Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-20

|INHE professor, knowing that was inter-
l. ested in matters of art, called my atten-
ton % his bas-relicf and one or Two other
reproductions. "WelL' l said, II think
they're all right" and then .rashly en-
claimed, But I'm sorry you have
original paintings"
You forget that L m only a college pro-
fessor." he protested.
MO. had not forgotten. Moreover, knew
IN that he had an income of only $1,000 to
$4,000 year. So replied: IT'S only ques-
tion of whether one cares for such things
not
DO you suppose" he asked that
wouldn't like to have an original work OF art
as much anybody? But" He stopped
short, as lie thought explanation unnecessary.
TN THE professors library there were some
i books on Dutch art. Doubtless the owner
had looked into them. took one of them up
and opened it to an illustration of a Dutch
interior by Pieter de Hooch.
Here was a picture of well-to-do Amster-
dam house "a floor tiled with marble
squares. a table covered with a rich Oriental
rug a few carved chairs of exquisite design,
a wonder of fireplace, easement window
with loaded panes, a beamed ceiling, a gray
wall wainscoted with blue tiles and one or
two oil paintings decoratively hung.
ssLJoW would YOU like to have home
II like thar 1 asked the professor
"Oh, that's very elegant. of course he
replied. But there you are again; every
body can't have those things nowadays"
you are wrong" l said. Il could prove
1t to- you that any one of moderate means can
have as simple and as tasteful home
that"
He tried to change the subject. well,
why 60 back to the seventeeneth century for
I hnnft helieva N m hO
Dutch, the Italians the Spanish or any other
people; would rather have an American
home"
Good" answered, for I had noticed
volume "Old Colonial Houses in his book
case. Look here" then exclaimed THE
same thing is true, or was true once, of this
country You can't get away from the charm
of Colonial interior. can you? It's SIM
plicity amounts to absolute austerity"
ssTF WE only had the courage to haul up
i wagon to the front door, dump three
fourths of the things in the house into it,
send them around to auction, could
get a few hundred dollars for them" q
thought this-I didn't say it) "and then one
could buy good painting or two. One
would feel like the merchant of old who sold
all he had TO buy the pearl-but, of course
| 1t takes courage.
ssTHERE are host of good young paint
ers living today" went on, "and old
ones too, right in midst, turning out
| pictures that are as fine as many Of the
so-called old masters
These men would be glad to sell a pic
| ture now and then for two or three hundred
dollars, or even less. II one wishes deco
ration should pay this much for fair
sized picture but have known Of plenty
of cases where they were sold for $50 and
| $780, while the little sketches can be had for
| $40 or $25-the cost Of an automobile tire.
Il
SsX/OU must seek the artists in their
/ II studios, get TO know something about
| them and their work, make II hobby like
| any other hobby. It's one of the most fas-
| cinating in the world You will find things
! in this way worth ten times their money.
| Yes even Commercially
The professor was watching me with
| snunement Could II - pessible that b. yes