Original Letters and Biographic Epitomes | Page 3

to
raise the public taste, to cultivate or correct a wrong line of popular
impression; that of pictures of the like of "Ecce Homo," being to
enlighten the current interest for whose delight moreover art, from a
social point of view, is justified in its mission, having a yet higher
motive, the kindling of rapture in the heart of the creative artist.
Pictures since earlier times have been vehicles as well as ventilators of
popular belief. It is for this cause, and in instances where it is proven,
painful to touch or shake the constitutive elements of other people's
faith; an acute sense of this compunction on the whole restraining the
weight of my recent remarks. But, conjecturally speaking, in a world
wherein all things are so public, it must be conceded that strong light
should at stated times fuse the impinging points of understanding, that
truth and common sense may scrutinise their sound bearings; moreover,
also, that academic science may arraign itself with dignity.
Your correspondent's remarks with reference to the colour of the robe
are, upon the whole, useful, purple and scarlet being synonymous terms;
preponderance of mention, rests though with the former.
Pictures cannot be considered too much as books; such truth, Art, by
the concurrence of testimony, has manifested in its destiny from time
immemorial, confirming afresh benefits on man. Open discussion will
not only add to, magnify, or deduct from their lustre, but cause their
aims, in short, to redound to the public weal. Such being so, it is
rational to expect an expression of opinion thereupon. They are not,
universally, to be regarded as graven tablets, to be gazed at, nor to be
received as infallible oracles of law. They are--at the same time,
barometers, charts, and weather-glasses--chronicles towards the fine
ends of justice, peace and mercy.
Your correspondent has stated that my remarks are ambiguous. They
may have been technical and recondite, but, as such, are excusable, and,
in their sphere, just.
J. ATWOOD.SLATER.

4, Hill Side, Cotham Hill, Bristol.

_SOCIAL SCIENCE._
From the WESTERN DAILY PRESS, _Aug. 1st_, 1901.
LOCOMOTIVE STEAM WHISTLES.
To the Editor of the Western Daily Press.
Sir,--It is essential, and, according to my instincts of decorum,
necessary, to call the attention of those charged with authority in such
matters, and the public generally, to the growing misuse, in the hands
of engineers, of the locomotive steam whistle, the employment thereof
having especially in town districts, grown to be out of all dimensions of
private service, injurious to those whether officially called, or who,
pending the pleasure of mercantile circumstance, are publicly obliged
to pursue abstruse mental occupation, necessitating labour and much
concentration of though[t]. A reasonable use of this means, or
instrument, of signal and alarm, must be conceded to those in whose
hands resides its use, but at the same time a firm directorship or
jurisdiction ought to repress its extravagant or wanton employment.
To warn passengers of the starting and of the approach of trains only a
moderate application of the whistle is needed, whilst for the diplomatic
the discreet purpose of practical manoeuvre, namely, to draw the
attention of signalmen to the passing of points by trains, extra power is
requisite; but the gruesome display, I maintain, of vocative sounds
tuned to an intellectual point of mood is needless.
Those daily engaged upon manual work only are not in a like manner
affected, though for all reasons of civil and common honour the
supercilious cry referred to should be deprecated. Rather tune and
sound the whistle to two simultaneous notes in sharp, brief accent than
that the chambers of the minds of the hearers of those sounds should be
so continuously, remorselessly entered. Anything lengthy aggravates
the auditory crisis. The stream of daily occupation with the set purpose
of sedentary exploit is competent to regulate itself without an articulate

"voice" from the railway companies.
I am, Sir, faithfully yours,
J. ATWOOD.SLATER
4, Hill Side, Cotham Hill, Bristol,
_July 29th_, 1901.

SCULPTURE.
From the WESTERN DAILY PRESS, _Nov. 16th_, 1901.
ALFRED STEVENS, SCULPTOR.
ADDRESS BY MR. J. ATWOOD.SLATER.
Sir,--I send you with the thought that you may wish to publish them the
precise substance of my remarks verbally delivered at the meeting of
the Bristol Society of Architects, November 11th, on which occasion a
refreshing paper upon the works of Alfred Stevens was delivered, a
man of high artistic repute, whose fame in this district is but dimly
recognised, being of another parent soil.
Yours faithfully,
J. ATWOOD.SLATER.
4, Hill Side, Cotham Hill, Bristol,
_Nov. 12th_, 1901.
Mr. Slater spoke as follows:--The importance of the moment bids me
hasten with all seriousness to support the special retribution of
plausible justice, amounting to adulation, which has been lavished on
the labours of the distinguished English sculptor. Had