J. Griswold - Crayon and Character: Truth Made Clear Through Eye and Ear
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J. Griswold >> Crayon and Character: Truth Made Clear Through Eye and Ear
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13 CRAYON AND CHARACTER
Truth Made Clear Through Eye and Ear
or
Ten-Minute Talks With Colored Chalks
B.J. GRISWOLD
MEIGS PUBLISHING COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
1913
First Reprint 1918
FOREWORD.
Any earnest Christian who is capable of addressing an audience or a
Sunday school class, can, by the aid of this book, give a helpful
chalk talk. The book has been designed to meet a growing need of this
important phase of teaching.
Any parent, with this book in the home, can use it not only to teach
the boy or the girl a simple method of drawing, but may implant in the
life of the child the good seed of the Tree of Life.
In the preparation of these talks, "Life" has been the keyword. The
thought permeates both the text and the style of illustration used.
It is also a feature of the arrangement of each talk whereby a
"developing" or "living" picture holds the attention of the listeners
through two "scenes" or "steps" of unfolding.
Many of the time-honored symbols will not be found in these pages. The
Anchor as the emblem of Hope, and the Crown as the type of Victory or
Kingship have given place to symbols and types from nature and from
the every-day life of common folks.
Many a smile has been introduced. And why not? We proclaim the Gospel
as the Good News, the message of joy and gladness. The New Testament,
with its glad tidings of great joy, is one continuous song. Always,
however, it has been the aim to lead the thoughts of the listener to
Him whose Light we are to reflect among men.
The title of each chalk talk appears twice in the index, in order to
provide a wide range of subjects from which to select an appropriate
lesson for each occasion.
In his years of experience as a newspaper writer and illustrator, the
author has endeavored to cultivate the art of saying as much as
possible in a few words and drawn lines. In this book (and in your
chalk talk work) the same thought applies. As a Sunday school
superintendent and a teacher, the author hopes that many may not be
afraid to undertake the use of chalk after studying the easy method
here described. As a means of enlarging your usefulness as a teacher
of the Eternal Truth, the book, we believe, contains much that will
help and encourage.
Fort Wayne, Indiana.
B.J. GRISWOLD.
"BEFORE TAKING."
There are too many books published which are GOOD for _two things
only_:
FIRST--They are good sellers, possibly "Best Sellers."
SECOND--They are good at keeping people out of bed till
midnight--because they make such "mighty interestin' reading."
Such books may make their authors famous and their publishers rich,
but if that is all they are good for, we would not care to sell, much
less to publish, them.
The book which the reader holds is put out, not because it is bound to
be a _good seller_ nor because it is _interesting_, but because
of its power to HELP Christian work and workers, and of its own
ability to give instruction in righteousness to its readers, old and
young; to sow seed thoughts of truth in human minds and hearts.
And who will it help?
All Christian platform workers in general and the Sunday School
Superintendent in particular.
The Superintendent, especially on all "Special Days."
The Pastor, especially in the prayer meeting where any kind of help,
_so it is help_, will be welcomed by most pastors.
It will be useful to all because of its wealth of material and
illustration for expressive and impressive _little, big, ten-minute
talks_, whenever opportunity offers.
We commend the book with all earnestness, to these various classes of
people, and will insist that no father or mother will ever be the
poorer, but the richer, who will part with the price and get in
exchange for it a copy of this book, as a birthday or Christmas gift
to a son or daughter between ten and twenty years of age. It will help
parents in the uncertain and difficult problem of rearing their
children in a way that will make them and keep them a joy in the home,
rather than a heartache, a heart break, and the saddest kind of a
bereavement, which is too often the case. Surely a dollar spent which
may help avert this, is worth far more than a hundred cents lying
unused in a bank.
There are sixty-two picture outlines in the book, and with every
picture a ten-minute talk, with chalk illustration, which recites and
impresses, now, a great and noble deed of a truly noble man; now a
kindly act with a double blessing in it; again, a warning to those who
unknowingly set foot upon the devil's ground and find it a miry or
slimy pit; or, it may be a lesson from one of the world's great poets
or historians, for the author has evidently been a reader of great
books with a mind to recall many lessons learned therefrom.
