The Watchman And Southron

NOW FOR BEAUTY

Says a keen observer of the times: "Style in everything, style in places where you least expect it, is going to be the big movement in American life and business the next two or three years."

Recently we have been standardizing everything. That is good as far as economic efficiency is concerned. It means more goods and cheaper goods, more effective business, increasing comfort and convenience for everybody. But it also means monotony. It tends to kill individuality, making us and our possessions all alike.

Now, says this same observer, "we are going to unstandardize at least the things we look at or care much about."

There are plenty of signs in that direction. Automobiles, for example. Look at all the variations in models and finish, to give smartness, distinction and individuality to cars. The same tendency is shown in furniture, in household decorations, in victrolas and radio sets, even in stoves and kitchen appliances.

Instead of "style", perhaps we should use the word "art". For this sort of thing means nothing less than artistic development along many lines, aiming to beautify and enrich the common life. It is one of the finest signs of the time. And it is natural, as a part of our national evolution. There is little art, usually, in a pioneer stage of society. Later comes economic development and accumulation of wealth, and then the blossoming of art. It has been so in other countries.

We may be just entering our artistic era in architecture, painting, sculpture, literature, drama and other fields. Today America is rich and powerful. In another generation it may lead the world in beauty.