Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-28
WHATS IN A NAMET-
The Springfield Republican published
this item vest ertiay:

Thc Springfield Republican published
this item vest
4 picture on sale In Paris for
SS 900 on the supposition that Il was
a whistler has been identified by
an obscure artist his own and
tho price accordingly reduced TO 81.
II is a reminder Of Mark Twains
judgment on the copies Of old mas
tcrs being made nv students in the
/ European galleries, that they were
uniformly better than their urigi-
nails.
/ 1t is a peculiar commentary on Amer
/ ican life that we have only one class
! of picture owners-the very wealthy
who all too frequently depend upon the
Judgment OF poor but talented critics
when they make their purchases, The
| uict,Ire spoken of above would no doubt
have found its haven in some private
art gallery on this side Of the water II
the obscure artist had not put in his
opportune appearance. And the price
paid would have been the fuu $S.ooo. or
possibly more,
m Go into the average home IN France
II YOU are accorded that rare privilege
of gathering about a Frcnchmans
sacred foyer-and you viii md pic
turcs. many pictures, which intrigue
the imagination and hold the interest
The French home possesses pictures
Just as the American household of
average means always contains a set
or two OF books. de luxe editions the
paper employed being a superior quality
Of laid dockIe edge Holland rag. made
especially for these numbered sets
Yet these pistures are not necessarily
by masters The chances are that many
Of them were painted by old Pierre.
who sits on the sidewalk in front OF
the Cafe de Ia Paix at twilight sipping
his aperitif. and weaving smoke dreams
out Of his vile French tobacco.
why is i, that we. as a nation. care
so little for art, and discourage our
artists by neglecting them? We passed
, the pioneer stage years ago; we have
: had time TO appreciate and 10 en-
courage the work OF our young men.
but the majority Of them have been
forced to go abroad not only to study
] but to gain a livelihood. Our few
: geniuses. of course, have been taken
] up by the elite. and have prospered ae-
: cordingly But the average worker
finds that ne must sell his pictures in
r France. in Italy. and in England ir
E order TO continue mis- work
- Possibly this condition is the result
Of our lack of art-consciousness. We
have for so long looked upon painting
music, and the allied arts as effeminat,
: careers for our sons that we have no
cared to have about US any pictures
unless they were from the brushes o.
masters. To possess such, of course
was a sign of social elevation, and Z
reminder of our wealth, Yet the mar
who would pay $4,000 for a genutn'
Whistler would not give eight cent
for a picture by an unknown artis
which was so good that it could pas
:. as a Whistler.
= We Americans are hero worshippers
r. We worship names as no sother natiol
i does. What we want is not the pleas
Is ure of studying the work Of master
; but the pleasure Of possessing rfle mas
e terpiece. The latter act is evidenc
ss that we have been able TO go into tn
> nlarket-place and knock down and dra
N out more golden eagles than the mex
l. man. It is a physical demonstrate
At of our wealth
10 Not until we appreciate the pictur
n. for its value will our native artist
le come into their own. We need to be
come art-conscious-for the good {
our immortal souls, If not for the benc
fit of our struggling young worker
lie who are striving 10 reach the gleamin
4