iI28 THROUGH LIBRARY WINDOWS 



ment, especially in the matter of pictures. Peo- 

 ple who have very clear ideas concerning good 

 taste and good morals too often ignore both in 

 the choice of paintings or engravings to hang 

 upon their walls. Important as is the selection 

 of great books for family reading it is not 

 less important to choose pictures that shall be 

 suggestive and stimulating. Where the eye falls 

 once upon the pages of a book from the library, 

 it looks upon a picture from the walls scores 

 of times. Sir Thomas Lawrence, the great 

 English painter, giving advice to young artists, 

 said: "Were I you, I would not allow my eye 

 to become familiarized with any but the highest 

 forms of art. If you cannot afford to have any 

 good oil paintings, get good engravings of 

 great pictures; get the best photographic re- 

 productions of the foremost artists. Get sam- 

 ples of the best art work, or hang nothing on 

 your walls." This advice is as sensible for the 

 family as for the artist. The whole relation 

 of art to ethics has rarely been more clearly 

 and concisely given than in this bit of terse ad- 

 vice. Art is not a plaything; it's not for diver- 

 sion; it is not an occupation merely; but is 

 wholly practical, entering into all life and 

 touching with a sort of magic power everything 

 about us. The more things we know about art 



