THE SPIRIT OF LIGHT. By Edwin A. Abbey
Copyright by Edwin A. Abbey. From a Copley Print, copyright by Curtis & Cameron, Boston. Reproduced by permission.
THE SPIRIT OF LIGHT
By Edwin A. Abbey
From a mural painting in the Pennsylvania State Capitol at Harrisburg.
This is a very striking picture, one of the artist’s best. In the background are the huge derricks which lift the oil from the bowels of the earth. In front of them golden-haired figures, robed in gauze with torch in hand, are swirling upward in joyous energy like a swarm of fireflies.
In making this picture the artist took infinite pains. Each figure was first drawn from a living model. Each was then photographed and by the use of a lantern the figures were projected upon the canvas where they were manœuvred into place for the artist’s guidance. The whole picture is successful in conveying the impression of spontaneity combined with lightness and grace.
Why Isolation was Possible.—This substantial isolation was made possible for more than a hundred years by three features. |1. The fortunate geographical position of the United States.| The first is the favored geographical position of the country. The United States, as a strong nation, has stood alone in the Western Hemisphere. Her only neighbors were European colonies and the struggling states of Latin-America. So long, therefore, as the powerful nations of Europe could be held at arm’s length there was no reason why the United States should give much thought to problems of defence, alliances, and diplomacy. Nature gave the United States an advantage in this respect which is not possessed by any other strong nation with the exception of Japan. Countries like England, France, and Germany could not have pursued a policy of isolation even if their people had desired it, for they are too close to each other.
2. The abundance of land.
In the second place the United States was encouraged to hold aloof from the older countries of the world by the fact that there was plenty of room for expansion at home. For a hundred years there was no need to go abroad seeking new territories. It took the United States a whole century to develop and populate the solid block of country which extends from the Atlantic to the Pacific. When other countries desired places of overflow for their population and new fields of investment for their capital, they engaged in a race for colonial possessions. The United States had no such need or ambition; there was quite enough opportunity at home.