THE PUBLISHERS.
CONTENTS.
Page.
INTRODUCTION:
The Plan of the Book .......................... 7
The Value of Chalk Talks ...................... 7
The Two-Scene Method .......................... 8
Chalk Work on Paper ........................... 8
Materials Are Cheap ........................... 8
Important to Beginners ........................ 8
EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS:
The Drawing Board ............................. 10
The Drawing Paper ............................. 10
The Chalk ..................................... 12
PREPARING TO GIVE THE CHALK TALK:
The Method Explained .......................... 12
Outlining the Right Picture ................... 13
Not an Artist, But a Teacher .................. 14
Finishing Part of the Drawing in Advance ...... 14
The Value of Individuality .................... 14
International or Graded Lessons ............... 14
Talks for Special Days ........................ 14
Talk vs. Chalk ................................ 16
Strive Only for Good .......................... 16
Recording Your Talks .......................... 16
A Word to Parents ............................. 16
A Final Word to Pastors ....................... 18
INDEX:
Talks for Special Days ........................ 205
Subject Index ................................. 207
His pictured morals mend the mind
And through the eye correct the heart.
--GARRICK, _on Hogarth_.
INTRODUCTION.
~~The Plan of the Book.~~
In the preparation of this book the author has had two great plans in
mind:
To prepare a work which will enable _any person, who can speak to a
class or an audience, to give a helpful, inspiring illustrated
talk_; to place in the hands of parents everywhere a book to enable
them to teach the children a simple, fascinating method of drawing
and, at the same time make the great truths of life a part of their
every-day learning.
Clear instructions are given as to the method of doing these two
things. Then come sixty-two complete talks of special appropriateness
for Christian teaching. If you are included in the following classes
of workers, the book should be of special value to you:
(a) Speakers who earnestly want to give illustrated talks, but
who feel that they "can't draw a straight line."
(b) Those who are experienced in chalk talk work and are seeking
new material.
(c) Teachers of the Uniform Lessons.
(d) Teachers of Graded Lessons.
(e) Sunday school superintendents, for platform work.
(f) Pastors, for use in prayer meetings and many other services
of the church.
(g) Temperance workers. In this department of work this book
is especially worthy of consideration.
(h) Those who need suggestions to help them work out their
own addresses.
(i) Parents for giving instruction in the home. It is a great
truth that such teaching is far more effective than any which the
church or the schools may provide.
~~The Value of Chalk Talks.~~
Scientists tell us that _nothing which completely occupies the mind
for any length of time is ever forgotten_.
This, then, is the reason that the chalk talk method of teaching is so
lastingly impressive. People forget everything else while watching a
speaker draw a picture. And if they do that, they can never completely
forget the words of the speaker or the picture he draws. A baby that
doesn't know one letter from another can understand some pictures as
well as _you_ can. Try him once and see. And if he lives to be a
hundred years of age, he will receive more lasting impressions from
pictures than from what he reads. Your audience, therefore, may be
depended upon to be "right with you" from the beginning.
~~The Two-Scene Method.~~
Added to this feature of securing strict attention, we find in this
book another help in the same direction: Every talk is given in two
"scenes" or steps. The speaker draws part of the picture, while he
speaks, and then, at a little later period, adds the lines to complete
the drawing and bring the scene to a climax. In each talk, the upper
picture is the first scene, and the lower picture is the second scene,
or completed drawing.
~~Chalk Work on Paper.~~
The book is planned to encourage the use of sheets of book- or
news-paper instead of the blackboard. Paper is used by all leading
workers with chalk. To discard the blackboard is to take a forward
step. However, if you are "wedded" to the use of the blackboard and
can handle it effectively, you will find all but a small number of
these illustrations adapted to your method.
~~Materials Are Cheap.~~
Probably your school or church is already supplied with the necessary
apparatus to do all the work as planned in this book. However, for any
who may need to provide for himself a drawing board and easel,
instructions for making them are here given. It is only necessary,
then, to procure drawing paper and chalk. These are cheap in price and
easy to get. You are urged, therefore, to proceed with the use of
drawing paper as here instructed, and to lay aside the blackboard for
the more advanced method.
