Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-16
Growth Of Spirit Of Art.

"If one should feel inclined to question
whether the spirit of art in this country
is taking firmer root and having a fuller
growth, let him reflect that but a few
years ago objects of art were subjected
to high penalty on importation into this
country, SO that the works Of the greatest
masters-works which solemnize the spirit
and uplift the soul-could not be brought
into our confines without paying tariff.
The idea Of 1t was a total misconception
of the essential relation OF art to life.
and in the future, when the student of
In his researches. shall come across this
fact, 1t will require all the history OF
our time with its far-reaching philan-
thropy and its passion for freedom to re-
barous people. Happily. the awakened
spirit OF art among our people has
brought about this needed change and
at present works Of art measurably adj
mitted free from such a barbarous levy.
Our people are composed Of elements
of nearly every race. and while for some
time pass 1t has appeared that the spirit
of cOmmerciality-the spirit Of material
ism-has fenced to overwhelm the nobler
elements among our people, yet we may
be sure that this was but passing
phase, and that the loftier spirit will
assuredly assert itself and eventually
make us what we should be-not only a
capable people, strong 'people-but an
artlStlC people, al luedllStlC people ana
a noble people.
Already it must be apparent to every
one how of late the discussion Of all pub
lie matters has deepened: whereas in
times past men contented themselves
with discussing means to attain certain
ends, some of which, at least, appeared
to some Of you to be by no means be-
yond question. or contented themselves
with advocating the claim Of this Or that
men or organization of men to office,
4 h1 Mo- 80 y,
discussion has. Of late. been uplifted to
deal with great principles. Men, for in
stance, no longer discuss continually
whether A, or shall be elected to
this. that or the other office: but whether
A, B or holds such or such views as to
fundamental rights on which 1t is be-
lieved the freedom Of the people and
the advance of civilization are founded.
Positive Proof.
I'm the same way it must be apparent
to every one how much more interest is
taken in matters relating to art than
heretofore: how much larger q proportion
of space in the public press is given to
them. The presence Of your newly or
ganiZed federation-a national federation
representative of all sections of the coun-
try-is In itself an unanswerable proof of
the awakening spirit of our people. No
one can fOretell how far-reaching its in
| Huencc may Ue, WIFI ITult IL may pro-
duce in the coming years Hitherto, as
already said. our people, as people, have
not been artistic. The charge has been
made against us throughout the world
that we have lacked appreciation Of art,
have lacked the artistic sense. and that
all Of our energies have been confined, If
not exhausted, in the direction of adj
vancing the material at the expense of
the artistic.
However we'll founded this charge may
have been in the past, there is evidence
that 1t will not continue to be just In
architecture. In sculpture. In painting. In
music and in literature we are beginning
to make an impression. and the time IS
not far dis ant when this impression shall
extend far beyond our own confines and
make itself felt throughout the world.
II re .oice that this federation has come
into being as an organization. national
in it's scope, for no one can tell how far
its benign influence may extend. There Is
a proverb that the wife Of the blind needs
no painting, and time was when the
charge that we were blind to art was
| made. and possibly justified. Now that
our eyes have been opened we may hope
to see the aspiration of this federation
realized. and along every line Of art a
development that shall make Ills noted.
not only for our wealth and our power,
but for the loftiness of our ideals and the
success with which We attain them