New-York tribune., 1907-07-23
ASK AID FOR ARTISTS.
TO RAISE BIG FUND.
Plan Started for Public appeal to
Help Destitute Members.


a fund of $4,000 for superannuated artists have
decided to appeal to the public for 100000. OF
this amount. it is planned TO use half the in
come for temporary relief and half for urgent
cases which require permanent assistance. The
members of he board Of trustees appointed by
the two societies to raise the fund and 10 ad-
minister it are William F. Havemeyer. chair
man. Robert W. De Forest Roswell NJ. Shurt-
left Frank D. NilIet and Harry W. Watrous.
The Artists Aid Society is composed of artists
and amateurs. 1t was organized on January IL,
1890 by members Of the Artists Mutual Aid
Society, founded in 1865, who found that the
plan Of each member contributing picture TO
be sold at auction for the benefit of the family OF
a dead member had become undesirable. on the
death of a member an assessment of SO is
made. The Artists Fund Society, Of which Ros-
well NJ. Shurten is president, was founded in
lSJ9 1t is an organization Of professional ar
fists, established TO give aid to members and
families of dead members. Any professional
artist of good standing and under sixty years
old is eligible for membership in the society.
The members pay no annual dues. but there Is
assessed against each one the sum of So which
is deposited in a savings bank to await the
death of member, at which time a proportion
OF it. in accordance with Il scale Of payments
based upon the age Of the dead member when he
joined the society, IS paid over to the widow or
legal heirs. Any person giving 500 at one time
TO the relief fund will be enrolled as an hon
orary member.
Francis c. Jones, president Of the Artists Aid
Society and treasurer OF the National Academy
Of Design, said yesterday regarding the work
Of the two benevolent societies:
Last year the two societies helped to send 10
California the whole family Of n PAINTER who was
suffering from consumption. Not long ago we
placed in home an aged sculptor. He has since
died and we have sent his widow TO a home where
she may remain in comfort for the rest Of her
days The public has no Idea OF the good these
societies do in little ways IN proportion TO their
means. We want money for the immediate rehet
Of cases Of distress among members Of the artistic
professions and money 20 place artists in permanent
homes. For this purpose 100000 is not too much
There instances Of aged artists IN this city
who are incapaclated and can Just make both ends
meet. but who with the help Of few dollars 4
,yaay may he enabled 70 keen their homes and
preserve their self-respect. Tho Artists Aid So
cety IS constantly receiving appeals for help from
deserving artists who need relief aCcouTt Of Ill
ness or similar misfortune. but our means are IN
sufficient 10 respond 10 all OF them. BESIDES the
benevolent side OF the society, 1t might be men
toned that after artists death We take care Of
his studies and see that proper selection IS mace
OF them before they offered for sale.
\ member OF the Artists Fund Society. who
has taken very active part in its work. said
in regard to the movement To raise 100000 for
superanuuated artists.
I believe that II the public could only know the
splendid work done by the Artists Fund Society
and tho Artists Aid Society there would be no
( trouble IN getting all the money we need I'M
. ague that most people think tn" Artists Fund
+ Society ls merely mutual insurance. society II
is that in a small way. ON tae death Of O. member
each IS assessed $. which gives the heirs from
$50 q Site-merty enough for burial expenses. Inc
zeal work OF the society however. Is done through
its benevolent fund but that is SO small mat we
have only about 500 a year with which 70 assist
artists or their families. when in need NAen .
report Is received that artist or some 1Eemser
OF his family IS IN great need OF temporary assist
aucr il IS investigated by member Of the board
Of control. and II deserving q small sum u money
For Instance one saturday night word was sent
+H-s ssrA vt fai
+ on tie outskirts OF the city without money
for food. and was asked TO do something at once
ON sunday morning 1 went to the terminus Of the
elevated road and then % foot for mile through
deep snow, iuquirrg my way. I'LL AT last the niue
house was locuted. and found family OF sey9rai
bright children, a sick mother and iatAer IN De
qpair expecting he turned out into the street as
ha had money To pay the rent There was 10
/ coal or food In the house. had carried with me a
basket OF fruit and few other things that were
welcome 1 gave the father SO and az the meeting
Of our board voted enough money 70 pay the
rent for a time. When t1at was used up the arlist
/ been sent 70 one OF our best magazines
Again word came 90 us recently of the distress
Of two sisters. daughters of an artist. who was At
/ one time prominent in his profession. They sup
/ ported themselves one by somo sort Of art work
+ and the other with the needle, TIL sickness Camo
and their little income cut OF one or two
small loans helped them till better times. Recently
We heard that artist and his wife were III ana
destitute. but had oyerdrawn our little beneVo-
. lent tund and as a society could do nothihs, ~
course all knowledge Of the aid given is kept from
I eve
There quite number OF men in the profes-
sion who once were successful, as success goes
among artists. Now they are old Whether tLey
/ paint as well formerly or not does not matter.
Their art is more or less out OF fashion and they
haven't the push Of younger men But among
them are men Of cultivation, who are very sensl-
tive. and who shrink AT letting their condition he
known. shall We let them be taken 20 the aims
house? There are many homes, some Of them 6N-
celent, where they can be sent and cared foF ana
not be made to feel that they are paupers.
1t is very nice know that money mas been
given to build a gymnasium for old sailors. but
wonders whether some OF the Old artlstS are
/ not quite as much in need OF a shelter AM food
They are not only cultivated people but they are
/ proud. aud suffer In silence.
/ ] c. NicoH. a member Of the council of the
/ National Academy II Design, and secretary of
the Artists Aid Society for eighteen years said:
The Artists Aid Society, besides an insurance
! fund for its own members, has accumulated about
/ $4,000 the income from which is available for the
/ use of non-members. II is needless TO say that
/ this does not enable TO dispense any prncc!y
| munihcence. but il has frequently been the means
of plIlIiug some worthy fellow hole Artists
! have the reputation Of being improVident' hut
| do not find that they average very widely from
| other people while | do notice that most OF them
/ will struggle any old way 20 keep alive Win
| out asking for charity Those who do otherwise
/ are not apt get much sympathy from their TEL
! 1oy,s and we endeavor fully 10 satisfy ourselves
that what we give will really be helpful. We have
/ TO- as our funds are small This also forces us
/ to help only extreme cases. personally known to
/ our members and / could If necessary. after the
ma amer Of the regulation charity reports, give in
/ stances of great good sometimes following a small
/ Now. as to the joint fund for artists who have
! become disabled and must be provided with homes
in their old age I feel that IL could be of great
/ use il we had sufficient money We have no de-
I sire To be spectacular advertise ourselves 10
the public by fairs or balls. but do want enough
/ 10 keep members OF profession from the poor
| house or suicide
The Artists Aid Society controls free bed