~~Important to Beginners.~~
Each drawing in the book, as already stated, is given in two "scenes,"
in order to show you how your drawing will look _when it is partly
finished_ (first scene), and how it will look _when it is
completed_ (second scene).
If you are at all "bashful" about taking up the work, let us make this
suggestion: In the seclusion of your home or elsewhere, draw the
_first scene_ of your talk completely. Thus you will have plenty
of time to make it to suit you, with no one to look on and fluster or
confuse you. Then cover up the completed work, by placing another
sheet of paper over it. When you appear before the audience to give
your talk, give your spoken introduction and lead up to the _first
scene_. At this point, remove the cover paper and expose your
drawing. Proceed with your talk until you reach the climax in the
_second scene_, at which time you give the picture the final
lines with your crayon. Many will find this an easy, satisfactory way
to give these talks--indeed many of the illustrations in the book are
most effective if given in this way. Experience, however, brings
greater confidence, and many will prefer to do most of their drawing
in sight of the audience.
Devote yourself to a thorough understanding of essentials, and you
will be pleased at the ease with which the field opens. The
encouraging words of your associates and the echoes of the good you
are doing will strengthen your confidence.
~~Equipment and Materials.~~
The necessary equipment and materials for the work include the drawing
board, the drawing paper and the chalk (or lecture crayons).
~~The Drawing Board.~~
Probably your school has a reversible blackboard mounted on an easel,
like that shown in Fig. 1. If so, you will find it amply sufficient
for your use. The two or three little holes made by the thumb tacks,
to attach your drawing paper to the board, at the top, will not injure
it in the least. If you haven't such a board, it would be well to
procure one, as it can be used for many purposes. The writer has often
used a board of this kind in giving chalk talks. The publishers of
this book will be glad to give full information as to size and price
of such a board.
[Illustration: Fig. 1]
[Illustration: Fig. 2]
Another convenient and cheap equipment is an ordinary square board,
Fig. 2. If you take six boards, each 45 inches long, 7 inches wide and
1/2 inch thick, and attach them to two cleats at the back, you will
have a good, serviceable drawing board which can be hung against the
wall with screw hooks and screw eyes; or, it can be set on an easel or
other convenient holder. It is only necessary that the board be smooth
and the wood be well-seasoned soft pine or bass wood to keep it from
warping. If screws are used to fasten the boards to the cleats, screw
them through from the back, leaving the front perfectly smooth. Be
sure that the screws aren't too long. It would be well to stain the
board brown or some other dark color.
[Illustration: Fig. 3]
A combination drawing board and easel is shown in Fig. 3, a back view
of which is given. Take six boards of well-seasoned soft pine, 45
inches long, 8 inches wide and 1/2 inch thick. For the rear legs, use
two pieces 5 feet and 8 inches long, 2 inches wide and 1/2 inch
thick. A wire should be attached to each rear leg to avoid spreading.
Fig. 4 shows this board and easel in use.
[Illustration: Fig. 4]
~~The Drawing Paper.~~
The most inexpensive paper for chalk talk work is the kind on which
newspapers are printed. It may be purchased from printing houses,
paper dealers or newspaper offices. A cheap quality of book-paper is
also good, and may be bought from printing houses and paper
dealers. Ordinary light-colored, light-weight manila paper, such as is
used for wrapping, is very satisfactory; it may be procured from paper
dealers, or, if you want but a small quantity, probably any merchant
would be glad to supply you. The lines which you intend to place on it
may be worth infinitely more than the goods he plans to wrap in it.
~~The Chalk.~~
The writer is accustomed to using chalk made by the American Crayon
Company, which can be had at any time from the publishers of this
book, and, doubtless, from other publishers. Ask for "lecture
crayons." A complete price list, together with samples of colors, will
be furnished on request. For general work it is well to have on hand a
half dozen sticks of black and a stick each of green, brown, red,
yellow, orange and blue. The lecture crayons come in two sizes, one
measuring one inch square and three inches long; the other is one-half
inch square and three inches in length. If you choose the larger size,
the sticks can, when advisable, be cut to the smaller size.
