Evening star., 1925-04-05
Howe About
The Modern Sodom-The Whstling Whistcr-The
Savage Instinct.
BY E. W. HOWE.
The Sage Of Potato Hill"
Savage Instinct.

/, time. Also that Ruskin was one of
the greatest critics OF art.
But Ruskin, who knew most about
art, said Whistler couldn't paint.
while Whistler contended with equal
fervor that Ruskin was not a capable
critic and knew nothing about paint
ing.
The two quarreied like old women.
A gallery was once opened in London.
and, of course, people waited for Rus
kin to advise them as TO the exhibits
OF one OF the Whistler paintings he
said:
The ill-educated conceit of this
artist nearly approaches the aspect of
willful imposture. 1 have seen and
heard much of cockney impudence be
fore now. but never expected to have
q coxcomb ask two hundred guineas
for fiipging pot OF paint in the pub
lies face"
This so enraged Whistler that he
sued Ruskin for damages, and there
was a famous trial, in which whistler
was awarded one farthing.
One of the Whistler pictures was
introduced as evidence that he
couldn't paint.
whistlers counsel held up the
painting to show the jury how beau
tiful 1t was.
Pardon me-" said Mr. RuBkins
lawyer, YOU nave Inc plOtoie uPS4OV
down"
And it was actually contended in
court that the picture had been ex-
hibited turned the other way; that
Whistler himself couldn't tell the
difference.
Here Is a story we'll worth remem
bering. Whistler was undoubtedly
great painter, Ruskin undoubtedly
great critic of art.
But art is such a shadowy, unde
fined thing that Whistler claimed
Ruskin knew no art. and Ruskin said
Whistler was a dauber: that he threw
a can of paint at a canvas and called
1t a "nocturne."
The same ridiculous, If amusing.
quarrel goes on in literature. l take
a certain magazine because 1t is
edited by a great literary critic, who
frequently declares. with amusing
abuse that many of the writers ac
eepted by the world cannot write al
all.
LINCOLN, our favorite statesman.
was abused in his time most furiously.
Every prominent man in every
community is abused by shoe-shop
loafers and critics.
Let an American do any good thing.
and 1T is a signal for the loafer
critics to say II is an atrocious thing.
When Ruskin said Whistler couldn't
paint, and when Whistler said Ruskin
was not capable judge OF painting,
both were plain liars. They had quar-
relied about something. and did not
hesitate to lie and be mean.
X 4
Civilization is a compact among
men to fight savage nature. There il
| plenty in the world for men to ca
| and wear. Civilization is an arrange
| ment to get both most effectively.
Food and clothing being provided.
there is the matter Of social we'll
| being. So part of the same compact
| includes honesty, politeness, respect
| for the rights of each other. If I
capture and bring in animal with
which to feed myself and family, :
| do not wish a neighbor to claim a
| portion of II.
So I do not demand the right to eat
his meat
| At best, getting along in life is un-
| comfortab BILE enough, but men have
| diligently sought the easiest and best
way and called II civilization
| The man always in trouble and OF
| no use to any one is still a savage.
Those who have good homes and are
| of some use and least bother in their
| communities are civilized.
Young people who annoy parents.
| men aud women who annoy their
neighbors, those who are liars
| thieves. idlers-are still savages.
The doctors say the appendix that
| causes men so much trouble is a sur
| vfval of tail. l do not know how
| true the story is, but l do know the
| doctors have made many bad guesses
| Still, the story will do to found
moral:
| All of US have another appendix
| hidden desire to lie, be tricky, idle
But it is important to control this
savage instinct and not let il infame
| to the point where a policeman is
necessary.