Judge — October 27, 1906 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“ZIM” ON THE RELATION OF ASTROLOGY TO ART. Written for the Silver Anniversary Number of Jove. HE editor asks me to contribute something to the Silver Anniversary Number of JupGe. Because I have for so many years helped to fight the political battles of the nation with a peaceful pencil in these pages, I suppose he thought I could write some jokes about the history of JUDGE, and draw a diagram or two to go with them. I could fill several pages with an account of the eventful career of the paper since I joined the staff, and I know I could cover the four sides of a large barn with pictures bearing on the subject. But is it worth while? JUDGE is his own history. I could neither add to nor subtract from it, 1 prefer to stick to my own line, and will, therefore, offer a few remarks, which I have carefully illustrated, fon the subject of the relation of astrology to art. For some years Ihave been besought and impor- tuned by beginners in art, and the fathers and mothers of beginners in art, and the uncles, cousins, I suppose “The best course to follow would be to consult astrology.” guardians and aunts of the beginners, and the would-be beginners in art, for advice, information, instruction, and assistance. Some time ago I wrote a little book, *« This and That about Caricature,” for the solace and comfort of such. But the inquiries still come. Thave begun to feel that the ordinary infor- mation communicated by an artist is insufficient. Such common advice as + Don’t try to draw yn- less you have a natural gift for it” seems to miss the mark, “If you must draw take a pencil and draw and keep on drawing” falls short. The parents of talented sons and the talented sons of unsympathetic parents refuse to he sa Some better source of information must be tapped. The mere word of the artist who has achieved some sort of success is not enough, After con- sidering the matter carefully for some years, I have reached the conclusion that astrology is our only hope. In the days of our grandfathers and grand- mothers (heaven bless them for their good hard cider and dough- nuts!) no farm was complete without * A Spavin-cure Alma nac.” By this book the farmer could tell that the best time to plant beans was when the moon was full. And his wife could tell that the best time so/ to plant beans was These signs never tailed, even though the And the farmer who deigned * Ambitious in the sit- ting line. when the farmer was full. almanac was thirty or forty years old. to ignore the signs was never heard to brag of his crops. Therefore the best course to follow, when secking to determine whether your boy is destined to be an artist, is to consult ogy. I have indicated how this may be done in the diagram at the beginning of this article. Any parent can easily consult astrology after studying this diagram for a few moments. If you discover, by : this simple de- vice, that your boy was intend- ed for a confec- tioner, don’t try to make an art- ist of him, It you discover that hehas lean- ings toward art try to ascertain which .branch of art. It may “If art is his ambition encourage him all you can. be the stars will Eugene Zimmerman, of the old guard of Juvoe's staff. mean that he is cut out for a win- dow - artist. and flap-jack expert, to draw customers into a restaurant. On the other hand, if he is really des. ignated for art en- courage him, Do all you can to help im. At the foot of this page I have shown how a father should do this, Those who wish to encourage their boys in art need not look further for instruction. If you decide the stars are against an art career for your boy you should place obstacles in his way to wean him from his ambition, When a hen desires to sit and her owner, after consulting the stars, concludes that she is likely to loaf round on a nest to no purpose he places obstacles in the path of her ambition, On the left I have snap- shotted a hen in the process of being persuaded not to choose a sedentary career. Fathers of artistic sons not horn for art are at lib- erty to consult this picture at any time and derive suggestions from it when looking for obstacles to an artistic career. “Is the talent for art born in a boy or does he acquire it ?" is the old, old inquiyr, which is forever repeated. 1 can only answer, * weis nicht. can truthfully say, however, that [ have never yet observed a child ushered into this world in any other than the raz sfafe. When it is asserted that this or that boy was born with a silver spoon in his mouth or a brush and pallet in his hands the statement ought not to be re- garded seriously, If such were the case it would be just as reasonable to suppose that the child who exhibits a marked inclination toward dentis- try was born with a set of false teeth, There is no rule for suc- cess in art any more than there is a set rule for shaving. Every works out his own way of % doing it, An art- ist must be an inventor—a con- triver of ideas. He must dosome- thing and ink—thesim- “The artist is always an inventor.” Ich WHEN tae Moon if Fur® "eu man NOT Too Fur? with pen plest tools in the world—that nobody ever did before. That is, if he will succeed. It hardly seems possible to. me that JUDGE has reached his quarter- century mark, I joined the staff very early in his career —about 1886, I think —and it seems only yesterday—until I begin to count the years. Twenty-five years nearly covers the history of comic journalism in America—at least of successful comic journalism, When I think of the men who have made their mark in that time, and especially of those who have won recognition in the pages of JupcE, | am clined to think our profession sizes up pretty well with any of the rest ofthe professions, Weare, at least, better than the surgeons and doc- tors, for those who laugh them. selves to death—well, it’s the easi- est way out ofa bad situation. The professions all run on artistic lines. The preacher depends for success on drawing. Likewise the dentist. My work could not have held out so long if 1 had not been able to draw my pay weekly from Jupcr.. “The best time not to plant beans was when farmer was full “There is not one instance on record of a child being born with a set of false teeth in. his mouth comicbooks.com