Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-08


ans club gave him reception, and he gave
them a lecture on Rembrandt. The club rooms
were bright and pretty, with flowers, members
and distinguished guests Mrs. Howe presided
with her usual grace, and after the lecture an
| hour was given to ices, chocolate, and CONVEX
sation. On Thursday, Mr., Coquerel delivered,
at the Lowell institute, a lecture in French, on
Mcndelssohn and the Reformation symphony.
| He had an audience Of about three hundred,
who greatly enjoyed it, Last evening he spoke
for the last time here, at the Boston theatre. He
is as great favorte in private as in public, and
has made hosts of friends here.
On Saturday the artists in Studio build
ing gave their first reception for this
season. 1t was impossible in the few hours
given to the reception to see half the pic
lures which were exhibited, and equally i'm
possible not to see a few of the most beauti-
tul. In Mr.. S. p Hodgdon's room, besides his
landscapes and crayons, were a few beautiful
flower pantings-one Of some half-blown roses
seemed to me the best thing ofits kind lever saw.
Mr.. Ordway had collection of sketches made
in Berkshire of trees standing alone or in groups
lovely studies of foliaye-and an Indian sum-
mer landscape, river view with grass and cows
in the foreground, aud trees in the background,
the autumnal colors making a rich, warm dis
lance. 1t was notceably pretty even in the
crowd of autumn pictures that we see every
where. Miss Merrill had a small and very beau
tiful group of autumn trees, painted from ma
ture, where the reds and yellows were in vivid
contrast with the evergreens crowdng against
them. She had, too, an attractive picture of an
old barn in Concord, with both the great doors
wide open, and quiet landscape seen beyond
J. W. Champney's studio is a most fascinating
place, where one would like TO stay for hours,
Just to look at the walls, which are hung with
curious old tapestry, strange ornaments in
metal and wood, drawings from casts, and many
pictures Mr.. Champney evidently loves what
is odd and quaint his room is furnish
ed with odd pieces of handsome old
furniture, from which he makes up the
charming interiors which he paints. He
not only sees, but he knows how to paint
the deep, beautiful colors of old wood; his
sketches are full of beauty and interest. Here
simple interior, warm and COSY; there the
Iuaintest of gablcd roofs with wonderful har.
monies and contrasts of reds and browns and
Irays; next picture Of the famous zone horse
shay" and still beyond an old ruin with fresh
spring foliage filling its broken arches, and half
covering its crumbng gray walls The variety
Of his work is as striking as its beauty; and the
numerous visitors were enthusiastic in their
expressions Of delight. Mr.. B. g. Porter is fast
winning reputation as portrait painter. He
follows the example of artists who have been
-,
On dark background, and paints lile-size
igures, full or three-quarters length, with all the
luxury of color and magnifcence of dress in
which old portrait painters delighted. In this
way the beauty of beautiful woman or child
IS heightened by the accessories of the picture
and the plainness of homely one made less
obtrusive; for the artist, with all resources of
background and drapery at his disposal can
easily arrange them either to bring out and
make prominent the beauty of the face, or to
withdraw attention from its want of beauty
Mr. Porter, Miss Adams, aud few other artists
have charming, picturesque studios, full of in
teresting things, artistic fancies, and bewilder-
ing arrangements of color. The receptions are
to be held once month through the winter so
that, without intrudng upon their working
hours, we shall know something of what the
artists are doing.
sometimes we see pretty living pictures.
often stop in the early evening to admire a
brown-Sknned, black-eyed chestnut girl, who
has tied bright red scarf over her black hair,
aud stands in the full light of the blazing torch;
while the Goals in the oven below are a dull red,
and crouching against the wall near her is
rough looking boy, a brother, perhaps, hardly
seen unless the dancing, haring light falls for
moment on his sullen face and tangled hair. 1t
might be painted for an Italian scene but seems
curiously out of place on the sidewalk OF the
prosac west end of Boston. 0ae Improvement
in that part of the city is so great that it deserves
mention. The ditch or pit, or whatever the cavity
was called that used to be between the Beacon
st. sidewalk and the horrid underground kitchen
Of the fremont house, down which we used to
LOOK upon cooking catching the dust of the street,
and from which poured all the mixed smells of
hotel dinners and a jargon of tongues, is now
nicely filed up, sodded and planted with honey.
suckleS and roses. So that end of Beacon
street will be open again as Il public street
should be, and nor blocked up half the time
with coal, ice, market, or swill carts. If all
changes could be improvements, believe Bos-
tonians would not grumble at the expense or
the trouble; but some Of the changes now pro-
posed are mere vandalism. There seems to be
war against shade trees. In the newly annexed
wards, streets are laid out without the faintest
regard to beauty, and magnificent trees are cut
down like thiStles. Then, worst of all. there
is a project to widen fremont street, on the
common side, and to cut down the great trees
on the sidewalk by the Granary burying ground,
all for the convenience OF the horse cars, Vigor.
Gus opposition has so far prevented the execu.
ton Of this last plan but it is not given up, and
any day we may see fremont street shorn of
what beauty is still left to it,
AT this season everything pertaining to warmth
and comfort is important; and, at a carpet store
on Washington street, have seen a most inter-
estlng and curious assortment of rugs. Besides
the usual Turkey, velvet, and other kinds kent
by all carret-deaIers, they have large collection
of rugs from Beyrout, Egypt and Zanzibar
There is no regular trade In these articles. but
occasionally cargo of them is sent here; they
are woven in rude hand looms, are irregular in
shape, with mixed, fantastic patterns: the
two ends of the same rug are ALWAYS different
and the patterns are generally uglv-but
after all, the rugs are thoroughly com
lortablc-looking, are warm, fiat, durable and not
expensive. They are used here a great deal in
bathrooms, or wherever there is a bare floor. or
oilcloth; and the larger aud handsomer ones
are suitable to lay before any open fire. Those
from Zanzibar are large, woven in narrow
oreadths, of gorgeous stripes, and sewed to-
gether in the middle, with very large stitches,
and no attempt to match tue figures. Their
u@hhess and gorgeousness are their merits;
then they have an eastern look, and suggest
the Arabian Nights and all sorts of
wonderful stories of magic carpets, and
oriental luxury. They are interesting rugs and
make the Powered or arabesqued velvet ones to |
which we are accustomed look very tame Tho |
present lot is being sold rapidly, and the com.
ing of another cargo is doubtful; one may come
this month, or not for a long time; it depends
upon how many are carried to Beyrout. the mort