SN

Their gods are Mestrovic, Rodin, Archipenko, Paul Manship, the ancient
Greek and Negro sculptors—and, of course, their own master, Ralph
Stackpole, who comes in for criticism twice a week, and exchanges views
and arguments on modernism in his quiet, whimsical manner. A sense of
humor that will not be supressed bubbles out in the midst of a tense and
serious criticism. Sculpture students are very clannish, and all share the
idea that they are the hardest working class in the school. All very aloof!

But at luncheon hour all meet on a common ground—the cafeteria, for
hungry art students are all the same, brothers under the skin. Trays are
carried out onto the lawns, or into the patio and stoneyards, and for an
hour the school eats, drinks, and toasts in the California sunshine.

Competition runs high here, and perhaps it is a good thing in a sense,
but | prefer our school spirit at home where we take a little more time to
appreciate our neighbor's efforts as much as our own; and where
advanced students are ever ready to help and criticize a beginner's work.
Our ideals are finer, but we could learn a great deal from the Southerners
about confidence—a wonderful thing to possess when we have finished
our school life. At home we need not have any inferiority complex,
because our work more than measures up to standard, and we have not
had anything of their advantages in the way of galleries, lectures, build-
ings and equipment. What Vancouver could produce with San Francisco

advantages!

| intended to tell about Carmel-by-the-Sea, that bit of paradise which is
an artists’ colony on the coast a few miles from historic Monteray—but
you asked for a letter—not a book. Carmel could inspire many books;
the country found it has inspired one poet, Robinson Jeffers, who is one
of the idols of the art and literary students here.

Best of luck, Paint Box, and all good wishes on this your fifth birthday.
| hope to be home again in time to applaud the 1930 graduates, and to
beam and beam.

Your erstwhile student,

BEATRICE LENNIE.