Neglecting Home Talent

There avo avtists and musiwans aniong us who have won fumo and fortune. l?ut for one that is suecessful cores strugglo ag-ainst the petty jealousy of thoir countryinen and poverty produced by thla foreign craze. It is a noíjrious íact that Americana who havo painted pietures and published niusic unilor thoir own names liavo beca a complete failurc; but on assuming a foroign, high-sounding namo their works havo foiind a roady sale. A largo uumber of paintings held by tho rich in this obiintry, with Frenen and It.aiiuü signatnros, are the works ef resident Amsrieau artista. If thcir Owners kuew Lhat t'.io artist was a plain Georgo Sniith or John Thomas they would not consider tliom trorth the canvas they aro paintod on. Why have not Aiiierioans more naiional pride? Why do nut the lich spend more of their moncy at home? Money paid out here forluxuries bouefits the massos. The artist and musician pay it to the nierchants, who ia turn pay it to their employés. Forcigncr.s who excel should be well paid for tlieir works, whicb shonld be broaght to this country; they help to edúcate us, to elévate and refino, but they must not bo palronlzèd to the exclusión of our own. We have Iho same elevating, reliniiig nilluence with us, in men and womun of talent and genius, but who languish iu obseurity for want of patronage, bccauso our Ireat weakness is for show, and that s made botter by buyjng in Paris, Florence or Rome. In order to avoid tho loss of millions we must learn to appreoiate, to eucourage and support Dur own. Another evil consequent upon tho lirst is, that, seeing Amoiioans rushing abroad to spend their uiouey, foreigners have naturally como to tho conclusión that our art product ons must be of a very inferior order wheu we will not buy them ourselves. This impression is created by Air.oricuns vherever they go; consequontly they not only send thoir own money abroad, but prejudice foreigners, so that they will Qot send their mouoy here foranything that eau 1)0 had elsowhere. lf Amerieans had that truc-born pride and lovo of country which should anímate every heart, there would be no bowing at the feet of strango talent to neglect our own; but with a helping Rand American genius liberated would mount and hold ulaco with tho hisrhest