New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-11
It Could Be Greatly Facilitated by the Be-
stowaI u pom Native Talent Of unreasonable
Portion of the Patronage Now
Given Foreign Craftsmen.

That art feeling has been undergoing
q yarid development here. under the re-
0nine influences Of the wealth that' III
he last decade has enormously ana IN
.raae;ncIv svelled the national golfers, l.
Evidenced i'm the gratifying improvement
, the adornment and establishment OF
,ur cities. more particularly their puphc
offices and private residences. to Which
.is.oration. alike for interiors and eNte-
riors has been applied TO an extent un-
dreamt of i'm earlier years.
II is equally true that this 'auspiciouS
de,elopmcnt has been due partly. to the
patriotic service Of rich citizens, throusn
heir generous contributions. in the way
If gifts and loans. of paintings and other
art treasures TO museums and other IN
etitutions TO which the public has had
access. and partly to the object lessons
IN architectural design and ornaments
ion the eXteriors and surroundings oil
their town houses and country seats
have offered 10 the masses: and 1t has
been. and i'm no small degree, also due
10 the education of foreign travel. IN
which. through the general increase OF
incomes and through the Improvement
II ocean transportation facilities and the
l.ssened expense thereof 50 large a
number Of people who-nut many wears
since debarred-have of late been en-
abled 20 indulge
But. while We have been acquiring q
love for art. an intelligent apprecia-
ton Of its enrolling influences. have We
really been promoting it, have we been
doing much 10 encourage the growth Of
the crafts which are its servitors? In
what respect. when the globe trottinS
American rich have expended hundreds
of millions abroad. for what We make
better or. at least. as well here. have
they aided the American craftsman
And. even when they have paid out their
money lavishly. in this country. for art
objects for which the sole claim To SUI
periority advanced by the vendor has
been that. ITS an imported -." how
,an that have operated to upbuild Amer
lcan crafts:
y noted mural artist who. il may be
ntcrpolated. was speaking disinterested-
l,. for his own work j. to be seen in
Very many of the finest public edifices
and private residences in this country
gave the answers 80 these questions
when Inc said TO the writer recently
THE craftsman cannot advance unless
he can live he cannot live unless he re-
ceiyes patronage It would be an eXhi-
otion of intelligent patriotism if those
Who can afford il would encourage the
american craftsman Icy giving his handi-
work the preference. even though il cost
more than that OF his foreign compel
itor IF IL were az well executed. In
stead their efforts would seem TO be
solely directed toward the accumulation
through which by their public exhibit
tion. to upbuild public taste.
Even when they seek the productions
ot to-day. wherewith 10 adoru OF embel-
fish their homes. and the furnishings.
appointments and equipments Of same.
the habit Of mind acquired i'm the COM
mercial pursuits to which they owe their
fortunes seems TO exercise fun sway;
they buy where they can purchase most
cheaply; and-weI. poor patriotism is
re.esated 70 the rear
And then he went on TO bewail the
situation Of certain of the crafts here.
more particularly that OF the stained
glass decorators. saying. There's Tom
Wright evidently intending the writer
20 understand that he was using that
gentleman. not merely a. shining eX-
- Ii Int 10
ton of its failure 10 get its just des-
serts). John La Fargo pronounced him
he 'ablest man i'm the management IF
glass in the whole world: the great
artist in later years signed his work.
John La Fargo with the help Of Thomas
Wright With the immense amount Of
building going on. he concluded, and
the vast quantity of art work being used.
it Is nothing less than crime that this
crafstman. who stands absolutely alone
in his Just and exquisite appreciation Of
color in glass. does not get his dues.
IN the course Of this article-in which
will he presented certain of the Ameri-
can crafts which are at least as far ad-
ysuced As the foremost OF their foreign
rivals. and through which the protests
of some and the opinions Of others Of
their opponents viii find expression
while in the case Of still others il will
only Le shown the extent to which their
craftsmanship is already recoenized-it
viii be made apparent that the example
above quoted Is not an isolated one
10 is hoped that 70 the readers of The
Tribune these sketches Will prove as i'll
ierestins A. they should be serviceable
alike 20 them and to the art Industries
>AsA deserve their fostering aid.