Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-06-22
TEACHING BY PICTURES

ways than one of presenting views to
the mind. The one oftenest used, is
through the medium of letters, but
another and very forceful way is by
means of pictures. This mode has for
thousands of years been employ ed and
it Is the means usually adopted by the
ancients and by savage peoples who
have no alphabet. But the highest
civilization has also employed the
sane means with the best results.
Nothing impresses a scene so wildly
on ones mind as a picture of it, nor can
the emotions be so wrought upon by
any means as by gazing on picture.
The &c I'd body of cesar, showing the
CORY wounds, carries with it sympathy
for the dead no matter how great his
faults, and the facial expression of
Brutus and Cassius. as redhanded they
flee from the scene of their bloody
, crime, inspires the beholder with a re-
pulsiveness Of the men and the meas
/. ure that nothing can eradicate
| Today we see this mode of impart-
ing love or disgust exemplified in the
great pen sketches of Mr. Hanna
Davenport produced in the New York
journal. These pictures are mastery
of their kind both in conception and
technique He pictures Mark Hanna
rs Il round, we'll fed, short. thick
necked, low browed man, clothed in a
checked suit covered with S marks.
His picture is that of the man but of
course exaggerated as to ears, shape of
body, face and dress, but at one sweep
of his pencil he tells MI. Hanna's life,
habits, physical aud financial cOndI-
ton. A heavy watch chain and charm
the latter skull and cross bones. indi.
Gates an incident in MI. Hanpa's life
as well as shows his plutocracy. Often
in company with him is VIM. McKin-
ley, always, however, a smaller man
than Mark, always under Hanna g
protecting care, telling the tale of how
Hanna paid McKinley's debts, made
him governor and president and other.
wise patrOnized him. With these two
is also in many pictures huge giant,
naked except about the loins. and shod
| in sandals. This creature is sOulless.
because he is brainless. he is nearly all
body and no head, he has grown to his
enormous proportions by feeding on
the "fOck and herds" of others, and be
now also patronizes both Mark and
Billy, because they have assisted in
his growth. These pictures must be
studied to see their full meaning.
Many enjoy them of course. but many
glance at them and do not see the
! depth of their meaning, hence lose
many instructive lessons. When these
three parade they are made to sauntel
forth under the colors of Great Britain
and the United States, with the Brit
ish colors above the American.
Thus is the public mind made tC
abhor the giant trusts, to become
nauseated with the bestial appearance
and acts OF Mr.. Hanna, and to appre
ciate how small Mr. Mckinley is by
his side and the side of the Trusts
These pictures are more powerful thar
editorials because those who cannot
read can appreciate much they con
! IA hnyy 81
Hanna and Mckinley on the public
mind in a most unenviable light. Thi,
power of carricature was carried to E
wonderful extent in the Grant anG
Greeley campaign when Mr.. Thomas
Mast, then with Harper's Weekly
brought it into play. and possibly ne
single element in that campaign did az
much to put Odium on Mr.. Greeley's
pretensions. In the present campaign
the genius of Mr.. Davenport will play
stupendous part against Mckinley,
Hanna and the Trusts. His pic.
lures are so far hey ond any that ap
| pear in other publications of their
kinds, that he seems to have appropri-
ated the entire supply of this material.
All Others pale into insignificance be-
fore him, they look like childish daubs
i by the side of his creations. His recent
pictures of the Philadelphia conven-
ton, and his mOdernizatiOn of Gain
crossing the des ert' are without a
| parallel.