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abroad are to the poor？ It is in them only that certain people may catch
glimpses of the dainty and exquisite manufactures of other countries。 The
little education their eyes receive is obtained during visits to these
emporiums。〃
If this proves so； and it seems probable； it only proves how the humble
long for something more graceful than their meagre homes afford。
In the hope of training the younger generations to better standards and
less vulgar ideals； a group of ladies are making an attempt to surround our
schoolchildren during their impressionable youth with reproductions of
historic masterpieces； and have already decorated many schoolrooms in
this way。 For a modest sum it is possible to tint the bare walls an attractive
color … a delight in itself … and adorn them with plaster casts of statues and
solar prints of pictures and buildings。 The transformation that fifty or sixty
dollars judiciously expended in this way produces in a school…room is
beyond belief； and； as the advertisements say； 〃must be seen to be
appreciated；〃 giving an air of cheerfulness and refinement to the dreariest
apartment。
It is hard to make people understand the enthusiasm these decorations
have excited in both teachers and pupils。 The directress of one of our large
schools was telling me of the help and pleasure the prints and casts had
been to her； she had given them as subjects for the class compositions； and
used them in a hundred different ways as object…lessons。 As the children
are graduated from room to room； a great variety of high…class subjects
can be brought to their notice by varying the decorations。
It is by the eye principally that taste is educated。 〃We speak with
admiration of the eighth sense common among Parisians； and envy them
their magic power of combining simple materials into an artistic whole。
The reason is that for generations the eyes of those people have been
unconsciously educated by the harmonious lines of well…proportioned
buildings； finely finished detail of stately colonnade； and shady
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perspective of quay and boulevard。 After years of this subtle training the
eye instinctively revolts from the vulgar and the crude。 There is little in the
poorer quarters of our city to rejoice or refine the senses； squalor and all…
pervading ugliness are not least among the curses that poverty entails。
If you have a subject of interest in your mind； it often happens that
every book you open； every person you speak with； refers to that topic。 I
never remember having seen an explanation offered of this phenomenon。
The other morning； while this article was lying half finished on my
desk； I opened the last number of a Paris paper and began reading an
account of the drama； LES MAUVAIS BERGERS （treating of that
perilous subject； the 〃strikes〃）； which Sarah Bernhardt had just had the
courage to produce before the Paris public。 In the third act； when the
owner of the factory receives the disaffected hands； and listens to their
complaints； the leader of the strike （an intelligent young workman）；
besides shorter hours and increased pay； demands that recreation rooms be
built where the toilers； their wives； and their children may pass
unoccupied hours in the enjoyment of attractive surroundings； and cries in
conclusion： 〃We； the poor； need some poetry and some art in our lives；
man does not live by bread alone。 He has a right； like the rich； to things of
beauty！〃
In commending the use of decoration as a means of bringing pleasure
into dull； cramped lives； one is too often met by the curious argument that
taste is innate。 〃Either people have it or they haven't；〃 like a long nose or a
short one； and it is useless to waste good money in trying to improve
either。 〃It would be much more to the point to spend your money in giving
the poor children a good roast…beef dinner at Christmas than in placing the
bust of Clytie before them。〃 That argument has crushed more attempts to
elevate the poor than any other ever advanced。 If it were listened to； there
would never be any progress made； because there are always thousands of
people who are hungry。
When we reflect how painfully ill…arranged rooms or ugly colors affect
our senses； and remember that less fortunate neighbors suffer as much as
we do from hideous environments； it seems like keeping sunlight from a
plant； or fresh air out of a sick…room； to refuse glimpses of the beautiful to
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the poor when it is in our power to give them this satisfaction with a slight
effort。 Nothing can be more encouraging to those who occasionally
despair of human nature than the good results already obtained by this
small attempt in the schools。
We fall into the error of imagining that because the Apollo Belvedere
and the Square of St。 Mark's have become stale to us by reproduction they
are necessarily so to others。 The great and the wealthy of the world form
no idea of the longing the poor feel for a little variety in their lives。 They
do not know what they want。 They have no standards to guide them； but
the desire is there。 Let us offer ourselves the satisfaction； as we start off
for pleasure trips abroad or to the mountains； of knowing that at home the
routine of study is lightened for thousands of children by the counterfeit
presentment of the scenes we are enjoying； that； as we float up the Golden
Horn or sit in the moonlight by the Parthenon； far away at home some
child is dreaming of those fair scenes as she raises her eyes from her task；
and is unconsciously imbibing a love of the beautiful； which will add a
charm to her humble life； and make the present labors lighter。 If the child
never lives to see the originals； she will be happier for knowing that
somewhere in the world domed mosques mirror themselves in still waters；
and marble gods； the handiwork of long…dead nations； stand in the golden
sunlight and silently preach the gospel of the beautiful。
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