PREPARING TO GIVE THE TALK
The instructions here given are for the beginner. Others will follow
their accustomed methods. In our introduction we make the claim that
any earnest Christian worker, who is capable of addressing an audience
or a Sunday school class can, by the aid of this book, give a helpful
chalk talk.
Your response may be, "But, I can't draw." Listen! The following
instructions will teach you how to do the work without a technical or
practical knowledge of drawing. Let us take up the matter step by
step. When you understand the process, it will be "as easy as falling
off a log," and it won't jolt you half as much.
~~The Method Explained.~~
THE FIRST STEP--Before the time comes to give your talk, attach half a
dozen sheets of your drawing paper to your drawing board, making a
smooth drawing surface. It is well to use thumb tacks for this
purpose. Open the book to page 26, for we will prepare to give the
chalk talk entitled "The Two Faces." The upper picture. Fig. 7, shows
the picture partly finished; the lower picture, Fig. 8, shows how the
picture will look when completed. You will note that the lower picture
is cut up into squares measuring one-fourth of an inch each way.
THE SECOND STEP--By the use of a yardstick and lead pencil, draw
pencil lines on the large sheets of drawing paper, so as to separate
the drawing paper into the same number of squares as there are on the
picture in the book. Your paper is much larger than the page of the
book; therefore the squares on your drawing paper must be made much
larger than the squares in the book. It is easy to calculate the size
of the squares you should draw on the paper. Measure the width of the
paper in inches and divide by sixteen (the number of squares across
the picture in the book), and this will give you the figure
representing the size of the squares you are to draw on the paper. If
your drawing paper is thirty-two inches wide, your squares will
measure two inches each way.
THE THIRD STEP--Select one of the squares in Fig. 8 as a starting
point, and then find the corresponding square on your drawing
paper. Having done this, draw a pencil line on your drawing paper,
which will cross your enlarged squares in just the same places that
the line crosses the small squares in the book. Continue the process
until both faces have been outlined on your paper in the enlarged
form. Then, with a piece of soft rubber, erase all of the straight
pencil lines which form the squares, and the remaining outlines of the
two faces will stand out clear and distinct. Already you will have
found that you are more of an artist than you thought you were! This
sheet of paper, with its dim pencil outlines of the picture, is now
ready to be brought before your audience. You must, however, be sure
of one thing: the pencil outlines must be just plain enough for
_you_ to see them without difficulty, but they must be dimmed
with the eraser to such an extent that your audience _cannot_ see
them. Thus you have before you a complete outline of the picture you
are to draw, and, as you speak, you merely trace over these dim pencil
outlines with your chalk. Isn't it simple?
THE FOURTH STEP--All of the preparations up to this time have been
done in the quietude of your own room. You are now ready to place your
drawing board before your audience. After a smile of greeting you
begin your talk. "Let us," you say, "talk for a little while about our
thoughts," and then you proceed until you reach the reference to the
sour-faced man. "Here, for instance," you continue, "is a man with a
face something like this:" and you begin your drawing, starting
anywhere you choose. Take your time, and when you have finished the
sour face, the audience will show its appreciation with a heartily
responsive smile. This completes Fig. 7. Proceed then with the talk
until you reach the reference to the man with the sunny face. "Here
comes a man who looks something like this:" Draw the second face, and
you will have completed Fig. 8 and reached the climax of the
drawing. As you make the application of the lesson, you will feel that
your effort has already repaid you for the work you have undertaken,
and each succeeding attempt will make the work easier until it becomes
a pleasing habit.
[Illustration: Fig. 5]
In Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 are shown a section of each of the faces of the
talk just referred to. Here they are enlarged four times. A-A shows
the preliminary pencil lines forming the one-inch squares, B-B
indicates the pencil outlines of the faces, and C-C illustrates the
tracing of the pencil lines with the chalk. In this instance black
chalk only is required.
[Illustration: Fig. 6]
~~Outlining the Right Picture.~~
In some of the talks in the book, the dotted squares cover the upper
picture; in others, they are drawn over the lower picture. In either
case, the one containing the squares is the one to be outlined on your
drawing paper.
