Page:Pacific Monthly volumes 9 and 10.djvu/83



THE MONTH

63

President Elliot's at-

S^iT^ScKooi. ^^^k ^P^!^ the public schools, m which he incriminated the system for all the vices flesh is heir to, has awakened a cham- pion in President Schurman, of Cornell. In a lecture delivered recently in Bos- ton, he defended our educational sys- tem on the ground that it was best adapted to our social scheme. The state school, he said, is a great leveler, doing much to eliminate caste and racial divisions. The work of the teach- ers is directed largely to the intellectual development of the child, rather than the promotion of religious faith or moral character. This is left more largely to the home, the church ; and to these and hereditary defects, must the blame be accorded if the children are the victims of intemperance, vice or impurity.

ART, MUSIC. DRAMA—

Considerable resentment is being manifested against the tariff on works of art imported into this country. And the artists^the only pos- sible beneficiaries — are offering the most strenuous objections. Their atti- tude is that the high tariff, instead of making for the betterment of art, is working in the contrary direction by excluding the classic pictures and sculptures from this country, thereby lowering the art standards and dimin- ishing the interest in art matters. To support their objection, the fact is ar- rogated that collectors are storing their valuable art acquisitions abroad, to es- cape the tariff. Moreover, the artists resent that the production of noble paintings and beautiful sculptures should be ranked with the so-called in- fant industries requiring the protection of a high tariff. In fact, they refuse to call it an industr\^ at all, but put their work on another and higher plane.

TK«^TajK on Art

Mascagni's tour of the country has been brought to an abrupt termination by the culmination of the financial difficulties which have pur- sued the great composer, and his final break-down in health. From the time

of his first rehearsal in this country the venture has been but a chapter of dis- asters. The musicians' union caused trouble because of the low-priced Ital- ian players ; the critics lashed both the orchestra and the singers, and Mas- cagni became involved in difficulties with his manager. As the tour con- tinued, affairs grew worse instead of better. Mascagni, thinking himself abused, applied to his home govern- ment for redress, the result being a polite note asking that he be given fair play. And the climax came when Mas- cagni's personal effects were attached for a small debt, and the great com- poser's health gave way under the pressure. Nothing serious is expected, however, and a good result may be achieved if foreign artists will learn that the American dollar is not to be beguiled from the American pocket un- less good return is given.

REI^IGIOUS THOUGHT—

Rev. E. H.

tackmg the question of church attendance, takes a bold stand for up-to-date sermons. In an article in the Congregationalist he says that the preacher must study his field, how he can best startle and im- press the indifferent, Adopt advertising methods, he urges ; appeal to the peo- ple through the subjects in which they are interested. Preach on music, lit- erature, the topics of the day, anything to reach and hold an audience. 'Tack sermons with gospel truth," he con- cludes, "but shape them and phrase them so thkt they will appeal to the indifferent."

The American Board of Missions Foreign Missions reports

an income of $18,400,000 in the last year for mission purposes, and Qo,ooo new converts. There are now 29,000 Protestant mission stations maintained ; 6,500 men and 7,300 wo- men employed as missionaries ; 79,000 native helpers ; 3,200,000 converts, and over 1,000,000 children in mission schools. The results of the year's work have been unusually satisfactory.