The Washington herald., 1906-12-09
Columbia Heights SOciety's
Work Is Explained.
GENERAL INTEREST AROUSED
Members Have Learned 20 See, study,
and Appreciate, and Have Carried
Their Efforts Into a Campaign for
a More Beautiful Washington and
an encouragement of Artists.

liAUt " c-o4Atti lpAlr '4llS MdtLIG
Schneider, one of its honorary presidents
has prepared for The Washington Herald
a sketch of the organization and its
work. II follows:
The Columbia Heights Art Club was or
ganized in October, 1888, to study the
historical and personal environment of
the artist, as we'll as his works. and
to create an interest in, and promote, as
far as possible, local art. 1t has mem
bership Of thirty active, eight associate
and five honorary members. The last
named. to be eligible. must be women of
reputation IN literature or art
1t was incorporated in 1902, and identi-
fed with the District OF Columbia Feder-
alton OF Womens Clubs in 1903.
Parliamentary law is studied monthly,
with good results. Although the club was
not organized to attair dexterity OF
brush or pencil, there are number Of
members who have studied art under the
best of masters in leading schools, and
thus are able to supply the necessary
technical knowledge when paintings are
under discussion. Several have won rep
utations in the fields Of literature. for
prose or verse, and two OF the members
have brought out successful novels dur
ing the last year.
Linguists are numerous. and travel ex-
periences Of the majority give the nee
essary touch when foreign works of art
are under discussion. The musical talent
and culture Of many of the members
gives pleasure TO all. and elocutionists
are not rare in the club.
a number of local artists have address
ed the club and the social features and
good fellowship among the members are
not the least Of the attractions of the
club
FirSt-hand studies "A Feature.
The course Of study Of the club has
been systematic and chronologicaIly cor
rect. Beginning with Greece. Italy, Spain,
France Germany. and England have been
studied. and the influences encouraging
or retarding the progress of art have
been carefully noted. To promote and
encourage criticism, the works OF the
artists have been studied from personal
observation. when accessible. and from
reproductions when this was not pos
sible
with this object in view a seasons
work was devoted TO the study of the
paintings in the COrcOran Gallery of
Art. For these art notes the mem
Der was told to select the picture that
spoke TO her" for Caracci said that
poets paint in their words aud artists
speak in their works. She was TO state
if she found the tale worth the telling
for the artist must create as well as
copy, anl the ideal without the real
lacks life; but the real without the
ideal lacks beauty"
There were mistakes Of judgment
and taste in these first criticisms Of
many of the members, but they were
learning 10 see, and it is said hun
dreds can talk for one who can think;
but thousands can think for one who
can see"
For similar reasons the club the fol-
lowing year turned its attention TO the
arts and crafts as exhibited in the
National Museum. Here they studied
Indian pottery, basketry, &c, as well as
the handicrafts of European countries.
Thirty topics were selected from as
many collections made by scientists
from all parts of the world. These
were assigned to the members. who
studied the object as exhibited, and
then went TO the reports Of the sCien-
tist for information upon the subject.
The search for some Of this information
would make interesting reading. when
the members happened to fall into the
hands OF some Of the minor officials,
but knowing that these exhibits were
collected for the use of the public, rs
well as the scientists. those interested
80 s~-s ~s-,.-
Mason and Prof Holmes and explain
ing to them the object of these IN
quiries, had no further trouble in col
lecting data, and were permitted every
privilege Of personal examination and
access TO all written matter giving in
formation upon the collection studied.
General Interest Aroused.
Exhibitions Of art societies and special
exhibit at public galleries have been
noted and opened up for discussion in the
club. The members have held small ex-
hibitions of the works of local artists in
their homes, and through their connec-
ton with the District Federation of
W0mens Clubs they created in that or
ganization an element of art interest that
has been the means of that organization
Offering to the pupils of the Corcoran
School of Art an annual prize Of S25 for
the best work of the composition class.
The students of this school have appre-
ciated this prize, and the Columbia
Heights Art Club is especially anxious
that this yearly prize be perpetuated.
and are now working, with the eassist-
ance Of the affiliated clubs. toward that
end
In the District Federation it also
1v fur in a "a rrt. !
carried from il a resolution upon that
subject TO the seventh biennial of the
General Federation of Women's Clubs
which met in St. Louis in 1904. The del
egate from the Columbia Heights Art
Club was especially interested in the
passing Cf this resolution, and fearing
that 1t would not be adopted when sub
mitted. interviewed Prof. Halsey c. Ives
who was t. speak before the federation
and requested him To make some refer
ence to this tax in his address.
Puts the Resolution Through.
He not only gladly accepted this offer
but gave one of the most instructive
talks upon what has probably retarded
the general development of taste in this
country more than all else, and he made
an earnest appeal TO the federation tc
take united action upon the removal OF
this protective tariff on art-that does not
protect-by using their influence to this
effect wherever possible.
Consequently when the resolution from
the District of Columbia upon the re-
moval of the tax on art came before tbs
convention the following day, II WIS
adopted unanimously amid great applause
and enthusiasm, and this year the Gen
eral Federation is sending to all clubs .