~~Not an Artist, But a Teacher.~~
There should be no hesitation on your part to trace with chalk the
pencil lines which you have placed on your drawing paper. Remember,
always, that you are posing as a humble teacher of God's Word and not
as an artist. Your pencil outline holds the same relation to your
chalk talk that the minister's notes hold to his sermon. Both are
prepared in advance to enable the speaker to best present his
message. Do not try to conceal your method. There is nothing about it
of which you need be ashamed.
~~Finishing Part of the Drawing in Advance.~~
Now that the process has been explained in detail, a thorough
understanding of the suggestion under the heading, "Important to
Beginners," seems most essential as a still easier way to do the work.
Finishing part of the work in advance still leaves the speaker
something to do, and the audience will always be interested in finding
out what that "something" is to be.
~~The Value of Individuality.~~
It is well for the beginner to cultivate an individual style of
speaking. Substitute your own methods of expression in place of the
language of the book. The more you do it, the larger will be the
feeling that the message is a personal one from you to your hearers.
Whenever you can do so, substitute a "home" illustration for the one
in the book. As you become more accustomed to the work you will
doubtless use pictures and subjects entirely outside of the
book. Remember that any outline picture may be enlarged after the
method here shown. Cut your picture into squares with drawn lines, and
enlarge it in the same manner. Many Bible scenes may be shown in this
way.
~~International or Graded Lessons.~~
The book has been provided with two indexes. One directs you to
fitting talks for special days. The other serves as a guide to talks
and illustrations suitable to the application of any lesson. Determine
the central thought of the lesson and consult the Subject Index. It
will help you choose a talk appropriate for the day. The talk may need
a little revision to enable you to give it the proper application, but
the main thought will be readily apparent.
~~Talks for Special Days.~~
The index for suitable talks for special days includes some which are
not yet generally observed but which are of growing importance.
Introducing some of these into your school or church as novelties,
they may become as permanent as Easter, Children's Day, Rally Day and
others.
~~Talk vs. Chalk.~~
No matter how little preparation you may need for your talk, remember
that the words you speak are of greatest importance. It is to your
words that you must give careful study, or your audience may lose the
force of your thought while centering their attention upon the
developing picture.
Never apologize for the appearance of your drawing or of your ability
as an artist. Strive to present truth only. Truth needs no apology.
Do not draw in a sketchy manner. Determine on the place to begin your
drawing and then use a continuous, easy line, without lifting the
chalk from the paper, except when necessary to start in a new place.
~~Strive Only for Good.~~
The design of this book has been to present brief, impressive talks
which hold attention for from ten to twelve minutes. It is advisable
never to speak longer than this, especially when children form a part
of your audience and are the special object of your words. If you
cease speaking just when the audience wants to hear more, you will
always be assured of a hearing the next time. If you leave one single
wholesome thought with your audience you will have accomplished the
greatest good.
Avoid mannerisms. Cultivate an easy style of speaking and working.
Don't become discouraged if everything doesn't go to suit you. Your
audience is not a critical but a sympathetic one. All are striving to
do the Master's work, and the field you have undertaken will bring you
the interest and the kindliest co-operation of all who are working
with but one great object in view.
~~Recording Your Talks.~~
It is suggested that each talk, as you give it, be so marked in the
book as to indicate the time and place of its use, so you will avoid
possible repetition before the same audience months or years later.
~~A Word to Parents.~~
The same general principles of procedure as those here given are
suggested as the best method of using this book in the home. For the
very little children, the parent will find it well to enlarge the
outlines upon paper and tell the stories in such a way as can be
understood best, but for the boys or girls who are in the younger
grades at school the book describes a method of drawing which will
delight and instruct them. Of course, the parent will have to teach
the method to the children, as they will be incapable of understanding
it from the printed description. With this instruction will come the
unfolding of the stories of the book and their application. A child,
when he sees a picture of a face or a house or any other object, wants
to know all about it--whose it is, what it is or what it is for. This
is true especially if it be a picture which he is asked to draw for
himself or which he sees drawn. This enables the parent to give into
expectant and waiting ears the great truths of Christ as expressed in
pictures which the child understands.
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