St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1858-10-14

| upon Boston and Bostonians was, about
this time, attributed to Miss Hosmer,
while a practical joke upon a physician
of Boston was the immediate cause of her
being sent away to Lenox. Her health
having given her father some uncasiness,
the gentleman in question, a physician in
large practice, was called in to attend her,
The rather uncertain visits of this physi-
clan proved a. source Of. great annoyance
and some real Inconvenience to his patient,
inasmuch as they interfered with her rides
and drives, shooting and boating excur,
sions. Having borne with the inconyeni-
ence sonic tine, she; requested the gentle
man, as 3 great favor, to name an hour for
his cali, that she might make her arrange
ments accordingly. The physician agreed,
but pnnctualityI is not always at the
command tof professional men, Matters
were as bad as ever. Sometimes the
twelve o'clock appointment did not come
off till three o'clock in the afternoon A
playful quarrel took place between physi-
clan and patient, and, as he rose to take
his leave and offered another appointment,
Miss Hosmer insisted upon his giving his
word to keep it, 5:
IF am alive" said he, Il will be
here" naming some time On certain
day. - :'@.- + .'@' n
"Then if you are not here" was the
reply, Il am to conclude that you are
dead"
Thus they parted. The day and hour
arrived, but no doctor made his appear
ance That evening Miss Hosmer rode
into Boston, and next morning the papers
announced the decease of Dr.. --.
Popular, both in his public and private
capacity, half Boston and its neighborhood
rushed 10 the PHYSICIANS house to leave
cards and messages Of coincidence for the
family, and to enquire into the cause of
the sudden and lamentable event. ~.
In 1850, being then nineteen years of
age, Harriet Hosmer left Lenox. Mrs
Sedgvick's S judicious treatment, and the
motive and encouragement supplied by
Mrs. Kemble, had given the ri ght impe-
tus to that activity Of mind and body
which needed only guiding and directing
into legitimate channels. She returned
to her tather's house, at Watertown, to
pursue her art-studies, and to fit herself
for the career she had resolved upon fol-
lowing. There was at this time cousin
Of Miss Hosmers studying with her faith
er, between whom and herself existed a
hearty canaaruderie Together the two
spent many hours III dissecting legs and
arms, and in making acquaintance with
the human frame, DR.. l. osmer having
erected a small building at the bottom Of
his garden to facilitate these studies.--
:. hose were days Of close study and appli-
cation Lessons in drawing and modelling
for which our young student had to
repair to Boston, a distance Of seven or
I eight miles-and anatomical studies with
her cousin, alternated with the inevitable
rides and boating, on which her father
wisely insisted. The river Charles runs
Immediately before the house, and on this
river Harriet Hosmer had a boat house,
containing safe broad boat, and agile
poetical- looking gondola, with silvcred
Prov, the delight of her heart and the
terror Of her less experienced rnd unswim7
ming friends. The life Of the young
girl was at this period full of earnest
purpose and noble ambition, and the un-
firing energy and perseverance which
distinguish, her now in so remarkable a
| degree were at this time evidenced, and
developed. Having modelled one or two
copies from the antique, she next tried
her hand on a portrait bust, and then cut
Canova's bust Of Napoleon IN marble,
working it entirely with her own hands
that she might make herself mistress of
the process, Her father, seeing her de-
voted to her studies, seconded them in
every possible way, and proposed to send
her to his friend, DR.. AlcDowell, Profess
sor Of Anatomy to the St Louis College,
that she might 60 through a course Of reg
ular Instruction, and thus be thoroughly
grounded for, the branch Of art she had
chosen. The young artist was but too
glad to- close with the offer; and, in the
autumn Of 1850, we find her in St. Louis,
residing in the family of her favorite
schoolmate from Lenox, winning the hearts
Of all its members by her frank, joyous
nature and steady application, and secur-
| ing, in the head Of it, what she heartily
and energetically calls t'the best friend T
| ever had" }1..1:7I>3@ Fra %4" s..:i55
Her independence Of manner and char
acter, joined to the fact Of her entering
the college as student, could not fail to
bring down animadversion, and many were
the tales fabricated and circulated 'anent
the young i. New T. Esnsglaander, y g who was said
to carry pistols in her belt, and to be pre-
pared to take the life Of any onewho inter
fered with her. 1t was perhaps no disaG-
vantage, under the circumstances, to be
protected .byisuch character The col
Ilege stood some way from the inhabited
part Of. the town, and in early morning and