The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-26
NEW EDUCATIONAL SCHEME.
Philadelphia Times.

Iihidueipfiid IiIneS-
A novelty in the way Of phlanthropic
schemes is that recently inaugurated by
Miss Mary E. Tanner. Of Stevens Point.
Wis. which is proving such great success
that its scope is being constantly ex-
tended.
This project involves the maintenance
of a sort of circulating library of pic
lures, reproductions OF the masterpieces
of the great masters comprising land
scapes, marine views. flowers. animal pic
lures, heads, etc.
1.-The eagerness of the people to borrow
the prints and their reluctance 10 give
them up after an attachment of week
is truly touching" said Miss Tanner in
recent chat.
1T is almost impossible TO describe the
desolation Of some Of the communities TO
which these pictures are almost the only
Bright spot in the lives OF the inhabitants.
This idea Of distributing pictures among
the neglected shut ms came TO me about
FIVE years ago. and i commenced sending
all the pictures l could collect out among
the country people in the districts sur
rounding Stevens Point.
This northern country is not thickly
settled and there are many small coun-
try schoolhouses by the roadside which
accommodate the children of the few scat
tered farms. living within walking dis
lance.
knowing of the travelling Libraries OF
books which were being sent out among
the people Of the northern part OF our
State, and having great desire to bring
the people with whom / came in contact
in closer touch with good works of art,
thought it POSSIBLE to get together good
reproductions OF pictures by well-known
masters. modern and ancient, mount them
on cardboard and send them out to the
country schCOlhouses in very much the
same way that the books were sent out.
Il had no money with which to carry out
my scheme and no means or getting any,
so / went among my friends and solicited
aid. Many of them had old prints and pho
tographs of good pictures Tor which they
had no further use and In short time /
managed TO get three or four small collec-
tions ready.
These pictures mounted on cardboard.
and on the back of the board 1 placed
brass ring and tape, so that they might be
easily hung on the wall.
Il also put library pocket on the back
of the picture, and in this L placed a card
such as is used in the library books; this
was to be kept by the librarian when the
picture was taken out.
1--WE applied library methods to the dis
tribution of these pictures. and when the
entire system was completed / started on
my rounds, trying to get the teachers OF
the country schools interested In the work.
/ interviewed personally the teachers. ex-
planned my plans carefully and asked them
if they did not wish me to come out and
bring some pictures TO be distributed.
also volunteered to give a talk about the
pictures, how they were made and the BEN
eft they would be to the people
I'm all cases the meetings were attended
by parents and grandparents of the chill
dren, as well as by the young folks them
selves.
These people were largely foreigners.
some being Polish and others Norwegians,
SO it was somewhat difficult to know exact
ly how to adjust ones speech to their I'M
Outstanding. However, despite this fact.
we met with very great success. They all
liked the pictures and wanted TO take them
home to hang in their rooms
THE arrangements which we made We're
that the school-teacher should be librarian
and that the pictures might be taken from
the school and hung in the homes OF the
children. All the pictures which were left
at the school were to be hung on the walls
there, so that the children might enjoy
them during school hours. In most IN
stances there were few pictures left in
the schoolrooms.
1.-THE people all showed appreciation and
received a call from twelve miles up the
Wisconsin river TO visit a settlement where
they were able TO have school only three
months of the year. just long enough TO
draw school money.
After long cold ride on the river, we
reached the schoolhouse about o'clock In
the afternoon and found fl filled with peo-
pie of all ages We had a most interesting
time. and IL was there that all old Nor
wegian, who was too old 10 learn the Eng
lish language, and who sadly missed MS
old home, said to me as he took up the
picture of a ship i'm storm az sea;
." I cannot read your books. read your
picture. 1 came over in a ship like dat
/ want to take dis home.
There was an appeal in his voice which
/ could not resist, so i gave him the pic
ture to keep. l was more truly convinced
after the experience of this winter than
ever before of the value Of pictures, their
mission in elevating the thoughts and
touching the finer instincts o. the most Or
| binary people.
'Tn no place did I find abuse. but tho
also discovered that the pictures which
were really best in sentiment were the
ones which were chosen oftenest.
From this little experiment of collect
| ing and distributing few pictures a great
| deal more was worked out. The club wom-
| er, of the State became interested and
wished to help in this work The clubs
| I'm our own town assisted US in extending
| the work here by collecting pictures and
sending them out 10 country schools.
1.-TWO years ago by means of circulate
ing letter which i sent 10 the CHAIRMAN
| Woman's Club. of this State. was collected
quite a useful sum for which TO buy frame
| and box pictures.
productions OF masterpieces and We're Sc
| lected with reference TO the environment
| of the people to whom they were likely to
be sent OF course. this meant a great
variety of subjectS-animals, peasant
scenes. landscapes marine views ana some
| OF the wonderful scenery i'm the West
These we framed artistically- A brass
| chain was placed across the top or the
| frame to make IL easy to hang in a room
| On the back of the picture there was pasted
| short printed account Of the artist, Civ
| ing the name. nationality. date OF birth
and death, and naming his principal pieces
| of art, sometimes giving "A description OF
| his masterpieces.
1.-THE pictures In each collection were
1 twelve in number. These. were put tn
| boxes especially made for the purpose.
| having grooVed sides which would permit
| the pictures TO slide in and out and allow
| transportation without damage.
| 1--WE had ten collections that were sent
| ans club TO another. where they are kept
month.
| THE club uses them I'm various WAYS.
| sometimes they put into the public
| library. where they are exhibited and the
! patrons take them home as they do books
| In other cases thew Ore out mo the coun-
| try, vacation and reform schools.
| Last fall the Wisconsin free library
commission asked me 10 spend i've months
| with them experI renting with this work
| 10 see whether or not IL was practical
| Accordingly I went from town TO town.
| never unless I was invited, and spoke To
| the club women. the librarians and 10 the
| teachers as well as TO the general public.
upon the use of pictures in the libraries.
| the schools and the home
Every where ! met with the heartiest