The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-25
| GIEAkfN6s
=. FRqH The
E.lEE:klsnEl|oF Art


Carl J. Smalley. who for several
years has conducted an art store in
Mcpherson, Kan, has moved to Kan
sas City, No, where he will engage
in the same business. Smalley has
achieved a more than national repu-
tation thru his untiring efforts in be-
half of art in central Kansas, and his
departure will be felt as great loss
in the locality he is leaving.
While in his teens Smalley developed
a decided liking for pictures and
showed good taste in the choice and
selection thereof.
His father was in the seed business
tdn Mcpherson. and desired his son to
follow in the paternal footsteps. The
elder SmaHey could see little use for
art, or chance for its Development in
a little agricultural town of two or
three thousand inhabitants, but few
| decades removed from the Indian and
| buffalo period. He thought the selling
i of seeds that would resist the drought,
| the grasshopper and the green bug. a
much more useful and appropriate oc-
| cupation for a young man.
| The son thought otherwise. He stud
led about etchings, engravings and
prints and kept himself informed con-
corning the leading personages in the
world of art The more he read and
studied. the more he liked it, and he
resolved that his friends and neigh
bors should knoN4 about pictures and
like them, too.
| Finally he bought a small stock of
prints and engravings and put them
on display j. a corner of his fathers
store. The unusual spectacle of pic
ltures other than representations of
pumpkins or tomatoes hanging in a
seed store. attracted the attention of
farmers and townsrnen who came in
the store to buy peas. beans and seed
| potatoes.
Il =
some of them, no doubt, contemptuous,
lthinking-"Old man Smalley better
take a stick to that boy of his and
lbeat some sense into his body. if he
ever wants him to he worth his salt
But here and there. the sight of
young Smalley's pictures stirred long
forgotten memories in the breasts of
lsome who stopped to look. The young,
mans earnest, enthusiastic, learned
4 talk gradually won respect for him
and sympathy for his mission. People
began to realize that they did need
pictures in their homes and that Carl
J. Smalley could and would sell them
the kind of pictures that they ought
to buy. So the STONY ground thru
careful filling, at last became a fertile
field, and the business grew and pros
pered.
Another factor that contributed to
success was Bethany college at Linds-
borg, sixteen miles to the north of
Mcpherson. The culture diffused by
this excellent center of learning soon
Spread Ike the wave when stone is
thrown into the water, and culture al
Il ways brings a desire for the better
things of life. Berger Sandzen, a
Scandinavian artist of high ability
came to be professor of art at Bethany
college. Sandzen finally was brought
into contact. with Smalley. his store
and his work, was quick to realize
their value to the community. and
lspeedily became Smalley's friend and
Tally.
Largely thru sandzen. smalley's
| work became known all over the west,
the United States, and even in Europe,
and gained it's due need of respect at
home.
| Today, the spectacle Of two little
country towns, both founded in the
wilderness within the memory of men
and women still in the prime of life,
both hundreds of miles from a large
center of population, and yet winning
the respect of the whole United States
as worthy centers of art and music. is
almost unique in history. And Carl
j. Smalley had very much to do with
bringing all of this to pass.
It is said that Smalley's collection
| of etchings is one of the best in the
west. Not long ago he received an
important write-up in the American
| Magazine of Art.
Two or three weeks ago this column
icontained an article concerning an eff
fort being put forth by the Topeka Art
Guild to have the present city library
building converted into a municipal
art gallery in event that the city COM
mission decides to build a new library
building for Toreka.
| Should tho new library building not
tbe erected OF shou1d the Art Guilds
Iefforts fail If it is built. those who
tdesire to see a suitable place provided
lin the center CT tie city for holding
TART exhibitions need not lose hope.
1.-THE plans which have beer drawn for
1.-THE womans club house on Ninth
Istreet between Harrison street and To-
Epeka avenue, include provision for a