The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-06-01

the work of Sargent or Abbey. put
the newspapers have seen fit to call
his notice to them by half-tones or line
drawings in the way of news. Many
a foreign celebrity would pass unno-
ticed and unknown IL his two-column
portrait were not thrust upon the pass
ing public attention. The pictures that
illustrate war or accident carry with
them an educational value that writ
ten matter often fails in. To see a
picture Of Mount Pelee gives clearer
understanding of the exact aspect of
the country than can be conveyed by
description to the common and un-
imaginative mind. The picture is the
primitive means of conveying an idea
by sign and its force has not abated.
1t is not necessary to condemn the
abuse of newspaper illustration by the
sensational pictures in the yellow"
journals. The class they pander to is
their excuse.
1t is no more necessary to enter
plea for greater artistic excellence. Ii
the popular demand were for much
higher art creations they would be
supplied, as they have been in those
papers the class of whose circulation
warranted that quality.
The call upon the newspaper artist
is one that his brothers of slower pro-
duction little appreciate. He makes
from l to 20 or more drawings a
day, often under such pressure of time
that elaboration or beauties of ex-
preston must be quite sacrificed in
the rush for the press. Printing and
paper are most always against him,
and perhaps the knowledge that his
work is but for the glance of mo-
ment, to be thrown away and forgot
ten with the other items of news Of
yesterday.
Demands on the Artist.
Still for this most transient appre-
citation of daily reading public he
must bring, besides his craft as a
draughtsman an amount of observa-
ton and knowledge that the thought
less glance would not credit to him.
Does it seem necessary that for the
picturing of daily events, of fires, the
arrival of the president, the railway
collision, the police court trial, AID
all these current happenings that
serve for illustrated news a vast store
of observation of machines, harness,
apparatus, uniforms, particular hats,
rs hut 80,
fashions in clothes, trucks of cars, in
teriors and construction, manners,
characters and what not that are The
detail of his pictures is required OF
him? Does he have time at the fire
to make careful study Of fire en-
CINE and a fireman's hat and get back
in time to finish his drawing for the
next issue of his paper? Not if he is
among the valuable newspaper artists
who can make three-column or five
column drawing in 20 minutes.
No more does the cheerful cartoon
list lead an altogether humorous life
in his daily struggle to gain a daily
smile. If ideas were born to him with
each sun he would still have some
thing to do. The policy of his paper,
the public pulse, the portrait and re-
gala of the sultan of Zanzibar and a
few haunting terrors of the cries of
Chestnut would be upon the mind
supposed to be only the abode of
mirth.
This development of a phrase OF
American journalism has come to stay,
and it has reached a point of excel
lence and far-reaching effect that She
press abroad has been compelled TO
recognize if not to initiate. 1t is the
most democratic expression of art, and
in its formation lays the foundation
for an appreciation of the higher
graphic arts. 1t has furnished an
outlet for a large percentage of the
talent Of our art educational institu-
tons. This has been apparent in the
number of schools for the special
training of newspaper artists which
have sprung up within the last few
years.
The illustrations given are from
newspaper drawings of the writer al
ready published. They attempt to meet
the requirements of the daily press
work in simplicity of style and clear
ness of line, while giving color, ar
rangement and other artistic considera-
tons which need not be alien to news
paper work.
Nitrogen from Atmosphere.