PARIS PRIZE COMPETITION OF THE SOCIETY OF 
BEAUX-ARTS ARCHITECTS 
By Donn Barber, Architect 
A I 'HAT New York is doing the “lion’s share” in earn- 
-*■ estly and properly educating those who should 
be the artists of the future, can no longer be doubted. 
A visit to any of the flourishing ateliers and art 
schools of the city, where numbers of young people 
are enthusiastically pursuing their studies, would 
prove even to the skeptic that a vigorous, rational 
and thoroughly organized educational movement 
has become a reality that must of necessity accom¬ 
plish marked results. The progress that is already 
being made is notable and encouraging to a degree. 
A considerable number of the students, of course, 
have more enthusiasm than real talent, and there 
are many that will, through discouragement, fall 
by the wayside and be lost to the cause, but the 
majority will surely succeed; and their influence 
upon the art life of the country at large must not be 
underestimated, nor the fact lost sight of that as years 
roll on, this influence will surely raise the average 
of artistic appreciation and cultivation to a high 
plane of enlightenment. 
We are a rich nation and a generous one, and 
therefore the cause of art must grow, for wealth has 
always fostered and encouraged art as it has litera¬ 
ture and music. 
The so-called general public does very little for 
art, although it can be said to reasonably enjoy it 
and to profit by it intellectually. It has been the 
wealthy men and women of history that have created 
the demand for works of art through their love of the 
beautiful that comes with higher education, and 
their desire to be surrounded by the inspired products 
of the artist’s brain and hand. This demand for 
works of art of all kinds has for centuries given 
artists and artisans not only employment and a 
means of livelihood, but oftentimes inspiration. 
Art progress in the United States owes a large and 
constantly increasing debt to its men and women of 
wealth. They have been generous and public 
spirited to a degree, having bought extravagantly to 
gratify their own pride and desires and at the same 
time given lavishly and bequeathed vast sums in 
and for the matter of art education of the people. 
They have built and endowed schools, equipped 
museums, established scholarships, and stimulated 
artistic effort through the offering of money prizes. 
FACADE OF CLUB-HOUSE 
99 
