ROBERT EVANS SNODGRASS — THURMAN 



P^ 



/ 



I 



the practical problems of line-cut reproduction which proved to be of 

 value to him in his future work. 



When World War I was declared, things became dull in New York 

 for artists and writers. Mr. Snodgrass accepted an invitation from 

 an artist friend from Indiana to go with him to his native State, where 

 he thought, with Snodgrass's assistance in selling, he could better dis- 

 pose of his pictures. As business manager of the venture, Snodgrass 

 canvassed the small towns of Indiana for customers, and at least met 

 many interesting people. Also he was able to observe the Hoosier in 

 all his local color. So, while his 

 friend frantically slapped color 

 onto his canvases to supply or- 

 ders, Snodgrass sketched the 

 more picturesque Hoosiers, de- 

 picting their everyday life and 

 manners. It would appear from 

 his sketches that the males of 

 the day were chiefly remarkable 

 for growing whiskers, loafing in 

 groups according to age and 

 length of beards, chewing to- 

 bacco, and distance and accuracy 

 in expectoration; the females 

 for cooking, rearing large fami- 

 lies, and acquiring physiques 

 that looked like feather pillows 

 tied in the middle. 



The venture in selling paint- 

 ings was interesting but finan- 

 cially not particularly successful. 

 So one day Mr. Snodgrass cas- 

 ually dropped into the office of the State entomologist in Indianapolis, 

 and unexpectedly was invited to join the staff. Here again was 

 demonstrated the value of events that happen by chance. 



Again he found himself in entomology. Frank Wallace soon be- 

 came head of the office. Harold Morrison and Harry Dietz were in 

 the midst of preparing their book "The Coccidae or Scale Insects of 

 Indiana," and wanted an artist for the illustrations. Through outdoor 

 work and contact with the farmers and their problems, Snodgrass 

 learned much about practical economic entomology. He also wrote 

 "Some of the Important Insect Pests of Indiana" (25) and made oil- 

 painting wall charts of farm and garden insects. 



"Unnecessary advice." R. E. Snod- 

 grass. 

 (From Indiana sketch book, 1916, 

 unpublished.) 



