The Washington times., 1918-07-07
Prof..
Scott of
Michigan
UniiUerS-
ityMakes
Some
Tests
and
Is Dis
mayed

" EXPERIMENTS cohuuCteu " SN
- ars and psychologists have revealed
- the rather startling fact that pres
ent-day American school children are de-
plorably unfamiliar with the features OF
the Saviour as represented in religious
art.
1t is not a matter Of stupidity, for it Is
noted that the same children instantly
recognize the features Of Charlie Chaplin,
Douglas Fairbanks. Mary. Pickford and
other famed public entertainers Of the day,
They we're also thoroughly familiar with
the features of our leading statesmen
Professor Frederick Newton Scott. OF
the University of Michigan, began these
experiments. He selected Leonardo da
yincf's Last supper" generally admitted
TO be the most famous religious picture in
existence, with which to make his tests.
Armed with copy of this, ne descended
upon the children of public school in one
of the large cities Of Michigan. He made
MANY interesting observations. but far
over-shadowing all the rest in significance
was the discovery that not one OF the
children could identify the central figure
in this most famous painting as that Of
the Founder Of the Christian religion. They
were equally ignorant concerning the
identity of all the twelve Apostles shown
the picture.
The thought that the artist had repre-
sented the tragic moment when the
Saviour declared that one of his Apostles
would betray him did not for one instant
enter the head of any of these little ones
The startling but rather amusing an
swers given by some of the children are
thus. reported by Professor Scott in The
IhIander," Of Ann Arbor:
in answer to the question what the
people in the picture we're doing, one little
girl said that it was a party, an opinion TO
which all the rest gave their assent. Why
then. II was asked we're they not eating
their supper? To this one wise child re-
Piled that they were not hungry. and an
other that they were 'all'through' A third
suggested that it was because they had TO
stop to laugh at something. One eager
mite Of a girl waved a quiyeTing small
hand. and when she was given permission
10 speak, said solemnly, They have long
hair'-which I thought about up to the
average of contemporary artcriticism.
The brightest remark came from one OF
the boys, who said that they we're all
thinking about heaven but that idea, l
suspect. was not original
Then they were asked about particular
APOSTLES. Judas was pointed out and at
tention called to his expression. Most
thought he was a BAD man. One said that
he looked cross, another that his hair was
all mussed up. The last remark was in
teresting, because It was once the custom
of painters to distinguish Judas from the
rest by giving. him short. wiry hair.
Thomas. with his raised forefnger. was
saving. Come here Simon's elevated
Mains meant. This is all have and Mat
thew's retracted arms. Don't go near him.
Peter. starting up. knife in hand, was ex-
claiming. Get away
Most naive of all was an Interpretation
of St. Andrew. The Apostle. who in his
establishment holds up both hands with the
palms outward, was supposed to be saying,
I bave.ten fingers Finally. the question
: was put. Who is the central igure?' There
was no hesitation or doubt in the minds of
those who raised their hands, and. while
the rest soiemhIv nodded their heads in
approval, one tiny child lisped in awe
struck accents, George Washington
Not one, 1t s6ould be noted, correctly
identified this Central figure. and not one
understood the general idea Of the picture
that II CONNIE morated one of the funda-
mental events in the history Of the Chris
tian religion.
It must be borne in mind that Leonardo
da Vinci's Last Supper" shows the most
perfect example Of the traditional features
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