cally created in swirls of snow; gaunt stumps; dead branches gro-
tesquely mingling with brilliant new growth of fireweed; all that
Nature has to offer in such profusion calls to him, and he responds
joyously.
Not content with merely painting the mountain, he eagerly seeks
intimacy with it, and by climbing and exploring and searching,
makes every contour and hollow and crevice his own, and part of
him. He arises before dawn that he may partake of the glorious sun-
rise; he climbs to lofty elevations that he may claim acquaintance
with the upper air, and the clouds; he tramps the lowland in order
that he may embrace it more completely in his painting. He is burned
and blistered by the sun and tormented by insects. He is careless of
meal-times, and of his sleep.
Days and weeks pass by, and he is still wrapped in purposeful pur-
suit of knowledge of, and familiarity with the country. All else is
forgotten in the intensity of his work. Sketch after sketch is pro-
duced; not mere facile representations of his surroundings, but the
results of many a feverish hour of work, and of many attempts and
re-attempts.
His task is not finished here. From the knowledge gained by his
weeks of work, and from the experiences of a life rich in emotional
adventures, he draws for the satisfying of a creative urge, and this
task is trebly difficult. Weeks of intensive effort—of deliberate selec-
tion and rejection, and of careful readjustments, and new canvases
appear, concrete impressions from the latest chapter of an eventful,
rich and full life.
Whereupon various old gentlemen arise and utter maledictions and
vehemently condemn the artist for doing that which they do not
understand, and which they will never be able to understand!

VITO S. CIANCI.

VIA-VERITAS-VITA

We come with faltering feet,

Not halting, for he who hesitates must fall,
Finding in our yearning search

Just enough of that elusive truth

To lead us on.

The weak in spirit fail.

Art and Life demand

A singleness of purpose,

A courage of conviction,

A craving for expression

To become a Master, yet a servant,

Who leads the way, yet follows after. M. A. W.

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