The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-18


the square, the round and the oval. They
were not at all aware there was any design in
this, not the slightest suspicion that 1t was q
task, OF else, fear should not have got on SO
we'll.
Ofcourse, joined them in the pastime, and
my lines and curves, etc., we're purposely as
indifferent in perfection as theirs, though was
the first to improve. "Let us make 'curbs," was
often the cry when tired of other things; and |
am certain they found it equally amusing, with
making dirt pes,n or other extraordinary
resources which children discover. More than
year passed before any use was suggested of /
these lines and curves, which by this time could J
be mace tolerably, but not uniformly, correct.
One day, as was sitting in rather an distracted |
mood, my eye fell upon small bottle contain |
ing gum, but which originally had held pomade. |
The shape OF this bottle seemed to stand out |
distinctly before my eyes in its curves and lines.
Look here! !" l exclaimed; "here is a bottle |
made up of curves and lines. There are two !
straight lines down the sides; a halEclrcle at
the bottom; near the top is more than half |
circle, and the top, you see, is a circle"
almost an oval.n
mot so it is o circle, though 1t looks like an
ovalp replied showing them the top of the bot
tie, as held it in my hand.
80 it ie; but what makes it look like an
oval?'
''The position, and the distance from which
you view it," said l; land this is called 'perspec-
tive, and if you knew how to draw, you would
sketch the object as 1t appears to your eyes, not
as it actually is formed"
Dot pondered over the information I gave
him, but did not quite comprehend it till Edith
said:-
Look at yonder wall; that is what mamma
means Don't you see that at the far end 1t
looks pointed, and here close by it is very wide;
but am sure it is the same width all the way
down. Am right, mamma"
yes It is the distance which creates the
illusion. Even the farthest end of the room
looks narrower than tlIs where we are sitting"
Richard could not be brought to see this at
first, nor, indeed, till | showed him a willow
nj yyh q
peared up in the sky simply because the size of
the objects had not been reduced in accordance
with their respective distances. Then, as if he
had solved riddle, the officially vanished.
SKetchipg soon became very pleasant pas
time, and Dot or John, as we now frequently
called him, gave unmistakable signs that his
would be an artists career, and being averse to
any business or other profession, we reluctantly
placed him for a year with painter OF we'll
deserved fame, but not until we had left him
Tor fortnight on visit to the then President
OF the Royal Academy, to whom we we're first
known from letters of high introduction. At
the expiration of this time he sad:-
4 You will never make anything of the lad but
an artist. Indeed, he is that now. But take
! HIM TO S. Here Is the address and a note. You
4 cannot place him under better care.n
Accordingly arrangements were made for his
instruction in the art he loved so well. Two
4 months after this myself and husband, passing
\ near the British Museum-on our way to see
! our boy, whom missed so much-we entered,
| and after some time drew near student who
d
| did not observe the youth till we were turning
| away. "Dot!" exclaimed But 1t was q second
| before the soul which had gone out of him in
| loving admiration OF his model returned to his
| eyes, and then in instant recognition he held
| out both his hands.
"Mother" !" said he, and the tears welled into
| his eyes, though on the verge OF manhood.
And how do you get on, my boy?" his
father asked, while remarked, How pale you
! look, my child!" But he needed me not intent
| upon replying to his fathers question:
Capital. am studying anatomy"
| "Why, what on earth will that do for you !?
| You are not going to be doctor"
"Nlr. S. says that shall never be able to pro-
pery sketch my figures if don't study It,"
| ''Well, there's something in that"
| eyes; he says he does not want me to be
copyist but true painter, and that drew suffi-
GENTLY well IRON models when came to him.
| He tried me a day or two with Jumps OF chalk;
| and anything rough that came to hand; then he
gave me an egg to copy, at which l laughed.
My mother let us play at sketch-eggs
| when we were very young said |. So he asked
me to tell HIM all about it, and he was greatly
amused at our play of curves and lines He
said it was so good plan that he should like to
| see that sy stem of amusement adopted in every
| house where children were. Then he asked
me if knew anything about mixing colOrs.
| Well, didn't quite understand hun, and so he
| sald:-
"I mean what two colors will make a green
or violet, or q scarlet, or grey?
| "'Oh, yes l answered. we had two or three
| paint boxes, but mamma always took from us
every color but fve-yellow, red, blue black,
and white, and from these five, you know, we
made every tint we needed, excepting when my
sisters wanted to paint roses she gave them
| piece of scarlet lake, l never told you yet,
| mother, how astonished was when l first saw
you produce green from the blue and yellow
paint. And don't you recollect that beautiful
poppy which Edith drew, and was at loss for
a color, when you said, Mix the yellow and red
together'-don't you remember how he danced
about Tor Joy ~ | have heard that Benjamin
Vests mother made him painter, and l am
sure you have made me one."
| smiled at the boys enthusiasm, which it
was hard TO repress, though l longed to do so,
for saw the consuming fire within his eyes,
that feared would lure HIM from every mother
object In life than the profession which he had
chosen.
His father said, ''You must make the best of
your time my boy, for the year you are with
MIR. s. l shall not be able to afford an increased
expense consequent upon longer period"
| "Never fear for me, father. / can live upon
crust, so that | may become a painter" And
the boys checks flushed and his eyes sparkled,
and as j looked upon his bright face chill as
of the grave came over me, though the sum was
shining hoty upon us.
"Don't study too much, Dot. You are not
strong" said
''Ah mother" he gayly answered, 81 don't
know what study means. Pm not like DICK ana
the others. / have been to no school but yours
and where we only played at study: l told MT
| S. so once, and he said be wished all BOYS were
taught like me. You know ne has two sons
but they are so rough, and don't think they
care anything for their home, 1t is so Slow they
sand the other night.
The interview with Mr.. S. was very satistac-
tory one. He was pleased with the earnest
| spirit with which the boy took up MS work.
| Indeed have to repress his eagerness very
| often, and am astonished at his quickness OF
perception. The fact is, the Lad has been taught