Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-05-06

| come, finds the WorlQ nOstIiei to"dtu
the artistic temperament in the
| spring. II cannot live in America
| she complained recently. j must
have serenity. ! o not i've IN
England; / have too many relatives
there. 1 could live in ITALY, but there
is no money. Or in Russia, but there
is no food"
To the creative artist who finds
himself or herself in a dilemma OF
this kind, the art retreat offers an
interesting solution. Nothing could
be more satisfactory than the Mac
Dowell Colony; for example. 1t Is
in no sense a philanthropic enter
prise for i~mpecunious artists, but II
| offers at absurdly low rates precise
ly what the struggling writer or COM
poser or painter needs-a place
where he can work at top speed,
with the necessary fresh air. SOUND
| sleep and uninterrupted days. There
| is serenity without boredom: for az
| ter working hours he m In con-
| act with a number of fellow work
ers Just as earnestly artistic as ne.
The small sums paid by the artists
for sleeping quarters, food, studio,
and other comforts represent oniy
a fraction of the upkeep of the col
ony. 1t draws its chief support from
three other sources: From the an
nIal dues of the Mcdowell Associa-
ton. which range from IS to $500 a
year: from contributions to the gen.
eral fund by private individuals, n
proceeds of Mrs. Edward Mac
DowelI's annual recitals coming un-
der this head, and the yearly inter-
est on the endowment fund. when
is-unfortunately-small and
what cramping to the growth Of Inc
enterprise.
Memorial to Composer
The Colony Is a memorial to Ed
ward Mcdowell. the composer, wno
| retired to the picturesque old farm
at Peterborough in 1895. "There IN
the woods" we are told. h built
for himself a log-capin, and in that
cabin. which still stands. shutting
out the whole world, he did the larg-
err part of his ablest work. 1t was
his hope that other workers in n
arts. not necessarily musical COM
posers, might enjoy the same prlvi-
leges of auietude and peace, and II
is the realization of that hope that
meets the eye Of the visitor today
"A score of studios, beautifully
built, each one with its fireplace for
chilly days, are scattered over a
tract of land that is much larger
| now than the original farm. Eacn
studio is an oasis in itself. hidden
from the others, masked by green
woodland from neighbors. The
worker sees nothing but the SKY
overhead and the varying emerald or
trees on all sides. No sounds reach
him but the animated arguments OF
| birds and the winds in the shrub
berries.
'There is a central building known
as Colony Hall from which the
workers depart each morning ior
their respective studios. All day they
remain secluded, wrapped up in their
own endeavors. Lunch Is left 1or
them on their doorsteps. NO one
| calls upon them, except by specia!
Invitation. The long clear day is
/ all their own, to compose then music
in. to paint pictures, to write their
| dramas and poems and novels"
About 5 o'clock in the afternoon
they loci up their studios and re-
turn To civilization, as no artificial
lights are allowed in the workrooms.
"And. indeed" writes one artist,
who spent a summer at Peterbor-
oueh. "the day was quite long
enough. I experienced that mental
exhaustion that meant something
thought out thoroughly. After din
ner there were many books to read
! in the library or a cosy gathering
before the large fireplace or even a
game of pool. By . o'clock our eyes
were usually heavy with sleep. ON
we would go to bed to slumber quite
dreamlessiy, with no elevated trains
laundering by to disturb our rest
The only trouble with such col
onies Is that there are not enough
OF them, and those which do exist
are not nearly as well financed a:
they should be. 1t is to be hoped
that the new gift of the Pine Gards
estate will stimulate the interest o.
other philanthropists in the welfare
OF our living American artists will
whom is entrusted the future o.