Evening star., 1925-12-06
BY STERLING HEILIG.
PARIS, November 2

TN HE Paris Worlds Fair of Deco
rative Arts closed recently
The decorative arts are those
which turn out things to make
homes beautiful and living
pleasant.
An American architect who has been
studying the exhibits. TO see what the
United States can gain from them
Julian Clarence Levi of New York
STAYED to the last day. and says:
"One of my greatest surprises is the
very supsaio workmanship turned out
by the students in the City OF PARIS
special schools"
These are not art students In the
lofty sense, but sons and daughters
of Paris skilled workmen and expert
artisans They may be children OF
day laborers. young folks VINO Woulu
otherwise grow up in chocolate facto-
ries or the like They all seek pleas
ant work at better pay. They expect
to make with their hands just such
beautiful things as charmed Jullan
Levi
These beautiful things. take notice:
are not only for the rich. but for all
homes where beauty can be added 10
comfort with no great cost.
After the centennial at Phliaoel-
phia, in 1876. Japanese decorations
Enthusiastically used IN peoples houses
all over the land.
So now the pretty things exhibited
in Paris by nations from all over the
world will set fashions and reacn
every village of the world.
This present article Is to answer Ju-
Ian Lewis question: How do Paris
boys and girls learn to make all these
desirable things?"
fc SnPc1-
mems found in the City of Paris
pavilion are certainly far ahead of
ANYTHING similarly produced in the
United States, and warrant our pay
ing more attention to French methods
Of instruction. The chief difference is
that, while we teach children the pure
ly technical part Of manual training,
we do not teach them how to use in
diyidual inspiration in their work.
how to become really constructive
and it is there that Partisan art ex-
cells today. as it has always DONE"
The results are, nevertheless, gain
ed simply When Paris children have
finished with ordinary studies in the
public schools they can go to public
night schools or to all-day schools,
where they are taught and en-
couraged to "let themselves, go" in
finding out beautiful things to make
by themselves. They do not continu-
ally copy. like a task, although con-
tinually under systematic teaching.
The teachers business is to guide and
help them to express their own ideas.
So, look you. In this way the young
folks often turn out work which the
employers Of skilled artisans working
under experts (say, in house orna.
mentation or furnlture) would be glad
to put on the market.
It was seen repeatedly in the City
of Paris Pavilion, devoted entirely to
exhibition work of pupils Of these
public schools.
THE building itself begins with a
wrought-iron grill door. designed
and made by students. equal to any
thing Of the kind seen at the fair.
This beautiful framework (protect-
! ing plate glass behind it. is of two
| opposing curves of polished iron from
| top to bottom of each leaf Of the dou.
| BILE door, and where they approach
| the curves are Joined by long and
shining ornament representing a hu
/ man figure amid intertwined patterns
all in the same cleaning polished
| iron.
It is artistic work such as was made
! for Renaissance palaces of great
mobiles. and now it is the handiwork
Of Paris schoolboys for ordinary
people.
This door introduced the public to
tho entire show Of the professional
public schools.