ART FOR LIFE'S SAKE

Evening Star, Issue 18045, 12 August 1922, Page 11

ART FOR LIFE'S SAKE

URBAN LIFE MENACE. YOUTH AND HORRIBLE SABBATARIANS. “Their attitude is horrible, blasphemous Sabbatarianism,” Dr Saleeby declared in regard -to tho London County Council’s refusal to allow Sunday games in the parks. Young people, he remarked, were red-blooded, and) it was necessary that they should) have every opportunity for recreation and self-culture. The address was delivered at the first annual conference of the Faculty of Arts, in which art in relation to many phases of life wan touched upon. Mr Leigh Henry said there was need for co-operation among artists in the various branches of art; they needed to drop their rather obsolete individuality. Artists, actors, and musicians were vagabonds, technically and legally. There was no status for any artist who bad not arrived at the high standard ol painting the Duchess of So-and-So's children. Tho value of the artist as a social and creative factor and as a. developing influence in human sensibility towards everything that was highest and best was almost entirely neglected. There was no good artist who was not a good member of the community. But he bad to convince people that ho was not a child, lapdog, or a lunatic. Dr James Murphy said that already there was a highly-developed testhetic sense of natural beauty, but not of artistic beauty. Incidentally, there was no public conscience in regard l to public monuments. People went from Westminster Abbey to lay wreaths on what architecturally was a dismantled windmill, and - tolerated the Albert Memorial after the beauties of Kcaisington Gardens. Dr Saleeby said that decadence was threatening England. Cities had drawn unto themselves most of the people and enterprise. With the rural districts being depopulated, we should find it hard to maintain our race under what he described as “urban conditions.” In industry the technical hygienist had done wonders for tho body of'the worker. But little had been done for his mind anicl soul. Young people who nowadays were working fewer hours used their time off for their self-destruction. The most damnable diseases did not do their foul work in tho hours ol industry. Blame was not to bo attached to young people. There were few opportunities of recreation and self-culture outside the gin palace. SUNDAYS—TWO KINDS. There are two kinds of Sundays—one for the well-to-do, another for the poor (complains a London paper). The former may chase the bounding ball to their hearts’ content and enjoy themselves. To the latter such pleasurable amusement on ’Sunday ia “verboten.” But while the children of the poor must regard any kind of ball as a base ball on Sunday, baseball itself is tho latest form of Sunday sport allowed to those who. can afford it. At Stamford Bridge 1,000 people spent a quite happy time watching the international baseball League match between Canada and America. The proceedings wore considerably enlivened by a jazz band, and tho “fans” appreciated the provision of an ample supply of peanuts and ices, without which tire game in America woulcl not be complete. American won by 9 runs to 8 and one innings in hand. Tho game was most interesting. And while it was being played, children of the slums, who dared to run after a ball in the public parks were being chased! away by park officials I