The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-11

confusion Is that every abOmina-
ton in painting, sculpture and lit
erature, particularly that of a sensu-
Gus import, invades our homes
through the passport of the word
"beautiful." Such products cause
us to lose interest in spiritual beauty,
in the objects of nature, and in lit
erature, and in literature portray
ing real life. They only teach us to
appreciate well-rounded shoulders,
well-proportioned LIMBS and a
heterogeneous blend of meaningless
colors. This worship at the shrine
of Venus produces moral apathy,
confuses the conception of what is
valuable and good with what is
merely pleasing, leads Us to despise
all that has not glitter and glare
about it, and ends in mere love of
sensuality.
Good art promotes religion and
morals, upholds the family and
strengthens all of the domestic and
social virtues. 1t represents all things
t%ruthfully, but the good things it as
sociates with beauty and the vulgar,
vicious and profane things, with
Ugliness. All good art is useful and
answers to some essential want
useful in the sense of ministering to
the physical, mental, moral and
spiritual welfare of society. Every
art product that is not so useful is
malignant.
In the compass of a short article
the most competent authority could
not fully expound all the principles
which d~ifferentiate good from bad
art. The present aim is simply to
hint at some of the broad and we'll
recognized lines of d~emarcation, and
to stimulate the reader to follow out
the study for himself.
Finally, the writer will suggest
some means by which art in the
South may be promoted. First, some
knowledge of every art should be
taught in N public schools. The
mission of art and the difference be-
tween good and bad should be clearly
set forth. Literary art should not
be confined to reading books, nor to
the productions of foreign people,
but special attention should be given
to the works of native authors, such
as Joel Chandler Harris, Thos. Mel
son Page, Sidney Lanier, James
Lane Allen, Edgar Allen Poe and
others. The study of literature
should include, if not indeed begin
with, local dialect. Many talented
and ambitious writer's in the South
have met their ruin by attempting
to initiate the style of literary celeb
rites of other counties, and laying
plots among foreign people and in
foreign countries. No artist can we'll
succeed except by ~portraying the
life of the people that he lives among,
knows of and loves.
Every child, male and female,
should be taught to sing by note.
Music has been an important factor
in the education Ct all people who
have attained to am greatness.
Public schools should be pro
vided with reprints of the best paint
ings and as many original works as
may be obtained. They should hold
regular loan exhibitions, embracing
local productions in painting, needle
work, and photography of buildings,
streets and parks.
Third, every father and mother
who builds a home should make it a
work of art as we'll as a shield
against rain and cold. Guild we'll
or build nothing" is a wise proverb.
The interior should neither be COSTLY
nor gaudy, and as no art is better
than bad art, it is better to have
bare walls and bare floors than bad
pictures, crazy carpets and crazy
wall paper. Hang a good picture or
hang nothing. An attractive room
adorned with art that charms and
i~nstructs at the same time, is the
next thing to human touch in mould
ing character.
Fourth, every city and town gov
eminent should build handsome pub.
lie buildings, lay out wide streets.
sGraighten crooked ones, prohibit
projecting signs, remove telegraph
poles, provide small parks, establish
a public library and art gallery main
tanned by taxation, and also subsi-
die an orchestra to afford good mu-
sic now and then for the community.
Nay, let US not think it the chief
glory of man to develop mechanical
nnvUor EO hni1H bT7ro -o-oLz----