New-York tribune., 1868-05-14

apparently suggested by the study OF some OF Albert
Dtirer's wood-cuts that fell into his hands and OF
which he made copies He copied with an accuracy
very remarkable, considering his ineXpelence' the
sitting figure of Christ on the titlepage OF Dtrers
"Small Passion" and Virgin with the INFANT jesus
by the same master. These two drawings nave been
carefully engraved in facsimile, by the celebrated
engrayer, Holl who has also copied Carriers next
performance mans head done prOfessedy in imita-
tion of Rembrandts method of work Holl was very
much interested in Carter and has testified his admi
ration in note written to Mr. Dampier, the author
Of the Memoir we have above alluded TO. AS we have
said the engravngs of all these preparatory studies
have been placed by Mr.. Mills side by side with his
best work "The Rat Catcher and his DOgs' and we
are thus enabled to follow the development Of his
talent from its first rude beginning to the excellence
of his latest production.
As for the details of Carriers procedure in exc
cutting these drawings few words may interest tho
reader From the time of the accident until his
death he lay upon couch which, when occasion re-
quired it, or little change of scene was desired,
could be moved abut the ROOM He lay upon his
back. and his paper was fixed upon light Frame
work so arranged that it directly over his face
and within few inches of it, His sister, or his
wife, or whoever was in attendance upon him at the
time then filed his sable brush with Indian ink, and
action of the lips and the tongue most surprising to
see and impossible to initiate or even to follow, lie
would twirl the brush round till he had got rid of
the superfuous ink and had brought the brush to
very fine point With his head inclined to the right
he would then, by the motion of the neck, aided by
his lips and tongue, draw stroke upon stroke
shading the outline, which he had previously
drawn as accurately as he could with 8 pencil,
after the manner of line engraving. AS may
be imagined he worked with great difficulty
and slowness for he rested after every stroke
of the brush. and bethought him where the next
stroke was to the made. That it should be carefully
made In the right direction and of the right thick
ness, was Of great importance, for, once made, it
could not be erased. Nor could ne work with any
regularity for his health would not permit it. Yet,
80 intense was his desire to work at this pursuit. in
which all the faculties Of his body and mind had now
concentrated themselves, and 80 unwearied was he,
that he often tired out his attendants who filed his
brush sitting by his side for hours. His wife, most
afieotionate and devoted woman, whose encouraging
words and patient spirit were no less strengthening
TO his mind than her kind and thoughtful care Was
to his body, was taken from him four years and
half after the accidents there remained to him, then,
his sister, no less devoted to him. and friends who
made his life as comfortable and cheerful 1t was
possible for generous men 70 do. 1t is plain that,
without devoted care and cheerful surroundings be
could not have lived so long; but he also owed many
years Of life to the interest excited In his mind by his
favorite pursuit SO intense was that Interest that 1t
left him no time 10 brood his bodily afliction.
Certainly, this is no common story. Carters draw
ing of the Rat Catcher is ntrinscally an admirable
performances Landseer is said to have declared that
he never anywhere saw finer piece of animal draw
ing than the white terrier and everybody who looks
NIL will a1t ita
other dogs are also captal the old one at the left
who has had experience, and knows his game too
well to share in the excitement of his white Young
friend; the heavy-fOoted, fat-bOdied puppy on the
right, who does not quite know what Is coming;
every lover Of dogs will enjoy these shades of dog
character. And how skillful, too. Is the arrange
ment of the group-hOw clearly 1t tells the little
story Well, all this was invented by John Carter.
He had no sitter Neither dogs nor men came to his
room. He must have drawn it oil from memory OF
what be had so often seen when he was village
boy. idlinG and lounging about the Coggeshall
lanes. and IN and out the cottages. An
idle goodfor-naught, an ignorant peasant, without
much hope in the world without either aspiration
care for the future; without much care for the
present except to get enough to eat for tho day and
Later, enough for his young wife, This mana man
in body, but with child's undeVeloped mnd-meets
with en- accident that amere hairs breadth shears
this side of death. Indeed. taken up for dead, he
continued through fourteen years TO all intents and
purposes dead man--aliye ony in ono small portion
of his frame and for the rest 80 far as powers Of
motion, consciousness usefulness won't as dead
as when they laid him the lOng-expeeted grave
Yet in this condition John Carter developed new,
and strong and inspiring spiritual life All the good
In his nature all the seeds of manly virtue that his
poor hard unlOveIy life of yesterday had kept from
n,nfo Oh oVA Ha IL
cottage in which he lived as holy as the
cell of any saint A sweet patience
made complaint or reDning o thing unknown his
an, sNrful gratitude for any help of word OF Decd
made hen siBg him, teaching him, pleasure and
|vhen his mind. Saarchng all about for something TO
busy itself with lghtca on this plan of drawing, IL
was wonderful to see the energy tho ingenuity tho
uncomfortable pluck with which this young man,
who had never in all his life done moro in that way
than is done by hundreds of idle boys with pencils
and chalk on their books and states. set himself TO
work to learn TO draw, and perseVere until he drew
like master
a Hymn to Poverty, Hymn to Affection and
Calamity Riches and Health and Prosperity shut
the doors Of heaven and blind us to best selves
But these rudeseeming ministers are mans true
saviors and to many, though to few in the came de-
gree as to John Carter real fea life of the spirit
has been made possible under circumstances most
cruel and adverse, and good has come out Of evil.
JEROME THoMPsoN's "oLD oAKEN BUCKET"
I, Mr.. jerome Thompson has painted very pretty
ana attractive picture illustrating The Old oaken
Bucket.v poem written as everybody knows, by
Samuel Woodwork. and which has gained place In
the hearts Of tho American people only equaled by
"Home, Sweet Homep Mr.. ThomPson's picture Is at
once an illustration Ofthese wellknown verses, and
"a portrait Of the early homo of their author In
Scituate, Mass. While he has made picture that is