The Washington herald., 1911-02-06
VIEWS AND
INTERVIEWS
American Art.

American Art
Americans are cultured" said Prof.
George Santayana. a Harvard professor.
In reply to the question. What u
American artr They have a thorough
knowledge of art. They have picked
up here and there from the masters un-
til a genuine appreciation of art has
been developed But they have orisi-
mated nothing OF their own. They have
not established the American standard.
American style Is copied from the Ro-
manesque and the composite of France.
They have gone abroad for their ideas
But there Is no place in the world where
you will find a people with a more cult
waited taste for things artistic"
Prof. Felix Adler. OF Columbia Univer-
slty. and Prof. Samuel Train Dutton, Of
the same institution. are at the Shore
ham.
Coins ~ Textbooks
The nickels. dimes, and dollars for
which the Americans nf to-day are striv-
ing daily will be used as the textbooks
OF history in coming generations, accord
ing to Virgil NJ. Brand, Of Chicago. who
was seen at the New Willard recently
Mr. Brand is probably the largest coll
lector OF rare and old coins ir the West
MY idea OF collecting old COINS said
ne. is that in doing so a man is given
the greatest Incentive in the world to
study history and mythology. Any per-
son who sees a rare and peculiar coin
naturally will want to know where lit
was minted and under what circum-
stances.
The value is nothing" continued Mr..
Brand. 1T is created largely by how
badly two persons want 4 certain coin.
II they bid against each other, the price
will soar accordingly. But that isn't
the idea. 1t seems to me that if any
one is shown An old coin he will want
to find out about it. and / think that
in the future The leaders Of education
will come to the same idea
Mr.. Brand said the largest sum he had
paid for a single coin was $780, But"
he added. L didn't pay that for the
single coin. which was a gold piece
minted by one Of the private mints in
California. before the San Francisco
mint was started. 1 wanted to buy it
separately, but the owner would not sell
it ~ithou: Gisposing of his enire collec-
ton. I sold the rest Of the collection,
so / didn't really pay nearly SO much
as that for it
Novels Are Easy.
W. ]. Locke, the English novelist who
is visiting this country and recently
passed through Washington and was
seen at the Shoreham. said when intend
ing to write a novel you must first get
An idea.
Its hard to define just how an author
does start out said the English writer
First you get an idea of the story. And
then your man begins. You think about
him more and more. and finally he re-
solves into human being. You know
about what you want him to do, and
then you begin to get other people for
him. These, too, must be worked out in
character. and, finally. when you think
YOU have it all ready-well. you trust in
God. and go ahead.
of course. there is a good deal that
do not think there arc many radical
changes. An author. as i have found
him. usually knows what he wishes to
do. I generally have my book well plot
ted before begin.
Il consider 600 words a good hours
work. OF course. a man must choose and
pick his words. even in the first drafts.
usually work from four to six hours
a day. splitting this into periods Of two
hours each. Yes; l find it better to work
every day at certain times than to wait
for inSpir ations'
Texas Tobacco.
Henry G. Jones. of Nacogdoches, Tex.
who was seen at the Riggs. had this to
say about Texas tobacco culture: TO
bacco growing is just beginning to as
sumo prominence in the variety Of East
ern Texas agricultural activities. The
reddish soil Of that part Of the State
is peculiarly adapted to the culture Of
tobacco. Growers reap a rich reward
from tobacco crops. especially from the
Sumatra leaf used Tor cigar wrappers.
'Sumatra leaf is raised under cover:
that is. the plants are protected from the
rains. which would tear the leaves, and
from the sun. which would wilt them
and retard the fullest growth of the
plant, by canvas, which is placed on q
framework over the field. The rain
water seeps through the canvas, and in
addition to falling on the leaves without
tearing them. it also falls on the ground
gently and soaks m without packing the
soil. For the grade OF tobacco thus
raised the market price is from 40 cents
to $50 a pound. Chicago and Eastern
wholesale agents are to be found in all
section of Eastern Texas contracting to
take the product. On an acre Of ground
properly and scientifically cared for the
yield, it is said. often amounts to from
/. 20 to 1.60o pounds.
''The interest in tobacco culture did not
really begin in Eastern Texas until the
influx Of Northern landseekers started.
only two or three years ago. The North
erners were scientific agricuuturists and
soon caused the natives to realize what
could be accomplished by modern meth
DDS applied to tobacco raising. The en-
tire country is now awakened to the
financial possibilities Of the plants cul-
turc."
Sir Henry and Lady Blase. of Ireland.
are at the Arlington.