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Show strikes a sympathetic chord in these lines: The hurly-burly of the road, The turmoil of the carterl feet, Intrude not to this still abode Where travelers from the world-ends meet, And find the gathering sweet. With such authority at hand, why should we be called upon to defend our love for prints? These little pieces of paper that bring to us the masterpieces of art scattered in public and private collections inaccessible to us are to be welcomed and not spurned. They give us portraits of men of genius and virtue, philosophers, philanthropists, statesmen, and poets. Many a historical scene has come down to us through them. From them we learn to know the habits and customs of all peoples, their daily lives, their hon'les. The old Paris that is now gone forever is preserved to us in the etchings of 18 Meryon, who loved passionately his city and caught ~any of its aspects on his fertile copper. So full of charm and instruction is the art that those who once are touched by it rarely abandon their affection for it. The eloquence of the black line holds one spell-bound; it has a charm all its own to those who can feel its in- · flue~ce. Its song makes charming music for the knowing ones. Prints are superior to monuments in bronze and marble, for the mass succumbs while these little pieces of paper prevail by their numbers. Tho~gh a print has no tongue, yet can It speak to us and give us useful information. It speaks a universal language that all may understand and enjoy. What we hear With weaker Passion will affect the heart, Than when the faithful eye beholds the part. -FRANCIS. 19 |