The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-14

Herbert Spencer's will is a curious doc
ument, say Associated Press dispatches
to-day 1t directs that his body be placed
in a coffin with a loose lid, and cremated,
and that the ashes be buried, all without
any kind of religious ceremony
All rights and property in his books and
investments are given to the trustees, Au-
boren Herbert, Dr.. Henry Charlton Bas-
tan and David Duncan, with instructions
to employ the yearly revenue. Sin resuna-
ing, and continuing, during such period as
may be needed for fulfilling my express
wishes, but not exceeding the lifetime of
all descendants of Queen Victoria who
shall be living at my decease, and of the
survivors and survivor of them, and for
twenty-one years after the death of such
survivor, the publication of the existing
parts; of my Descriptive Sociology and
the compilation and publication Of the
fresh parts thereof upon the plan followed
in the parts already published
AfterWard all copyrights, stereotype
plates, ETC., are to be auctioned and the
proceeds divided between several scientific
societies. ..es,.r -
Mr.. Spencer's autobiography is to be
published simultaneously in Great Britain
and the United States. David Duncan is
asked to write a biography in one volume
Of moderate size. .aa
The Harpers, contrary to their usual
custom, will publish a book of fiction dur
ing January. The novel is entitled Lux
crucis: A. Tale Of the Great Apostle, and
was written by Samuel NJ Gardenhire.
The scenes are placed in the first CEN
tury and develop an impressive story of
the invincible progress and triumph of
the Christian creed in the midst of semi
barbaric luxury and vice.
Mr.. Caffin, in his American Masters
of Sculpture" includes only eleven Amer
lean sculptors, notably Saint-Gaudcns, j.
@. A. Ward, Macmonnies, Bartlett and
French. Ward was Of the earlier group
Of sculptors. Previous to the centennial
exhibition in Philadelphia the arts of
sculpture and painting were struggling for
a foothold against the preoccupation of a
young. lustily-growing. agricultural, in
| dustrial and commercial country. Pow
ers, Greenough and Miss Hosmer were
conspicuous in demonstrating, that the
sculptor's art was not unknown in this
country. The centennial proved a slim
illus to interest in art, as it revealed al
Turing glimpses of the art treasures of
Europe: Our sculptors, like our painters,
went abroad for their models and sug-
gestions. They did not show on their re-
turn home that they had been inpregnat-
| ed with the art ideas Of France, Italy or
Germany. The American painters were
more influenced by the French school
! than any other, while the sculptors pre-
ferred to work on American subjects.
Ward has especially wrought in this di-
rection, as in the Beecher statue, the
Washington statue and those of General
Thomas and "The Indian Hunter Mr..
Caffin, while appreciative Of Wards good
points, sees his many defects, but the
Greeley statue in New York, regarded by
many as a frightful failure, he finds
a figure full Of character, a representation
of a peculiar man by a genius.
| The author regards Saint Gaudens as
an artist of superior imagination. Mac
monnies' modernity is properly commend
ed, rather than his earlier tendency to the
classical and he criticises the ''Bac-
chante'' which brought about the lively
/! fight in the Boston Public library with
/ some severity. as lacking in artistic san
CALI
Mr.. Caffin's discussions of ''The Dec
orative Motive and 1.-The Ideal Motive
are delightful reading. One Of his con-
illusions is:
I'm American art there is scarcely any
trace Of the superesthetic. but more than
little Of the superintendent, a phase
and product of our infatuation for words
which binds the imagination with wrap.
pings Of borrowed thought and checks tho
free flight OF original ideas. For the enc
1 Of art is not to teach but to make us
feel, to refine and elevate the operation
Of the senses, helping us thru visible tan.
gible and audible beauty to catch a,
something Of the mysterious infinitude O.
beauty
i Rossiter johnson, in his preface to hi.
Alphabet Of Rhetoric, modestly disclaim!
any intention to set himself up as al
i authority on the effective use Of our diff
fcult but grand English tongue, but h.
& would prefer to present his book .'fron
one who is simply a fellow student, . wit
has conscientiously studied, and believe
he can. at least, make some helpful sug
IEestions. IN this volume he has deal