The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-21
MR.. JOHNSON ARGUES
FOR A HIGHER CULTURE

Editor of The Times:
Sir:-Answering your inquiry "as to
how Richmond may be made a more
beautiful city-more attractive both as 4
place Of residence and to visitors.
would say that while I believe greatly in
the power Of the press, the subject is
one that requires broader and deeper
treatment than can possibly be given it
in the columns of a newspaper
Some one has said that it takes three
generations to make gentleman, and it
takes much longer time to plan and
build beautiful city. Beauty must be
imbibed with our mothers milk 1t must
from the earliest childhood. be ingrained
in our very natures, forming. as it We're
a part of the very warp and wool of life.
People who have been reared in slovenly
homes rarely ever appreciate the beauti-
full or learn to cultivate a taste for it.
Just as the Seeding is bent, so 1t will
grow.
The next step In the line of progress is
the school-room. In order to build a
beautiful city, we should have drawing.
modelling and color work In our schools,
commencing with the kindergarten and
going through the various phases of
manual training to the university course.
There is too much theory In our educa-
tional system and too little practice
Many highly polished intellects are about
as valuable as cannon balls in times Of
peace-tit only to ornament gate posts.
Drawing, modelng-industrial work in
any form-bring out and help to cult
vate faculties that otherwise lie dormant
a large part of our education has been
one-sided. We hope and believe that a
brighter day is dawning when by the
cultivation OF every faculty. we shall
have we'll rounded. beautifully developed
Obi Il rhN hoe
purely an intellectual grasp of a subject
simply knows it in the abstract. The
person who draws models or makes an
object becomes a creator. and in a Pc
culiar and practical sense his life is link
ed into the life of the Creator, and he
has a realizing sense OF power and
strength that can never come from
knowledge in the abstract, When a gen.
Grafton grows up whose ideals and aims
are high from a practical point of view.
then we may hope to make real progress
| in identifying our city. With a properly
| educated people, the highest and best re-
| suits can be accomplished; but any gen
| eral effort along this line under present
| conditions must necessarily be hampered
and hindered by narrowness. ignorance
| and prejudice.
| One step in the right direction would be
| to employ one of the ablest architects
| that could be secured and appoint him
| supervisor of buildings. letting him des~
| ignate. where new houses are to be built.
| Just how far from the street line they
should be located, and allowing no build
| iEgS to be put up unless the plans had
| been approved To make the work OF
| such an officer a success, however, it is
necessary to have him supported by a
| thoroughly enlightened public sentiment
| A large number of cities no greater in
| size than Richmond are in advance of us
! in that they have such supervisors OF
buildings. whose duty it Is to promote
| architectural harmony, health anG
i beauty
Perhaps I can illustrate how much
| Richmond lacks in an enlightened public
sentiment by a reference to our city mar.
| kets. If a visit to these in the morning
does not destroy the appetite for lunch
| con or dinner, then one must indeed have
very strong stomach. Is it surprising
that so many housekeepers order theil
| supplies by telephone and take VIVA
they can get rather than face the very
uncleany and disgusting conditions tina
exist in and about our market houses?
| A few years ago. accompanied by my
| wife. I visited the principal market IL
another city and will always carry pleas
ant recollections of the bright cleanliness:
of every stall. The butcher, the baker