The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-01

BEAUTY AND DEMOCRACY.
America Has Thus Far Failed to
lake Proper Account of
Sense of Beauty.
cRx Associated prnssA

CBy Associated Prcss)
BUFFALO, n. y, May 3l.-The Albright
Art Gallery was dedicated to-day in the
presence of ten thousand people. Ralph
IT, Plumb, president of the Buffalo Fine
Arts Academy, presided. President Plumb
introduced Charles William Eliot, presi-
dent OF Harvard University, who delv-
cred an address on Beauty and Democ-
racy' Richard Watson Glider read
6cdicatory poem, entitled "a Temple OF
Art"
President Eliot, in his address, severely
criticised the present public school sys-
tenn in the United States, in that 1t gives
TOO much time to compound numbers.
s,e.ography and similar studies and too
little to cultivation OF Il sense of apprc-
citation of the beautiful. "Thc main OBJ
1cct in every school should be not TO pro-
vide the children with means Of earning
q livelihood" said he, but to show them
how to live, happy and worthy lltc,
inspired by ideals which eSalt and dignity
both labor and pleasure. 10 sec beauty
and to love 1t Is to possess large securi-
ties for such a life. 1t Is monstrous that
/! the common school should give much time
| 10 compound numbers, bank discount and
.stenography, and little time to drawing.
1t is nlonstrous that the school which
prepares for college should give four or
five hours a week for two years TO Greek,
and no time at all to drawing.
"All children should learn how lines
straight and curved, and lights ana
shades form pictures. and may DC MADE
10 express symmetry and beauty. All
children should acquire by use of pencil
and brush power Of observation and ex-.
uctness in copying, and should learn
Through their own work what the ele-
Nnents OF beauty are After, reading, spell
ing writing and ciphering with small
numbers and in simple operations draw
lnr4 should be the most important common
school subject.
..The ultimate object of democracy IS
to increase the satisfactions and JOYS
of life for the great mass of the people
The final aim of government BY the PEG
ple for the people is to increase 10 inc
slighcs, possible degree, and for the great
est possible number of persons the pleas
urable sensations or cheerful feellnes
which contribute to make life happy, ana
to reduce to the lowest terms the pre-
yentable evils which go to make NE
miserable.
8..Among the means of increasing lhho-
rent. pleasurable sensations ana emo
lions for multitudes OF men and women,
none is more potent than the cu i.'Vae'o' :
of the sense of beauty.
.Thc enjoyment Of beauty is unsellish.
when one solitary man feels 1t, he does
not. by his own enjoyment OF 1t, deprive
any other creature of the same leilci.9'
on the contrary, in most instances ms
endowment is much enhanced by sharlns
1t with sympathetic Souls.
cit is undenable that the American
democracy. which found its strongest ana
most durable springs in the Ideals OF
New England Puritanism, has thus lar
faled TO take proper account OF the
sense of beauty as means Of happiness
and 70 provide for the training OF lhat
sense. ~,
..rhe provision of public museums IKE
This beautiful structure, whose opehihs
we commemorate to-day, is another ll'ei''s
of educating the popular sense OF oeautS.
For training the eye TO the applec's1 1oa
IF beautiful compositions in color, sood
,,aintines are necessary. Unfortuhatciy
so,r 1,arb;,rous legislation, taxing I'm.
nnorted works Of art, piles on the natural
r7ifficulties of our situation a serious
artificial obstruction. One OF the great
services Of the Roman Church TO inc
.neoples of Europe has been the Tree
exhibition, as altar pieces or as c1'ahee'
,sand sacristy decorations, OF many OIL .ne
1nost admirable works OF .ne lenu .no
Ernainters of the world. Such pictures inc
Roman Church kept before millions OF It's
rworshippers for hundreds Of years. since
stba Church has had only slight aes-
Ebetic function in the emitted States, pun
r13c colL,ctions have nj America even
Hnrre,ter Importance than they have IN
E>urope. ao,s
1..It is apparent from the tremendous
Nnfluence of the passion or lo'e INA.
S,eanty in man. woman and child must
fnield a large part Of the available male
Erial for developing and training the sense
5pf beauty in the masses OF thc popuia
kion. The attraction of sex becomes q
Sicient when the eye is delighted by the
sxolor. form and grace OF the beloved "
Acct. The lovers senses are al quick
k.ned and set on fire, and his vital ehel
ts,ics are mngnified. His fancy ana his
lever Of attention become lively ana
F1reen. and, in short, all his vital iunc-
aions are made healthier and stronger
~ follows from this almost universal en-
nerience that the enjoyment Oh pehu'9
accompanies and announces conalNol
81 health and vigor in the human pous
md tho human spirit and that WhaleNe'
promotes the public health, or, IN othe'
<rords. the habitual health OF inc muir
t,,de. will also promote the dcVe'op'ne,
~ The sense OF beauty. and Will multlpis
she Measurable feelings which ACCOMPANY
fbe conservation Of beauty, Whatever pro
rno,es the public health tends, therefore
- promote that public happiness "Niei
3he recognition and study OF beauty y
Tittea 10 procure for The popular masses
Burr Sues Railroad.