Evening star., 1937-10-21
Forcing Art
On a Child
Is Futile
Talent Required
For Success in
Special Field.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

"IS HERBERT in school this morn
ing? We have not seen him since
last night after dinner. He went to
his room to study. He has an art les
son in the evening. and when the
teacher came Herbert could not be
found. We have not seen him since.
Is he in school?
No, Herbert was not In school. We
did not see him again for six months.
He had taken . long hitch-hike and
freight route to the far-away coun-
try, where there were no art lessons.
no art teachers, no art courses to
bother him.
It seems Herbert had an idea that
he would be a cartoonlst. He mace
funny little pictures on scraps of pa
per and along the margins of his text
books in his idle moments, which were
many. There was no line in these
sketches, no feeling that hinted at
art. no indication of artistic power OF
any sort. Just scribbling habit ex-
pressed in meaningless sketches.
Herbert's mother and father thought
that drawing cartoons would be just
fine for Herbert. They both longed
to have a son who would be famous
for his art work. II he were famous,
never mind the art work. So they did
their best to train the boy for his
great position. Teachers were brought
in. school fees were paid far in ex-
cess of what the family budget could
Justify. Herbert began to fret. 1t
was one thing to scribble on the handy
paper, but quite another to be obliged
to work hard under an instructor who
seemed to mean business. And espe-
ciarly when no amount of work re-
suited in anything that looked like
the promise Of great cartoonist's
drawing.
The teacher \shook his head and
talked to the parents about the boys
lack of interest, lack of application,
lack of effort, lack of everything that
goes to make good art student. The
parents began reproaching Herbert.
Look at the money we are spending
on you. The things we have to give
up to let you take art. You must get
to work. Don't 60 out this afternoon
until you have thoroughly prepared
the work for Mr.. Pennink."
So Herbert went on long trip.
OF course he had said he wanted
to DO this work. He really wanted
to have the fame and the influence
and the money that great cartoonist
could command, but he lacked the one
thing necessary. He had no qualifica-
tions for the work. He could not draw
to save his life. He had a wish, not
a talent.
So many people mistake wishes for
power. Most of them are spoiled chill
dren, who think that it is enough that
they want something to have it pre-
sented to them. BY wishing long
enough they get to the place where
they think their desire Is their right
and that somebody is doing them Z
grave injustice by depriving them Of
it. You can train any child to adopt
that point of view, and when he grows
up he will be nuisance to whatever
community is afflicted with his pres
ence.
Wishful parents are quite as much
at fault as the children, more so. In
stead of taking cool and impartial
look at their child they refuse to see
anything but their wish. They want
to shine in this child and they win
go ahead blindly pressing for the i'm
possible: Before you begin training
child for some special field have
stranger, disinterested and expert,
look him over. Don't bend a childs
life to an idle wish.
Copyright. 1877