Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-12-25

(Co~rrespoudence Associated Press)
ST. PETERSBURG, December s.
Reflective observers discover numer-
GUS resemblances between Russia and
America, which are not accidental 0
mere condolences. One such resem-
blance is the liberality of people Of
wealth toward public institutions. This
liberality, almost foreign to the ma
tions from which Russia has borrowed
most, is the product, in part, of the
same conditions which have lavished
private wealth upon the American IN
iversities and technical art schools.
Although Russia is in some respects
going to school in America, she is able,
through the generosity of private citi-
zens to give lessons in some matters.
An instance is afforded by the Baron
Stieglitz school of applied arts in this
city. 1t could easily be taken as a
model by the patrons of the industrial
arts in the United States who are try
ing to reunite the beautiful and the
- useful. Competent judges who have
seen the KensingtOn schools and the
"Ecole des Arts Decoratifs' at Paris
award the palm of merit; completeness
OF equipment and excellence Of de-
sign alone considered, to the Baron
Stieglitz school.
This school was established in 1879
with an endowment of 10, 900. 900 roub-
les, + more than S., 000, 900 which was
given by the will Of Baron Alexander
Stieglitz. The ministry Of finance as
sumed the administration of this fund,
or, more exactly, the supervision, the
active management having been en-
trusted to friends of art and to artists.
The state gave a site for the school
and museum.
The school was opened with a small
attendance and few classes, in 1881. 1t
las been steadily growing and enlarg-
ing it's field ever since. The museum
was opened in 1896.
The buildings which cost over a
million roubles, are admirably adapt
ed to the purpose of which they were
designed. The school and the museum
are practically under the same roof
Students have only to step out Of the
class rooms to find themselves in the
excellently arranged special collec-
tiCns illustrating the artistic taste Of
every age and country. The buildings
are in themselves a delight to artists,
every hall illustrating a different style
of decoration.
The school has thirty-three teachers
and three hundred students. An an
nual exhibition Of the work of the
school is given every January.
The plan Of instruction is liberal.
There is a four years course in
science and languages, including relig-
ious instruction, literature, elementary,
geometry, the theory of shades and
perspectives, Russian history, general
history and the history Of the fine arts
and applied arts. elementary anatomy,
chemistry and technology, the me-
thodics of drawing, practical aesthe-
tics. and the French and German Ian
gUages.
The school is under the general di-
rection of NJ. Kotoff, and the museum
is under the charge of NJ. C%arbonier.
Pupils are of both eXes. They must
stand an entrance examination and
must be over fourteen years of age.
There are regular pupils. who receive
a diploma as skilled draughtsmen'
upon their completion of the course
and pupils in elective branches. The
fees are moderate and applied exclu-
sively to the uses OF the school pro-
per.
The result of this investment is that,
instead Of procuring all their furni-
ture and articles of vertu and bric-a-
brac from France and England as used
to be the case, the wealthy Russians
are now ~patronizing home talent to a
! large extent. Side by side with the
shops with imported goods may be
found large a%teliers for every sort Of