Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-03-05

of truth are unchanging. The Greeks
for the most part discovered and
worked these out for themselves, but
we. in the splendid inheritance Of
buildings and statutes which they left
to us. have to do little more than read
a printed page. That page Is from the
history of man, and is written in
characters which are the works of man.
To do this rightly means two vastly
important elements Of education: one
the requirement of an understanding
and appreciation of greatness in art
the other an requirement of the true
spirit Of emulation. The first must be
had by all educated persons, ana then
the second will come naturally to the
few who devote their lives and intclli-
pences to actual production-the arch
fleets. sculptors and painters-for they
Will then. as it were, play to enlight-
ened audiences.
Nearly every one can learn to recog-
niZe and appreciate some Of the merits
of good pictures. TO do this the prin-
ciples Of good painting must be stud
led and they can be nowhere so ad-
vantageousy studied as in the works
OF acknowledged masters. either orlgi-
nails or photographs directly taken
frcm originals. To gain some under
standing Of the technical difficulties, BY
which Is meant a knowledge OF perSncc-
tive. Of foreshortcninG and proper Ion
in delincation. Of light and shade.
which give the appearance Of sohdity.
ana color. which makes the chlcf
charm of all natural things-to do this
every student should devote number
of hours week for AZ least year 70
practice IN drawing with one Of the
simplest, as well as one Of the most
delicate, Of instruments. the lead pen
Gil. To this ne may well add some
elementary practice III the use OF water
colors. The time which the average
student in his undergraduate course
can or ought 10 give To this work Is
very limited. yet the amount 70 Pc
gained IN practical way. in the added
kecnness which his sight attains. in
the steadylng of his hand ana the in
creasing pleasure which ne iF sure 60
| ma Ill seeing nature, arc ample reward
| for the time ana labor expended. aud
prove the truth Of Arlstotlc's saying.
trat youths should be taught ~ drP",
| that their perceptions ~ beauty may
complish much. yet FAR NOR" valuabl"
win br the recognition which ne viii
| INA himself forced "a make NJ the vast
amount which a master ~ the art ~
painting has 10 accomplish. Then Let
| him remember that when AN the tech
| nicnlItira ~ the art hav" been mas
| tered IIttl. more has h'--n done than
10 acquire the grammar and vocabulary
/ with " hich 70 express his thought.
Ana now thr student. having Possessed
himself ~ ~ much W the technical
and theoretical principles ~ b" can,
| should turn TO IN" works 81 the great
masters of painting In the same spirit
that he would to the great masters ~
literature. and sitting at their feet
drink In the knowledge and wlsdo.l
and beauty ~ their minds. and the
| ideal conceptions " their souls. whn
see nature ana life more largely ann
clearly than he.
II would indeed be- pleasant 10 kno y
n great deal about many suhjf but
that in our day ana age II impossible
He. however. loses much who. While
hc strives Ia know n great deal Of a
| single subject, dislains or neElec,F u
! know something ~ many.-Alfrei NJ
| Brook tn Education.