The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-14
the BOOM OF CHEAP PICTURES


Among the many advantages enjoyed
today is the privilege at the command
of almost everybody to get very good
pictures at very low prices. The love
Df pictures seems almost Unborn. In the
meanest house some attempt is made
to adorn the walls with crude prints.
To the educated eye, such prints may
Eeem very bad, but to the owners they
are eloquently suggestive of things
quite superior to the sordid surround
lngs They kindle the Imagination and
take the thoughts from time to time
far away from the cares Of every day
life. The meanest and gaudiest chro-
mo is not to be absolutely despised. 1t
serves a purpose when pictures of bet
ter quality are not to be had
Not many years ago the poorer
class of farmers and day laborers had
little offered to them in the way of pic
lures that was within their means
which was not crude But today all is
changed. The man whose pay is lowest
can have, if he wills, that which is
good.
Prints giving fair ideas, apart from
color, Of nearly all the best paintings
in the world may be had at prices not
exceeding seven cents each. So also
may be obtained an endless variety of
prints from photographs of beautiful
scenery, and there are to be had pic
lures Of men, of flowers and animals
that are really worthy. There are col
pred pictures, too, inexpensive yet often
beautiful
1t is owing to these very cheap pic
lures that new and interesting features
in school work have been introduced.
The children. ever fond of graceful
lines, readily take interest in the
worlds great artists when they can
have placed before them pictures that
give them ideas of what the artists
have done. Growing up they will be
pretty sure to retain knowledge that
will be helpful to them when they are
striving to make their homes cheerful
and bright
1t is true that to a great many per
sons over-colored and badly drawn pic
lures appeal rather than those that are
in black and white. or in mild color
tones. But this is largely true because
a great many have not been accustom-
ed to see better work, and do not know
how TO interpret it. But with good
pictures abundant, and with the chill
dren interested in pictures and telling
about them at home, taste should
change rapidly for the better.
The pictures now so common, serve
many purposes. One may have for a
very little pictures of all the presi-
dents Of the United States. It is really
very interesting to look at the faces OF
the presidents placed side by side and
one reads something from the features
of each one that is not written down in
books.
Some may fear lest famous paintings
may be vulgarized by the free cireula.
tion of prints. Many beautiful airs
have been spoiled by the handorgans
it is thoughtlessly said. Cannot pictures
be spoiled by making their lines com.
mon? Truly, though, 1t is this vulgar.
izatiOn that makes any work really val
liable to the world. When it is made
common, it exercises a power for goot
on the masses and extends its inhu-
ence beyond the exclusive few. For the
educated good work should retain
charms the uneducated cannot see. yei
that which is really noblest and strong
est appeals 10 all, and no one should
begrudge the masses their pleasure in
II.