The Tupelo journal., 1906-03-30

Inc former is incidental to our rap
Id growth in wealth, which has far
outstripped u growth in culture,
though this also has been considera-
BILE. This relation holds as true for
Literary and musical culture as it does
for art, but there is a certain marked
difference between these sisters three.
A book is delivered complete in itself,
and its contents can be neither mended
nor marred by the reader. Similarly
q score OF music, if correctly played,
needs nothing more FOR the full reali-
cation of its harmonies. But not 50
with art of the visual order; since, in
fact, every art-object exists not only
for itself but In relation to every other
object lying within the field of vision
at the time, say in the same garden or
oom or on the same person.
Metaphysically expressed, literature
and music are time arts, and they
therefore vanish as rapidly as they
are produced; but decoration is a
space art. and therefore coexists perma-
nently with a multitude of other OBJ
Jects, with which-and here lies the
crucial point-it must either accord or
Ciscord, and Herewith make good or
bad art.
The first requirement of visual art
Is that an object-whether large or
small. whether simple or complex
shall present a unitary impression.
Now the common case is that arti-
cles of dress and of house furnishings
are purchased M at a time as need
arises; and it is no travesty of the
average American purchaser to state
that he or she-and commonly it is
sne-spends like a fJol. in that she
purchases these several things without
reference to the articles with which
they must company. This procedure
resembles that of the oriental in the
matter of marriage. Just as everyone
liz America is required by social con-
ventiOn to wear clothing and dwell in
a private room. so everyone in Asia
H. required, by similar social conven-
ton, to marry as soon as he or she
reaches puberty. In Asia there are
Eeither bachelors o old maids. The
very idea of them is strange and re-
pellant to the oriental mind. Everyone
marries as a matter OF course, just as
every bush blooms and seeds, and in
deed with the same end in view, to full
ell life and thus consequently to re-
produce it. Now, wnen the oriental
would marry, he keeps that purpose
in mind without distraction by such
trifes as the persOnality-bodily or
mental-of the woman selected for
him by the parents. He just feels the
need of marriage, and then, with good
sense marries.
Quite SO, our American lady just
needs a hat. and, with good pro-
oeeds to buy usually emitting,
however, to consider such a trifie as
how it will scheme in mass and line
and color and tone and texture with
the garments it must accompany.
The CASE is precisely the same VITA
Ali article of Household furnishing. Mi
lady starts for the store with a def
III luCd VI thC UoC tAO OolIC wv
jecl must serve, but probably one as
TO the artistic scheme it must fit into.
In fact her rooms lave no artistic
scheme, either in her knowledge or
il reality. She just mas rooms with
various articles in them, each having
been chosen because she needed it
and liked it. The notion that, above
and beyond her liking of the indi-
vidual article, there is IN artistic re-
qIirement that all the articles in q
room should agree, accord. harmonic,
scheme with each other-that notion
never entered her head.
But in truth every purchase presents
a problem; not merely in the use of
the article, which must be obvious to
all, but in its art, which is understood
Us yet by very few. Yet just this artis-
tic effect, equally in mass. in line. in
color, in tone, and in texture, affords
The deepest delight which the visual
mind can feel, once thai mind has been
Illuminated. And unitary effect In
leauty makes the distinguishing mark
Of artistic culture, by which the cul-
tured recognize each other at sight.
and which easily escapes the notice of
those who have not attained it.
The case with correct grammar. pre-
else wording, and expressive voice is
quite similar. At most, the unculti-
waited notice such traits as something
queer, that is different from their
own, without understanding that they
mark the perfect man, and that fortu-
nately they lie, to some degree at least,
within the hearers own reach. Their
full acquisition, however, requires
years of eager %endeavOr; and even
then they will never become the reve-
lators OF culture that art is, as mani
tested say in a consistently schemed
harmonious room; because, as long as
light shines, objects are visible to all
whereas speech may be suppressed.
How often one has to regret that he
has heard some beautiful and beauti-
fully gowned woman talk! In other
words, the dress and the house are
outward and visible signs OF an inward
ana mental condition that no device OF
MA or even woman can conceal.
Where exhibition IS thus unavoidable
tho proper ecourse is to correctness.
Since, in the realm Of art, you must
seem what you are. you will do well
tc be what you should.