A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13651, 21 July 1906, Page 10

A COMMUNITY OF ARTISTS.

THE AMERICAN ROYCROFTERS. (By Aldkrt Goldik, in the Argus.) In the village of last Aurora, 18 miles from Buffalo. State of New York, there live and thrive a few hundred people so removed in their methods ami habits from the lest of the world that they have recently 'been attracting widespread attention. These people lire known as the "Roycrofters." 'While obedient to the laws of tl'.s United States, and in every respect good citizens, they arc governed 'by moro advanced doctrines oil social and political problems than any political institutions have yet evolved. These aro the doctrines of Elbert Hubbard, whose publications arc not unknown to Australian readers.

Koycroflism may be summeckup in the epigram which is engraven on 'the great oaken door through which the visitor posses before gaining acimiltanre to the cathedrallike .structure known as the Royeroft Shops: "Life without industry is guilt: industry without art is brutality." Bold as the doctrine is. it has worked successfully. Having accepted an invitation io East "Aurora, I found tho Roycroficrs living in an almost idyllic state of contentment. It was like a. theory proved, a. dream fulfilled, a romance come true. The beauty of it all jay in the fact that, the doctrine triumphed bv reason of its own strength, and in spite of its environment. East 'Aurora is bv no menus an artist ie centre, whiie the Stateof New York is perhaps the most commercial province on'earth. A project, therefore, to a!tract h this snot men anil women who would produce books gorgeously bound, paint pictures that would'be hung in the SnJon of Paris or other of the world's great galleri?s, who would carve rich furniture and design rare ornaments, had little in its favour. But. though art may not have been indigenous to the clime, it has proved under the influence of Elbert Hubbard, to lie susceptible of cultivation in a remarkable degree. The marvel—for such it is— is not so. much thai arlisis have raihered there from all parts of the country, as that common forms of industry have been made artistic.

The Boycroflcrs I found lo be a cornora(ion which hnd arisen upon a solid financial foundation. Art has been skilfully allied In commerce. The Philistine and "Little .lournevs," two magazines uobJishcd Hv Klbcrf Hubbard, have achieved astonish, in?; success, and. though midget publications, fhev have taken a strontr bold upon the American niMic. What shall I say of the hooks? Such hooks! Bindings in plush and vellum, of designs so mnny' and varied, and all so striking thai cboiee is hafflod and desires ovcnv'helnv?d. The K"lmscoit Press may have insured Fibprt Hubbard, but in the making of hooks he stands almie. Tlie eitlalo'rue is mainly classical, though many of Hubbard's o'vii writings figure in (bo collection. Shakespeare may be read in suitable setiinirs. just as his nlav.s are acted in scoimw that gives versiniil'tude to the story. To open a volume is lo be taken info an anpronrinto 'itniosnhere, even More one reads. There are BnkiivaU which mipht have been "Si'vert under the inspiration of Omar, and li- merso:is pa'torned in the Mat-clv spirit of the orrcat nhilosonher. The I'.wpst-price/l volume is f\ the highest £100. the verv e\r.<Misive editions "heing limH'vl to a few copies, (-o as to offer a eneeia' y'-dticement to tlie book collector. For £?0 one niav secure full memVorsbio in the colony and receive „ eonv of cvorv bonk published in 'be chesiv) edition?. To any pnvelpscr of any is rriven a year's is»uo of tlie two ■Rnvcro't' magazines. '

One is struck by the iiearefuhicss "f the Ttniosnherc throusbont the shons. Everywhore everyone is hu'v: vet there is none of the strain of the strenuous life, or the 'united look in the fares of Ibe worker? which one sees elsewhere. Besides the printing- and bindimf establishments. tb<> Bnycroflcrs own o, bank. a. blacksmith's shop, and a Farm, where they grow vegetables, raise live slock, and carry on a dairv.

After seeing the shops T was escorted to a chapel, which served to recall the fact that ihp. making of books !)as religious associations, and that, it, was' the monks who illuminated the early breviaries. The chapel is a meeting-place for intellectual cultivation; all denominations are on an equal footing. Elbert Hubbard's watchword is "freedom." so the colony is thoroughly imseetarian. From the chapel I was led through the snow-clad Harden—it was early January—and across tlie ieyclocovered roadway to the Boycroft Inn, or " Phe.lansterio," as it is called.

"Produce great people, the rest follows." was the motto I now had to conjure with. The inn, though si simple structure, viewed from the outside, is remarkable for the subdued elegance of its interior. The recep-tion-room is cheerfully, though quietly, decorated with flowers and bric-a-brac, and thmiish this apartment I was taken before entering the Roycroft Salon. This salon is an anariment of great beauty. I bad seen the drawing-rooms of the Waldorf Astoria, which are dedicated to ostentatious Orientalism, and I had viewed the art-em-blazoncd halls of the Auditorium, Chicago, but, in this Roycroft Salon I found rest— rest for the senses in this place of pillared alcoves and deep recesses, with the floor of plain uncovered.or.k. On Hie four walls of the chamber, 50ft in length by 30ft in breadth, are exquisite paintings. On one wall blue-tinted Venice inspires thoughts of music and poetry; on another are panelled paintings revealing ancient glories or modern wonders. The harmony of colouring and tho symmetry of subject is charming.

In a dining hall, which has been well compared with the German resorts at Karls rube. T took "supper." At this evening moai there was a delightful comradeship, •t. splendid Bohcmiani'm. which placed liv quite at my ease. T learn.-d that Royeroflism practised the "simolo life"—plain food nnd not too much of it, to sleep out of doors, nnd to walk afield as much as possible. Tho inn is filled with out-of-door sleeping apartments, and there is a eamn in the neighbouring woods. Daily excursions are made to seenio rewts. and such sub iocts as music, literature, natural history, etc., are diseuss-d.

A wizard in literature (Elbert Hubbard) has spread his influence far beyond th» UniM Rtntcs. even to Australia, where he has a large number of fo'lowers. An invitation aiven to him to vis-t Australia way answered by an inlfiliation that he would come as soon ss he enuVl. He is an interesting teeturer, and command larsc figures for the Roycroft funds whenever he speaks in America. His first rrincinlc, as far as I c?n iudge. is to work. "Do your wortUS well as you can, and be kind," is an inscription in a vellum-bound volume which I h.iive received from him since my visit to tho colony. Almost, all of his writings •end to show the lwiefits to lie got out o' congenial work. "The love yon liberate in your work .is the onlv love vou keep," is one of bis off-nnof'vr. 'notifies

Tn the January number of the Philistine be applies his favourite doctrine to the bihonr unions. After illustrating the evils of abuse untW the head of the " Law of Diminishing Returns." he endeavours to show bow labour unions are up to a given point beneficial, after that detrimental, to snnd work. "P ; d you ever hear of a un ; on." he asks, "where the men were called together to di-euss methods and means to better the business that supplied tb"m with si livelihood?"

Elbert Hubbard practises what lie preaches. Tim Roycroft Colony is neither i union nor a trust. There arc no "bosses." F.verv mini who works frets paid for his work, and is the master of his own efforts. " Any lsibnuror." be snys, " who owns a home, and lias a savings bank account, is a capitalist-." Hubbard proves this in his own community.

The doctrines—or rather practices—of Father Hubbard am to provide opportunity to work; flic means of ennobling work! the freedom of individual thought and action: the necessary occasion for the enjoyment of an artistic life; the ric-htamount of indulgence- in ordinary pastimes, and the. adoption of the simple life in regard to food., rest, air. and evercise. The only important article prohibited is intoxicating drink.