Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-02-08
MistcllancOus.
MRS. LILY II. SPENCER.

From Mrs. Ellrt's Women Artists we ex
tract the following sketch of the career of Mrs
Spencer, the artist, whose pictures, particular
ly her more recent ones, have made her name
familiar to the American public
Mrs. SPExoER's high position anon:
American artists is universally recognized
in the profession. In her peculiar style
her executive talent is probably unsur-
passed in the country. She has encoun.
tered many difficulties in her path to su;-
cess. and a glance at her history will moi
be without encouragement to those who
possess portion of her energy and perse-
verance.
Her parents. whose name is Martin,
were born in France, but removed to Eng
land SION after their marriage. They were
persons of education, refinement and good
social standing Mr.. Martin taught French
in academies in Plymouth and Exeter, and
gave lectures at his own house on scientific
subjects, especially optics and chemistry
Mrs Martin at one time gave instruction
in ladies' seminary in London. Lily
owed all her proficiency to her parents ju-
dicious training. and never went to a
school. Her talent for drawing began ear
ly to exhibit itself One day, when she
was about five years old, she got at some
diagrams her father had prepared for a
lecture on optics, and drew an eye so cor
rectly that her turn for art was at once
perceived.
She was the eldest of four children, and
was not six years of age when her parents
removed to New York, where Mr.. Martin
was induced, by DR.. Hosack and others, to
open an academy. Mr.. John Van Buren
was one of his pupils. Lily's drawings
were much coveted by the little scholars,
who begged them from her, and gave in re-
turn the most fattering expressions of ad-
miration
When between eight and nine, she was
taken to the old Academy of Design. There
she selected the 'Eccc Homo as a special
subject for imitation. The girl pupils
laughed at her taste, and Lily, abashed,
burst into tears. Mr.. Dunlap, then
teacher came and asked what was the mat
ter. When informed, he reprovel the
girls. and predicted that the young stran-
ger would be remembered when they were
all forgotten.
Her power of copying whatever pleased
her childish fancy increased, though she
did not then appreciate the necessity of
patient study of the elementary principles
of art. Her health was at this time so
delicate that her parents feared she would
not live to reach maturity. The desire to
afford her the advantage of country air and
exercise. with the want of very attractive
prospects for their enterprise in New York,
determined them to go West. They pur-
chased farm in Ohio a few miles from
Marietta, where they soon had ri:tur-
esque Swiss cottage, with beautiful gar
den. and mineral closet filed with the
presents of Mr. Martins former pupils
Lily was enchanted with the change
from city life, and with the liberty she
enjoyed of roaming at will through woods
and fields, for, her health being the para
mount object. no restraint was placed on
the child. Her time was passed in work
ing in her garden, playing and racing with
other children. hunting for insects, shells,
and minerals, often wet up to the waist in
the search. while her drawing was forgot
ten. Thus constantly, like Rosa Bonheur,
in the open air, she rapidly regained
strength and health. One day, when
about thirteen years old, she was walk
ing in the woods with her father A ce,r,
frightened from his covert, dashed by
them to leap fence. Lily wanted pet
and instantly ran after the animal. AS
he sprang over the fence she caught his
hind legs and clung to them, while her
fathers dog throttled the captive. Some
men came up directly, and seeing the girl
with her face covered with blood, killed
the deer, notwithstanding her entreaties
that he might be spared.
An illustration of her impulsive nature
and readiness to give assistance where it
was needed, is an incident that occurred a
few months later. Six or seven men were
burning logs in field. She saw them
from the house making signals that they
wanted one more hand to lift log Sci
ring crowbar, the young girl ran to the
spot. placed it under the log, and helped
to raise it to the burning pile. i
Her love of sketching soon began to re-
vive. In her fourteenth year she took
fancy to see the effect of new style of {
costume, which she thought very be-
coming to herself She drew lady's fig '
ure thus attired, with black crayons and ;
coarse 81 al :, on the wall of her bedroom. ]
Pleased with her creation, it occurred to
her that the lady ought to be attended by l
admiring beaux, and she added the figures
of two gentlemen. The group was define ]
Ated one day when the other members of
her family were absent, and fearing that I
her mother wOnld be displeased at her for
laubing the walls, she hung her dresses
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