Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1868-09-18
Misrellaneo,ts.
THE VASE OF FLOWERS. =
A STORY OF ITALY.
BY L. G.. STRONG.

1t was toward the close of summers
day that strollcd into the studio Of my
friend, the sculptor. The sunlight tell
across the open portico, half lighting the
veiled statues within, aud throwing long
shadows on the marble floor. | had lett
my friend at the tea-table, and lighting a
cigarette, entered his studio, just apart
from the main half of the village, and.
having seated myself upon block of mar
ble near the entrance, INDUCED in qniet
communion with the soulless creations that
surrounded me. These, ruminatcd, are
the nvai children Of genius. They can
not speak, nor can they move. yet are they
among tn highest teachers in the aesthetics
Of Art. lifted the veil of the figure
nearest me, and beheld the little Flower
Girl''-a beautiful bodybuilding in her
hand a basket of flowers, and looking up
with half coy, half entreating expression
to an imaginary purchaser. AT my righ t,
nearly finished. on its pedestal. stood the
Royal Slave" shackled and awaiting with
bowed head the mandate Of his captor
But pore beautiful and faultlcss than the
! rest, was the last work Of the sculptor, the
! Treasure Seeker" designed as IA CON-
p.anion statue to the noted Pearl Diver y
and which had won for my young friend
fattering encOmiuns from noted connoi j.
seurs in the profession. While thas lingrr
ed in the sculp,Or's studio. the broad glare
Of sunlight faded. and fell across the west,
filling the feccy clouds With those richly
shaded hues 50 peculiar to an Italian sun
set; while dreainily distant. heard the
faint telling of the monastery bell. and
noN and then the murmur of voices. or the
merry songs of the peasant:y down the
wide and pleasant corso of Naples.
Reginald .Lartin, whom l was sitting
was an American, a graduate of one Of the
leading universities, and intensely devoted
to his profession as sculptor.
1t is not strange that he sought Italy for
his home, whose sunny skies. attractive
scenery. and classic rccOllections teed the
fancy, and inspire the Imagination. And
here he lived, little out of Naples. but
a short distance from POrtici that phoenix
like, has sprung from the ashes of Her
culaneum, the proud city of seventeen cen
turies ago. As stood by the arched VIM
dow, gazing down the plaza. watching a
troupe of ptasantry in national costume,
dancing their favorite TaranteIla, was
aroused by the sOnnd of approaching foot
steps. aud turning beheld Reginald ae-
coulpanicd by q stranger. whom l re-
cognized at once as a genuine Italian. He
was introduced as Signor Espanza, a
resident of Naples. He wore a slouched
hat, a loose tunc gracefully enveloping his
person. while in his girdle cleaned the daz.
zling sheath of the stllletto. His eyes were
such as mesmerize. Black, deep, aud
fascinating. one could not hut admit their
beauty, no. deny their strange power.
One 6y one, the lights glimmered over the
bay of Naples, while the thronged Toledo,
lined as it was with dazzling stores and
talcy shops, presented a gay and brilliant
appea rance. 1t was night in ltaly-the
full moon was just rising, and as it illumin'
ed the Grand Plaza, twinkling through
the orange groves. and silvering the distant
palace tops. the scene was one OF rare and
romantic beauty. We entered the draw
ing room. The wide windows were thrown
open, aud the bland atmosphere. peculiar
to the cline. cxhilerated our spirits, rem
dering our minds bouyant aud happy
Sitting thus We could see the summer
palace Of the King. cleaning with its thou
sand lights, situated on distant hill
crowned with its hanging gardens, and
proud iM its royal grandeur. Within the
drawing room where we were seated, cozily
chatting. everything bore evidence of the
refined taste Of the sculptor. Large pic
lures, beautiful in design and execution
hung on the walls, and richly wrought
mosaic tables and polished statuar'
adorned the apartment. The parlors were
furnished with splendid chandeliers, heavy
window draperies. marble tables OF ex
quisite workmanship, with corresponding
vases and ornaments, and light fanC,
chairs and lounges Of richly embroidered
damask Of every tint. Although wealthy
; aud surrounded BY such luxury. Reginald
Martin was still an enthusiastic dcvotee t.
his profession. and often, carly and late
was to be found in his studio, hard at wOrl
to bring forth some ideal fancy into mar.
BILE existence. He had just taken up hi
guitar to favor Us with little Italian song
when became aware Of drOwsy sensa
ton, and the next moment caught the ey.
of Espanza. while the whole room seemed
to glilnmer aud expand. aud everythin:
to assume the wild appearance Of
) Hasheesh vision. But the eveniEg 8 passct
away like a dream. At last Espanza
rising. prepared to take his departure.
was forced, by some unaccOuntable I'M
pulse, to offer to accompany him ss far a
the city, and view the grOt:o OF Posillpo b!
moonlight. Above the grot,o are the re
mains Of the to,ub Of Virgil. most pic
turesquely nesting on the very edge of th'
inmen SC perp ;ndicular height, down whicl
. falls the ivy aud many luxuriant ever
greens This was my tayorite resort.
dreamily bade Regin I'D adieu for shor
time. aud, together with Espanza. walked
out in the moonlight Passing the Oate
gate, l walaed in silence, on, past tn
beautiful gardens with its gcaming stat
uary and countless fountains, oppresse