Autograph letters signed (27) : Brantwood, Coniston and London, to Katie Winifred Macdonald Goring, 1885 Jan. 22-1888 Feb. 16.

ArchivalResource

Ruskin, John, 1819-1900. Autograph letters signed (27) : Brantwood, Coniston and London, to Katie Winifred Macdonald Goring, 1885 Jan. 22-1888 Feb. 16.

Autograph letters signed (27) : Brantwood, Coniston and London, to Katie Winifred Macdonald Goring, 1885 Jan. 22-1888 Feb. 16.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/270865145

A series of letters written to a young girl, age 10 when the correspondence began, agreeing to be patron of a "Society of Friends of Living Creatures," inspired by a Ruskin article denouncing "the wanton destruction of beautiful and harmless creatures." He gives the club members advice on story-writing: "First, when you write fables [the word "fables" underlined], try always to make the animals speak, though with your [the word "your" underlined] words and wit, only from their [the word "their" underlined] experience and feelings ... in the second, and far more important place, when you collect and write down your experiences of animals, be sure you give as far as possible the exact facts--and no more than the facts. Don't attribute to the animals any more cleverness than you are sure of--nor guess their feelings." He criticizes large public concerts: "These vast concerts are merely mob's noise--rage--vanity--waste of money and life ... Learn to sing yourself--carefully, modestly--feelingly. Learn the simplest airs that belong to entirely noble words:--never sing sacred music but definitely as an act of worship--never [the word "never" underlined] for amusement-and above all ... see that music is made the minister and tutor of the poor--not the passion and pride of the rich."

27 items (48 p.)

Pierpont Morgan Library.