The Davenport gazette., 1853-07-28
STORY OF REMBRANDT,

At short distance from Leyden, ma
still be seen fouring-mill with QUAR-
old dwelling house attached, which bear
on brick in the corner of the wide chin
ney, the date 1850. Here, in 1906, wa
born Paul Rembrandt. At an early agt
he manifested stubborn, independent wi
which his father tried in vain to subdue
He caused his son to work in the mill, in
tending that he should supercede him in it
management; but the boy showed so deci
ded distaste for the employment, that hi
father resolved to make him priest, an
sent him to study at Leyden. Every on
knows, however, that few lads at fifteen
endowed with great muscular vigor, an
abundance Of animal spirits, will take natu
1rally, and without compulsion, to the STUDY
of Latin grammar. Rembrandt certainl,
did not; and his obstinacy proving an over
match for his teachers patience, he wa
sent back to the mill, when his father bea
him SO severely that next morning he raj
of to Leyden, without in the least KNOWN,
how he should live there. Fortunately h
sought refuge in the house of an honest ar
tisan, Van Zwanenberg, who was acquaint
ed with his father
Tell me Paul" asked his friend, "wha
you intend to do with yourself, if you vii
neither be priest nor miller. They are
both honorable professions; one gives yot
food for the soul, and the other prepares il
| for the BODY"
Very likely" replied the boy; "but
don't fancy either; for in order to be q
priest, one must study Latin; and to be 1
miller, one must bear to be beaten. How
do you earn your bread"
"You know very we'll that am pain
ter"
"Thcn | will be one too, Herr Zwanen-
berg; and il You will 90 tomorrow and tell
my father 50, you will do me great SER
vice.
The good-naturcd artist willingly under
took the mission, and acquainted the old
miller with his sons resolution.
Il want to know one thing,' said Master
Rembrandt. "wiIl he b. able to gain live
lihood by naintingr'
"Certainly-and perhaps he will make a
fortune.''
~Then if you viii teach Mn, give my
Zwanenherp. and made rapid progress in
the elementary parts OF his profession. I'M
nat;ant ,o prod,lcc some finished work, he
dia not give himself time to acquire purity
ofs,vlp but astonished his master by hs
nrecocious skill in grouping figures, and
nrodnr;no marvellous effects of light and
lb.an The first lessons he took in per-
s,nct;va having wcaried him, he thought OF
shorter method: ami invented perspectNe
for himself.
One of his first rude sketches happened
ia fIll into the hands of d citizen OF Lcyaei
who understood painting Despite its eVi
dent defects. the germs OF rare genus whicl
!, cyipced. struck the burgomastcr; AM
seudinr for the young artist. ne offered u
rive him a recommendation to celebrates
artist living in Amsterdam, under whon d
would have far more opportunities ol iih
provement than with his present instructor
Rembrandt accepted the offer, and Gu
u;ne, tbe following wear. he toied inccssant
IN, Meanwhile his finances became dread
,ullv straitened; for his father. finding tina
the expected profits were very tardy, refuse
10 give money to support his son (as u
s,;d> in idleness. Paul however, was ne
~ he thus discouraged. Though tar troi
nossessing an amiable or estimable dispos
lion. he held firm and just opinion OF NJ
own powers. and resolved to make thes
subseryicnt first to fortune, and then
fame.
Thus. while some of his companion
, having finished their preliminary slud'e
repaired to Florence, Bologna, or to hom
Paul. determined, us he said, not TO lose u
own style by becoming an lmitator even
the mightiest masters, betook hlnseii TO u
paternal mill At first his return resemoi'
that of the .prodigal SON." HIS father
K. lieyed he had come to resume ms miner
work; and bitter was his disappointment
finding his son had resolved not to renouh
With very bad grace he allowed ia
=, =, disn,ace the flour-sacks on the upper 10
in order to make sort of studio, lighted
on,v one narrow window in the root.
was there Paul painted his first finished p
,ure, It was portrait ofthe mill. The
an the canvas. was seen the old miller, CT
=. rv;nr in his hand lantern. giving are
~ tions to his men, occupied IN ranging sae
alopg the dark recesses OF the graha
e. One raw falls on the fresh. comely couhtt
ance Of his mother, who has her toot
ks, the last step of the wooden staireas
Rembrandt took this painting to the Ing
=, and sold it for 100 horns. In order 10
turn with more speed, he took seat IN
public coach. When the passengers ST
;, ped to dine, Rembrandt, fearing TO lose
a. treasure, stopped behind in the stage-coa
The careless stable boy, who brought
''' horses their corn, forgot to unliafh
them: and as soon as they had finished
. inr. excited probably by Rembrandt
cared not for his fellow passengers, the
r. imals started off for Leyden, and que
halted at their accustomed inn. Our pa
h., he or then got out, and repaired with his m
cy to the mill 4. =,
and Great was his fathers JOY. At len
y those silly doubts which had so often
cited his angry contempt, seemed l,kei
be transmitted into gold, and the ola nj
Re r of Of marination took rupturous flight Nei'
no nor his old horse, he said, need
H: work any longer. They might both e' =
= quiet during the remainder OF thelr q
Paul would paint pictures, and support
rs' whole family in atiluence.
Such was the old mans castle IN the s
hut his clever, selfish son soon deinoh
N.Y. it. "This sum of money ne sald'"is
a lucky windlall, II you indeed wish
Nuts be the foundation of my fortune, give
pur- 100 tiorins beside, and let me return TO
as n in sterdam; there must work for while
aal'! study hard" ,, ~,