Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-07
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The Randolph Woman's Literary cIat
met Saturday, April 2, in the high school
building, where. owing to the kindness
of Mrs. b. ID. Dubois, the members and
their many guests were entertained IS
the program committee, Mrs. H. L. Flint,
Mrs. f. 8. Tracy, Mrs. L. A. Russlow,
Miss Eta Harwood and Mrs. NJ. w.
Cham berlin. On entering the building,
the ladies were directed BY Miss Ruth
Flint to the sixth grade room where were
exhibited dra winge by scholars OF that
grade and a frieze, representing winter
sports IN Vermont, made By some Of the
boys Of that grade. This frieze has been
highly commended by visiting peda-
gogues. In one OF the high school recita-
tiou rooms were some remarkable PEN
ano-ink sketches BY Charles Howard, r.
II. s. 1908.
The literary exercises, the subject OF
IS hieh was ssArt,n we're held in the main
room. The twenty-eight members pres
ent responded to the roll-call With quota
tions on aArt, . the seeretary's reports for
the last two meetings we're read and APP
proved. A paper on "Schoo.foom Dec
oration7 was read BY Mrs. J. W. Ray
mond. Mrs. II. L. Johnson, y no is the
art teacher in the school, then told OF
"Art in Our school, describing the
method Of teaching and illustrating Der
remarks by specimens OF the work done
by children in all tho grades. The walls
Of the school room we're covered with
these pictures. which formed an interest
ing exhibition rejecting credit on both
teacher and pupils. Lewis Flint then
rendered seme selections on the piano,
while refreshments Weresserved, and dur
ing the social hour which followed the
pictures exhibited were examined and ad-
mired by all.
The art work done by the graded
school pupils during the year under the
direction Of the special teacher Of draw
ing. Mrs Ella Herrickl johnson, was a
revelaf on OF what has been accomplished
in opening the eyes Of the children to the
beauty OF form and color and in training
them 10 keenness of perception as well as
manual dexterity. Every grade from the
first to the ninth was represented in the
exhibit. which included several hundred
drawings hung around the walls of the
high school room.
In this collection there was a conspieu-
Gus absence of copy work, the drawings
being original studies, principally from
still life-fruit, flowers and vegetables ar
ranged according to individual taste Of
the pupils and finished in water colors.
The studies followed the seasons and were
skilfully planned with regard to the spe-
eial interest OF the children at particu-
lar time-such as Thanksgiving with its
turkeys and fruits OF the haryest fall and
its gorgeous foliage; Christmas with its
trees and presents, and winter with its
snow men, sliding and skating.
Mrs. Johnson hes had remarkable sue
cess in stimulating originality in her pu-
pills aud in leading them to do things
from their own initiative, SO that the pie
lures showed not only skill in the hand
using of pencil or brush but also revealed
an active mind directing the hand. The
idea Of action was noticeable, too, in the
treatment Of figures, into which the
young creators had attempted to breathe
at least the semblanee Of life and move
ment. This was to be particularly re-
marked in the original illustrations Of
fables, and the sliding and skating
scenes.
one unique set Of drawings was a
group OF silhouettes OF such homely OBJ
jects as kettles, Jugs, chopping knives
and brushes, looking exactly as they are
seen around any kitchen. Another set Of
strictly mechanical drawings gave the OBJ
server an idea of the practical value OF
this training the children receive. The
drawings we're executed with neatness
and precision and the boys who did them
could now step into mill or foundry and
make a very creditable pattern to be
worked out in wood or iron.
The display was, by request, opened for
the public to visit Sunday afternoon and
many avaied themselves of the privilege.