New-York tribune., 1919-09-07

ton through the recent publication ot
a thirty-two page pamphlet entitled
"Tndustrial Art, a National Asset,
This contains a series of graphic charts
and descriptive text by II. ". Kurtz-
&orth, director Of the Grand Rapid,
School Of Art and Industry.
How much this country il behind
European nations in its industrial ar.
development and how important it ls
for US Immediately TO undertake a na-
ton wide campaign for industrial ar.
education - evident from the ex.
hibitic~. Of French art applied 20 in.
dust-y which is being held in ,hi.
city under the auspices Of the French
government and the Franco-American
Board OF Commerce and Industry.
The great need for literature on the
subject Of industrial art education was
brought directly to the attention %
DR.. +. ?. Claxton, Commissioner os
Education. by a resolution passed a.
the annual convention of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Arts held in De.roi,
in May, 1918.
The preface 10 this important pub.
licaton, by Florence y. Levy. general
manager OF the Art Alliance OF Amer
ica, with headquarters at 10 East For.
ty-scventh Street, New York City, calls
attention TO the fact that these charts
we're originally prepared 20 aid in
securing for Grand Rapids, Mich. an
annual appropriation OF abou, 5000
for the maintenance OF school OF ar.
and industry. Similar schools might,
with advantage. be established in every
city having $4,000 or more inhabitants.
The charts are fully described by
NJ. kurtzvorth The first symbolzeS
the stages through which an idea
passes from its inception 10 the pro.
duction of the finished article and It's
use by the general public, with special
emphasis upon the Importance o. de-
sign in the evolution OF the idea. Good
draughtsmanship, as the basis Of all
graphic and constructive arts. not only
is the means of making n living bgt
is one of the best ways of learning
to see, think about, reproduce and re.
create the things that make life en-.
joyable and efficient.
The second chart compares the length
of time that the average hundred bcys
and girls remain in school with the
income OF the average American wage
Garner. From this IL appears that 81
per cent leave school before comple,-
ing the eighth grade and GS per cent
earn less than SIS week; that only
10 per cent attend high school and
but per cent remain % graduate, while
) per cent earn $3.50 a year and over.
There is, therefore, direct and pro-
portional relationship between the edu-
cation a city provides and the incomes
Of its workers.
The third chart shows that the
nations most valuable resources is its
fund Of human energy, and that upon
the highly trained talents OF her eii-
liens the future indu ,ria., commercial.
personal, civic and national We.iar. o.
the United States depends. Accord.
ing to occupation, The need for under
standing the value o, ;lc inLG rial
arts appears 10 De an inlcg-a! part Of
the activities of the 35 per cent who
are producers during 33 per celt q
their time, and Of the entire pcpuls'
tion who are 100 per cent consrmers
Of commodities 100 per cent Of the
time.
The effect Of environment upon char.
acter and the industrial arts upon
environment (Chart ~ indicates deh'
nitely now, as it has IN previous
chapters of the history o; the race. that
the fate OF the nation lies IN the hands
OF the workmen and designers eyen
more than in those Of the warriors
and statesmen.