Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-05

treasury for her two great museums. ana
the Field .duseum OF that city has an en-
dowment FUND of s1O.000.o00 Washington,
Baltimore, Detroit, Cleveland, Buffalo, Gin
cinnati, Philadelphia, Boston. San Fran
cisco, New Orleans and other cities have
all been enriched by the munificence OF
their citizens and by the liberality of their
municipal legislatures. But st. Louis has
until now only her Museum of Art, which
has been a most useful and satisfactory
institution, although its facilities have been
limited.
Art School of instruction.
1t is a department of Washington un:-
versity. although under distinct and sep
crate management. Its graduates receive
diplomas and degrees from the university,
and its students have the benefit of in
struction In modern languages, literature
and history. 1t is thus possible for any
young man or woman to keep up the nee
essary technical training that the art school
of instruction can give and obtain liberal
education in the other departments of the
university at the same time.
The Museum of Art and School or IN
struction were established by Halsey Z.
Ives who Is still the director, and has been
from the beginning. He came from Ne"
York as an artist in 1873 and started
school the following year. 1t was made
department OF the university shortly after.
Besides its day classes, covering the nelas
OIL aTlfSllC design ana III liiS
direct and applied arts. it maintains even
Ing classes in various branches for me-
chanics and other workmen who are em-
ployed during the day and desire to I'M
prove their skill and taste.
It has given instruction to not less than
thirty thousand people. 1t has hfty-slx
graduates now working as professional ar
lists In the city Of New York alone VINO
have formed an association to glorlly thelr
alma mater. Its classes have been filled by
the sons and daughters of all grades OF
socety-laborers, bankers. shopkeepers ana
professional men. Its widest influence has
not been In the education of professional
artists; its policy has been not to defect
young men and women from ordinary occu-
pations and practical careers. but to ele-
vate and develop the public taste. Hence
the public sympathy with the present
movement
The art collections Of the museum cover
wide range and include many notable ex-
amples of painting, statuary. porcelain,
crystal, ivory, textiles, metal work ana
other objects Of art, which have been Sc
lected for their educational value and for
practical use by students. The museum has
been opened daily to the public and spe-
eial exhibitions of private collections have
frequently been made. Popular lecture
courses have been given each season, and
1t has been observed that the the plain
people" rather than families of wealth and
portunities offered by the museum in its
exhibitions lectures and entertainments, as
well as by its school of instruction.
To Elevate Popular Taste.
1t is proposed to increase the usefulness
of this institution by adding architecture
to drawing. painting and sculpture, with an
allied school OF music. The motive of the
is to familiarize the public with
the best forms Of art, and to elevate the
taste and increase the enjoyment of the
people. Both the business and residential
sections of st. Louis are we'll supplied with
excellent examples of architecture. No city
In the country has larger number of beau
tiful homes. The newly built sections are
especially admirable because the people
have avoided ugly blocks of houses and the
twenty five-foot lot and have provided
themselves with detached houses, surround
ed by lawns, partaking of a homelike spirit
and of the individuality of the owner. The
residence sections of other cities are too
often solid rows of blank and meaningless
fronts like the pigeon holes in case with
nothing to distinguish one from another
any more than prison cells. The departure
from that plan in st. Louis indicates a high
regard for the possibilities of living and q
greater degree of culture than Is found in
other large cities. Therefore a school of
architecture founded upon the broad lines
proposed by Mr.. Ives ought to be welcomed
and well supported. This school does not
propose to divert young men from carpen-
ter shops and blacksmith shops but to Gull
make them better carpenters and better
blacksmiths.
To the present well-selected collections in
the museum will be added the best of the
sculpture exhibited in the United States
section of the exposition, and models of all
the works of art and decorations upon the
grounds. No other institution of the kind
ever had such start, and it has just been
enriched by bequest of the collection of
the late Charles Parsons of st. Louis, which
IS especially rich In oriental curios and is
valued at S25O,O0o. The bequest was ac-
companied by an endowment of 5000, tho
interest upon which is to be used in caring
for and enrtching the collection. Several
other requests of similar value have al
ready been promised to the institution
Wlthn the next few weeks the collection
at the museum building now at the corner
OF Locust and 18th streets. which is pretty
well down town, will be removed to the
art gallery at Forest Park and the prop
erty, Which IS worth about 100000. will be
sold. The proceeds will increase the per
manent endowment to more than $4,000.
The new institution is to be called THE
Public Art Museum of st. Louis"