Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-11


The moro enlightened
the people the more emphasis Is laio
upon beauty America now Is demanding
Improvement in the Individual taste Q.
the average citizen in the village as wen
as In the great city. Within the next rev
years there viii be great changes. Towns
will he built. cities altered and enlarged.
roads constructed. monuments erected.
waterways improved. Good art should
he employed and to a large extent VIII
he employed in all constructive work anc
this will materially enrich the nation and
the life Of its people.
The magazine attempts TO reflect the
best in painting. sculpture, architecture.
the arts and crafts and civic arr ana
tries To diffuse knowledge OF what 10
good and worthy OF emulation. IL Is not
"A professional publication. but laymen's
magazine upheld 10 a professional stand
ard. Miss Leila Mechlin. a souno ana
able art critic a tireiess and enthusiastic
worker for the American Federation OF
Arts and a splendid example of what
patriotic. cultured American woman can
do. is its editor.
With a small beginning she has built
up a magazine which. without adver-
Using. has a circulation OF over 3.uo
and 10 which the best art critics gladly
submit. without any recompense. their
most authoritative interpretations aud
appreciations and criticisms The Amer
lean Federation of Arts is supported en-
tirely by annual dues and subscriptions
All receipts from the publication are N
vested i'm the magazine or expended d.
rectly TO promote the increase and diff
fusion Of knowledge and appreciation OF
art
Up to the present unfortunately. each
year deficit has had 10 he met by
49, of the patriotic Americans who
realize the great work that the federation
is doing and VINO believe implicitly that
il is the means OF accomplishing untold
good in this country.
The value of the federation TO America
must not be estimated merely from the
worth OF the work being done for today.
but from the firm foundation laid for
tomorrow-the preparation OF the country
and the people for the renaissance OF art
that is surely coming. The great ma
terial prosperity vast unexhausted con-
tinent of natural beauty and strength.
buoyancy of spirit. energy of invocation.
desire for seif-eXpression. even mIaglins
of many racial temperaments. al uni
fled by the American spirit of freedom
and frankness and unaffected simplicity.
far-sghted men must recognize in these
conditions the elements from which q
great natural art shall be inevitably
created.
The federation is the means for hasten
ing that end. Recognizing the length and
breadth OF our territory. the need OF
bringing together the various sections of
our country in order tn establish that
unity of ideal and that union of purpose
which spell success in art as IN every
thing else this national organization un-
dertakes to be the club I'm the wheel OF
progress-to act as the center from which
radiate and around which revolve all the
energy set I'm motion by the country 9
varied desires and needs for what the
oil Anne
lean seekers for beauty may work to-
gether effectively in common cause.
not merely local, but national organiza-
ton is necessary. And SO the federation
has now gathered together in Its 1ss
chapters practically all the workers from
coast to coast. From the office I'm the
Octagon House. Washington not only ex-
perienced instruction, but ever renewed
and refreshing inspiration Is sent out.
north, south, east and west The maya
zine. the travelling lectures. the loan ex-
hibitions reveal the best that has been
done I'm the past. disseminate culture and
stimulate ambition.
The schools and the museums that ara
springing up i'm SO many small towns
teach the practical means OF converting
ideals into art. Before there can b.
great achievement either in architecture.
sculpture. painting or craftsmanship.
there must be the genuine desire for
beauty. the clear comprehension OF the
function of art as a means of enriching
life. This desire for beauty and this
apprehension of its significance are
noteworthy now In the United States IN
the small towns more conspicuously even
than in the large cities. Eventually We
shall have a ministry of fine arts. the ma
tional government guiding and guarding.
inspiring and upholding US. Then shall
come the splendid Towering and harvest
ing of our nations spirit from the seeds
that are now so wisely and bountifuuy
being sown.