Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-07
A MOTHERS KISS.

BoyhOod Of Benyamin West.-The first dis,
play Of talent in the infant mind of Mr.. West,
was curiot!s, and still more SO from its &C.
curing where there was nothing to excite it
America contained scarcely specimen of fine
arts; and being the son of Quaker, he bad new
err seen picture Or print. His pencil was of
his own inyention, his colors were given to him
10y an Indian; his whole progress was series of
Invention, and painting to him was not the re-
suit of lesson but an intGitiye passion.
When only seven years IT age, he was one
day left with the charge of an infant niece in the
cradle. and had fan TO flap away the flies from
the child. The motion of the fan made the child
smile and its beauty attracted his attention. He
looked at it with pleasure he had never before
experienced: and observing some paper on the
table, together with pens and red and black ink,
he seized them with agitation. and endeavored
10 deineate portrait; although at that period he
had never seen an engraving, or picture. Hear
ing the approach of his mother and sister, he en-
deayored to conceal what he had been doing, but
the old lady observing his confusion, asked what
he had been about, and insisted on seeing the pa
per. Ne obeyed, entreatins her not to be angry.
Mrs. West, after looking some time at the draw
ing with evident pleasure, said to her daughter,
II declare he has made likeness of little Sal
ly;' and kissed him with much fondness and
satisfaction. This encouraged him to say, that
if it would give her any pleasure, he would
make drawings of the flswers which she held in
her hand; for his genius was awakened, and he
felt that he could initiate any thing that pleased
his sight. In after life he used to say, "My
mothers kiss made the a painter"
Young West used pen and ink for his draw
ings, until hair pencils were described TO him.
when he found substitute in the taperne fur of
H., al, g., 4
him box of cOlors and pencils, with several
pieces of canvass prepared for the easal, and SIN
eugravings. The box was received with delight.
and West now found all his wants supplied
lie rose at the dawn of the following day, and
carried the box to the garnet, where he spread
the canvass, prepared his pallet, and began to
initiate the figures IN the engraving. Enchanted
with his art he forgot the school hours, and join
cd the family at dinner without mentioning the
employment in which he had been engaged. In
the afternoon he again retired to the garnet; and
for several DAYS successfully he withdrew in the
the same manner. and devoted himself to paint
ting. Mrs West, suspecting that the box occa-
stoned his neglect of school, went into the garnet
and found him employed on picture. Her an
ger was soon appeased by sight of his perform
ance. She saw not merely copy. but a compo-
si,ion from two Of the engravings. She kissed
that she would intercede with his father to par
don his absence from school. The piece finish
cd in his eighth year. was exhibited, sixty-seven
wears afterwards, in the same room with his sub
lime picture of ''Christ Rcjected;' and the ar
lists declared that there were inventive touches
in his first juvenile essay, which all his subse-
quent experience had not enabled him to sur
pass.
-sGA9Sa7s-
From the Lerhg tOn Ky Gazette.
WILD Man OF THE WooDs.--Mr. Trotter-fve
or six DAYS since my business called me to Danvlie
& thence to Harrodsburg. While descending the
clifton the north side Of the Kentucky river, livery
unexpectedly encountered being whose strange
ness of v,sage inspired me with the most horrible
sensation When first saw him. he was lying on
the ground, his tail tied to the limb of tree,
about 90 yards distant. would judge it to be SO
yards in length and about the size Of a BEDFORD
The tramping of my horses feet started him,
and hn houp,ta,l 70 he trea climhnp nm nv HE