322 Missouri Agriculfural Bcport. 



wall coverings, hangings, etc., because it is the whole effect which is 

 important, and no one thing can be wholly good or bad except in its 

 relation to the things which surround it. Nor have I mentioned the 

 ''green things growing," which add so much, a graceful fern, a trailing 

 vine, and, at the season when it is possible, a few cut flowers; not bou- 

 quets, but a rose or two in a slender vase, a bunch of violets in a low 

 bowl ; these give a touch of refinement found in nothing else. 



And last, but by no means least, the homemaker herself — she is the 

 crowning touch which must make or mar the effect of the whole. If her 

 appearance is not pleasing, her manner not gracious, the otherwise 

 charming effect will be spoiled. If she is all that the term "home 

 maker" implies, she will be in full harmony with her surroundings, be- 

 cause they will be the expression of her very self, and her influence will 

 create that happy, restful atmosphere which is the chief factor in all 

 that goes to make up the real home. 



PICTURES FOR THE HOME. 



Dr. John Pickard, Professor of History of Art, University of Mis- 

 souri, gave an illustrated lecture on this subject by the use of the stere- 

 optican and lantern slides. "While he showed a very wide range of 

 subject, including great portraits, religious pictures, pictures of everyday 

 life and landscapes, he confined himself entirely to illustrations from 

 the work of American painters, demonstrating the fact that we can claim 

 to have an American school of art which may be favorably compared 

 with the art of any other nation of our times. 



In showing these various classes of pictures, the thought was brought 

 out that art is not only a desirable thing to have in the home, but that 

 art is one of the most practical and necessary accompaniments of daily 

 life. We are all striving not merely for the bread which perisheth, not 

 merely for clothing and for shelter, but we are striving for something 

 w^hich shall minister to the larger needs of humanity, and in this reach- 

 ing forth after the ideal, the splendid visions of the great artists are 

 most inspiring and helpful. In such a great portrait as Stuart's por- 

 trait of Washington, or in such a fine religious painting as that done by 

 Jolm LaFarge, in such fine inspiring figure subjects as those by John 

 W. Alexander, in such splendid marines as those of Winslow Homer, 

 in such beautiful landscapes as those by Dwight W. Try on, or Childe 

 Hassam, we may find suggestions of beauty that shall give elevation and 

 charm to the whole daily life, and the beneficial influence of those fine 



