must trace truthfully the
lines.
There is an aesthetic sense in every
life, but to be at its best it needs culti-
vation. The savage loves to hear dis
cordant notes only because his feelings
have not been drawn out But best of
all our own age is already getting to
the point where it recognizes that beauty
; itself is as necessary as pure air or
wholesome fruit. To bring out the best
that is in a man, thens it is necessary
that he train himself to see the beaut
full, and yet this, as everything else, de-
mands exacting training. Discipline is
always necessary.
In art as well as in business life SYM
metry is wholly indispensable. 1t is not
truthful unless symmetrical and nothing
can atone for lack of truth in either art
or character. Beauty even without
truthful representation is valueless,
even though beauty is intended to in
spire the human heart to holiness and is
essentially moral.
Compare different authors, those
who cared not for symmetry and beauty
with those who loved beauty and truth.
How much more beautiful and power
full are the works of the latter, where
wisdom, truth and chastity are parts of
of the work. The whole path of life
should be clothed with moral exquisite
ness and the taste for beauty should be
cultivated in every day affairs.
Composition, or the proper grooping
together of the parts is an important
thing in art. Form and outline must
indeed be perfect, but then unless the
creeping is correct the work has no
value. So thoughts, motions, desire and
the will must be developed and control
led together if the character is to por-
tray truth. So many lives are dwarfed,
Beauty and truth do not appear but
only large ungainly object appears in
hideous distinctness instead of a har-
monious blending of colors.
Success in youth depends on the color,
the moral quality. 1t is only the wild
man, the base one, who is not trained in
the beauties of nature, whose life is dull
and common with no rioh puppies in it.
If we seek high ideals we must study
the masters in any line. No high
achievements are possible without the
study of such ideals. Truth and beauty
are to be desired in life and all real ad-
vancement is paralyzed by failure to
distinguish the true colors. 1t is only
the color blind who can see beauty in
wealth alone.
Perspective is another quality de-
manded both in life and in art. 1t is
necessary to give the effect of depth and
distance 1t is needed to see the life as
whole. 1t demands the proper atten-
ton to little things. Life must be so
moulded that both great and small
things shall bs in harmony.
The struggle of today is one of the
obstacles to life as a fine art The
tired, worn-out look on the faces of the
persons in our large cities would destroy
any effort for symmetrical character.
So, too, the man who is willing to be a
machine and nothing more sells his
birthright But defeats have their uses,
and the proper use of defeats is the
true sign Of genius. The supreme end
of an artistic life is to make truth pre-
vail in its most beautiful form, and If
disappointments can only help it to
make 1t prevail then the life is truly
artistic. The life of Lincoln is the
great example of fine art in American