Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-04-06
AMERICAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE
Established in Paris-lts Scope and
Objects Described by Miss 1.
Bigier Mapel.

After seven years of effort Miss
Smedley has succeeded in establishing
an American National Institute in
Paris The work has attracted much
attention in Europe and America
The objects and scope of the institute
were described by Miss Mapel in let
ter written from Paris TO the Intelli-
gencer some time ago which is quoted
below. It will be Of interest to Art
students under whose. eye it may fall:
American residents in Paris are
eager 10 know what the United States
will do TO meet the offer of France
concerning the National Institute,
about to be established in Paris.
Last week NJ. Loubet fills, came TO
Miss Smedley TO ask for final terms.
All along the French masters have
been most generous and Interested;
Offering their services as teachers of
art and music at half the usual price;
Offering pictures and books for the
salon and library-the ground for the
proposed building having been set
aside long time by the French gov
eminent. We cannot blame their
impatience toward our country for
not giving more decisive encourage
meut. Notice the fine feeling shown
aud the delicacy and hesitancy Of
France in the matter of not appear
ing TO force its gift upon les etats
unis.
The plan of "The National Insti-
tuten commends itself to all. In,
struction in painting, sculpture, mn-
sic. dramatic art, literature and
science will be given. Competition
for the ''Prix de Paris is Open to
every native born citizen of the Uni
ted without regard to sex or
age-except in vocal music age is linn
tied. Merit is the only requisite.
The scholarships, consisting of pen
sion and instruction for two or more
years ia Paris, are To be awarded to
the highest by competitive examina-
tions.
Ne one knows the Students needs
and difficulties ard hardshipS as does
Miss Smedley. She is known person
ally TO three. fourths of the American
students ia Paris. She has spent
years in accomplishing this work and
placing it upon d broad and lasting
foundation unhamperei by politics or
religion or conditions
1t is not her wish to encourage
young boys or young girls to go abroad
to study. Every one who comes
should first have the best preparation
at home, and if a student don't get on
here he is not prepared to get on.
The chances Of arriving" are Slim
mer in foreign country than at home.
To put down bad instruction in the
arts which instruction is nearly all
bad, especially throughout the south
ern and western states-and to edu-
cate the people to high standard Of
appreciation is the objective point.
In America art has so far only enter
ed through a side door-but should
the front hall doors be opened and
beauty looked squarely in the face we
shall be enabled to establish ourselves
as a great nation of the earth-Per-
haps the greatest. Americans have
quality of temperament which IN
der right development promises great
things for the future.
Art in France by Frenchmen at the
close of the nineteenth century, is
| characterized by an absence of fixed
principle. Characterized by curiosity,
fever, impotence, anxiety, hurry
the signs Of decay. Surely the world
looks to America TO provide superior
talents. French artists sell yearly to
Americans pictures amounting te the
sum of s., 600, 900. We come TO Paris
to learn our s'trade," for there is no
other place-but let us help ourselves
to create radical art which some
day will command greater price of
| Parisians than that commanded by
/ the hysterical products OF the present
French school in its ensemble.
|. BIGLER MAPLE.