REPORTS OF COMMITTEES. 41 



grades were marked by good taste, careful execution and a prac- 

 tical aim. This latter feature was demonstrated by articles man- 

 ufactured from some of them. There were also good represen- 

 tatives of drawing from the cast and of coloring. It was "easy 

 for the observer to discover why Fitchburg was one of the three 

 cities which in common received the highest award at the last 

 annual exhibition of dr:.wings from the various cities of the 

 Commonwealth. That rigid critic of students' woik, Walter 

 Smith, principal of the normal art school, was one of the num- 

 ber to pronounce these very drawings, "Excellent." On exami- 

 nation, there was discernible much less difference among the 

 various schools of the same grade than would be expected, but 

 between the works of individual scholars differences were plain. 

 Your committee notice with regret that no school exhibits from 

 other places than Fitchburg were offered. They are confident 

 that this department of the society's exhibition is, by its stimu- 

 lating influence, capable of aiding materially in the improve- 

 ment of school drawings in other towns. They would therefore 

 suggest that the secretary of the society or the chairman of this 

 committee be authorized to address within a few weeks, a circu- 

 lar to the towns within our district, inviting preparations for a 

 general exhibit of school drawings, next year. Since the main 

 motive of our whole art exhibition is educational, and since in- 

 dustrial art is the most immediately practical of any branch of 

 our exhibition, the encouragement of our school children to 

 greater efforts in industrial drawing would be exactly consistent 

 with the objects of the society. 



The committee see no cause for changing the amount of 

 the appropriation for fine arts, or for other changes in the pre- 

 miums than those already suggested. Below will be found the 

 award of premiums. 



OIL PAINTINGS. 



Mrs. A. C. Freeland, Worcester, best collection, ist pre- 

 mium, ^5 00 



Miss Ida E. Whittier, Fitchburg, painting of flowers, 2d 



premium, 3 00 



6 



