Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-06
EVENING STAR.
CESAR DUcoRNET.

The subject of the following sketch, which
We copy from late English journal. was uu
doubtedly, in some respects, one of the mos
remarkable men Of the present century, anS
a noble illustration of the triumph Of geniu,
over physical disadvantages-oneo of tnOse in
stances in which some great affection which
has descended upon q human being, is &C som
| arr ingement Of circumstances 8, or some happy
| organization. which neutralizes the evil, and
places the afflicted person on q level with hi.
neighbors. The sketch is full of interest, and
We solicit for it the attention of our readers,
feeling certain they may derive both pleasure
and instruction from it
On the 9th of January, 1906, in one of the
| humblest houses of the Rue st. JACQUES at
| Lille, an infant was born so sadly deformed
that they tried to hide him from his mother.
| While the father wept, the neighbors looked
upon the little stranger with something like
fear, and said TO themselves, " 1t would be q
happy thing if he should die" But the in
FAINT did not die, and as the mother demanded
him with an importantly not to be resisted
| he was placed in her arms, and received the
first maternal kiss from her whose languid
eyes failed to show her the sad reality.
Some days afterwards the bootma ker Du-
| cornet and his young wife stood with gloomy
| faces beside the cradle of child born without
arms, and whose lower extremities were little
| else than trunks terminated by feet, having
only four toes to each. mo n.atter,n the
mother exclaimed "I love him." and rails
ing the infant from the cradle, she pressed
him tightly against her breast. 'sAnd too, "
her husband said: cat least the unhappy
child shall not go through the world without
father and mother
Such was the entrance into life of Caesar
Ducornet, historical painter, laureate of the
academical schools, recipient of the gold
medal OF the exhibitions at the Louvre, and
corresponding mem Der of the Imperial Society
Of Agriculture, Science and Art of Lille.
The early childhood of Ducornet was not
unhappy, for infants do not know themselves.
Besides, he had such an agreeable face, such
quick and precocious intelligence of express
sion, and so much odd dexterIty about his
movements, that every one regarded him with
sympathy, and good hearted people even
thought him handsome. Meanwhile the child
grew up, and it became necessary to choose
an occupation for him In that condition of
llte In which he was born, mans strong arm
is needed to earn his daily bread and the un-
fortunate boy had no arms. They could
think of no trade which would suit a person
In such an unhappy condition And vet il
had been remarked that when joining in the
games of his companions, for his misfortune
did not, as might be supposed, seclude him
from the sports of his age, he showed a won
for nearly every purpose for which other per-
sons use their hands, and with an equal ia.
clllty and freedom. He used them to throw
the ball to his companions, to hold a pen, to
cut figures with pair Of scissors, and in other
ways equally marvellous. One day the boy
surprised his parents by tracing on piece of
paper number Of ornamental letters admi.
rably executed An old man, a teacher Of
writing, who happened to be present, was
QH rtad auar 10 &l,
nate talent struggling through difficulties,
and offered to give the boy some lessons graf.
uitously. Such was the ability he displayed,
that In less than year he was at the head OF
the writing masters class.
Strange as such ability undoubtedly was
there was something still more strange yet to
follow. The new pupil showed his skill not
only In writing, but in drawings and original
designs, which were executed with equal
ability. The benevolent writing master showed
these productions to M. Watteau, professor of
drawing at the academical schools of Lille,
who, In his turn, was seized with admiration
at the wonderful aptitude shown by this
strange artist, and caused him to be admitted
into the academy. The professor, with great
delicacy, placed in the class Of grown-up pu-
pills. with whom he was comparatively safe
from the Jokes and rude remarks of the en-
Jants terrtbies, as the French emphatically
call all naughty little boys and girls
At the Academy of Lille, Caesar Ducornet
carried of all the prizes one after another
and at length received the great medal for
modelling from the life. This victory proved
a most fortunate occurrence for Ducornet
There is still living in Lille, at the age of
eighty, noble-hearted man, whose whole
life has been divided between the pursuits of
the arts and acts of benevolence. N Demail-
ly became the protector Of the youth, took
him to his house, clothed him, fed him, en-
couraged him in his efforts, ami, in short,
acted towards him as though he had been his
father. When we reflect that the same hand
which sustained the first efforts of the young
painter remained to close his eyes forty years
later, it would indeed seem as though Heav-
en- created such hearts expressly to place in
the way of great misfortune.
Sometimes good fortunes, as we'll as misfOr-
tunes, do not come single Soon after Ducor-
net had found a protector, the Duke OF An
gouleme, who was visiting the museum at
Lille, saw the young artist engaged in copy
ing painting by Vandyke. Astonished at
the sight of such a strange being executing a
most difficult work Of art, the prince con-
ceiyed a considerable degree of interest in
him, presented him with a pension Of ], 200
francs, and persuaded him TO continue his
studies in Paris Previous to this the people
of Lille had subscribed a sum equal to q pen
sion of 800 francs for Ducornet
Our artist now started in high spirits for the
capital, and to complete his happiness, the
benevolent M. Dsmailly followed him there
He entered the Academic Royale, and was
soon afterwards admitted into the studio of
distinguished artist. In 1926, six months af-
ter his entrance into the Academy, he OBJ
tanned the third medal, and in the following
year the second. In the year 1928 he ap-
peared among the crowd of competitors for the
grand prize at Rome. On this occasion a
rather singular circumstance took place. The
professors, who had been informed of the Gu
rious figure and conformation Of Ducornet,
pronounced it physically impossible for him
to paint picture of the required size al by
33) and struck his name off the list. The
circumstance, 50 far from discouraging the
young artist, gave him new courage, and his
first picture was painted exactly of that size
which the professors had declared him unable
to compass. The picture is the Farewell Of
Hector and Andromache, now in the museum
Of Lille.
In 1920, the professors of the Academic Roy
ale withdrew their rejection of his name, and
Ducoynet executed the proposed su hiect 10