Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-03-24

which the most critical admitted were per-
| fectly nnassailabIein the figure before them
No; they would not credit it, and avowed
their belief that he had been implicated in
some teri ible crime, for which the victim
had served as model. 1t was in vain that
the young sculptor protested, explained,
they were inexorahle and dec cared he
should be sent to prison, and there await
the issue of the charge preferred against
him. They further desired him at once to
name the counsel for his defense. "He shall
appear, gentlemen, on the day Of trial;
cannot give his name before"
| Amazed beyond measure at the calmness
| they felt compelled to acquiesce. Either
his youth, his beauty, or his earn estne, g.
perhaps all three comoined--made the
judges SO far mitigate their severity as to
allow him the use Of his tools and the ad
mission of visitors during his imprison-
ment.
1t is needless to dwell on the disappoint-
ment to the youth at this terrible blow to
hio long cherished desires-hardly less on
his own account than on that of his good
mother. whom he bad hoped to place be-
You'd the need of all further earthly wants.
| 1t will better please the reader to learn that
he did not yield himself up to despair His
will nerved to plan, his hand to execute,
another statue equal if not superior to the
one lie had alreadpachieved.
1t will readily be- imagined that the ad-
vent O.. ouch trial as that now impeding
caused no small stir in the city. Tne hith.
erto obscure life of the young sculptor, and
the stand he had made about his counsel,
very considerably enhanced the anxiety
and excl ement of the public Many, I'M
able to restrain their Impotence, visited
him in prison some, doubtless, impelled
by curiosity, others moved by Some higher
motive. Among these were two distingu-
ished looking individuals, who CHANGED at
that time to be sojourning at Florence. -
One was considerably past middle age; the
other (said to be his nephew was young
man, of remarkable handsome countenance
and noble figure. No restriction seemed
to be put either on the frequency or length
of their visits whilst to poor Henri, the
time thus spent was as gold and sunshine
in this otherwise dark phase of his career
Greatly TO the establishment of every one,
his mnther had removed to q handsome
lodg1 in the best quarter of the city; her
sadness OF heart and countenance seemed
to have vanished; and there was gladness
in her whole bearing. such as none who
had known her had ever before seen. 1T
is grea. mystery certainly" said the Cos
sips, show this change should come about
before her sons fate is decided"
At length, the all-mportant day arrived.
The Judges (who had never seen the prison
er slice the day of lis arrest being assem-
bled in the great hall of the assembly, de-
sired The prisoner might be brought in. -
The prone figure was placed on the plat
form, concealed as before with the cloth o.
green baize; whilst at its side, but consid-
cradle raised, was another, also covered.
The question was at once put as to what
counsel he had employed.
"Gentlemen," he said, 81 am my own
counsel. You questioned my ability to
give you representation of death; here
is one of life My subject IS, The Murder
of Abel by his brother Cain. ,"
Both coverings were withdrawn. Pro.
found stiffness succeeded this declaration,
followed by burst of admiration such as
had never before been heard in Florence
in the nineteenth century. Foremost OF
his admirers were his former accusers. The
news was instantly carried to the King,
who commanded the statues to be bought
and placed in the Pitt Palace.
ut is not possible, gentlemen, for me tc
obey the command of my sovereign sad
Henri; 'fhe sculptures are no longer mine,
having been purchased by the Emperor o.
Russia. The money | have had for then
has paid for my mothers present abode
and placed me forever beyond the reach O.
want.
The nephew Of the Russian AMBASSADOR
Kissalief, had served rs model for the
arm of Cain" and those to whom his feat
ures were familiar at once recognized the
handsome face
The narrator of this circumstance has
seen the statues at st. Petersburg. in q
building expressly erected for their recep
ton. The seulptor's name was Dupre
since become one of worldwide celebrity