St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-12-13
A Picturesque Transformation.


atllucnrc are inNcrScly proportional.
Mr. Edward Trrmnimc'> >tudioprr>cntcd
Il striking confirmation of the theory.
| pom the Immediate receipt of pccumi-
AIRY equivalent for the picture on his
easel dcpcndcd the pacific adjustment
of his board hill : and the picture WAS
unqucSti"mahly Il work of genius.
1t would perhaps he premature I" as
>crt that the artist WIS ut that time Il
full l-ilcd"cd genius; there were hardly
sufficient data aS yet from which to
Judge safer t" regard him merely ;>
Il talented Young fellow who. 10y Il com
himation of fortunate external and i'll
tcrual conditions. had produced an i'm
mortal work. II subsequent prnduc-
ti"mS sustained it. admit him Il genius;
othcIWiS iSc. otherwise.
The subject Wa> simple; three faces
two. bright and vivid, III the fore
ground Il third, grave and >hadowy.
appearing" from behind. Pleasing ut
first glance, aS N"u waZcd. the picture
gradually satisfied Your immo>t heart
Hauling every nook and Granny with
delight. All elements to kimdlc human
interest were there. vet wa> every thing
idrHlizcd. thus widening the pictures
sway. Love WAS the kcN-motc love IN
its highest phase. dimmcd 10y II" touch
nf>cm>ualitN ol sorddmc>~. .Ai:d vhrthcI
gain" 1T the Young girl who, with
sweet. ;ppraling eyes. and hlH>!iim%. ~
il were. at her own modc>t}. >hl;uk
while She clumg Ia the vigorous Vitality
of Youth ur. again. ut his fair N"uug
face. which. bright with the inst light
of lofty Thoughts and pa~>l"iatc i'm
pulses. WAS Snttrncd and >uhdurd 10y
her trust and reliance on his strength :;
on. finally. ut the grave eyes. thoughtful
brow. and eloquent lips of the sage in
the back ground. made yet more grI-
ci"uS 10y thril aspect of sympathy and
interest in the uItricI Young lives he
fore him: toward whichever of these
the glance WAS tuln"d il still recognized.
undrrlN ing and clcvatiug all. tn" death
less sentiment of love in all it> varied
furnt>. Nh. Trcmainc. having added
| the finishing touch. stepped back Il few
PAGES. with his head ON one side. and
stood contemplating his work in silence.
II call that good" he remarked at
length. with all tine caudor of one who
Is 10y himSrlf "Il"pc i'll prove Il true
>Nmhol. and that the Professor V i'll take
the hint. Don't see how he can help
it,"
Young men are not invariably gifted
| with one idea To the exclusion of 'hcr>.
ANY more than amy body else: and what
they do may sometimes happen tn he
done Nith more than one purpose. y
work of genius may elevate po>tcIity Il
| hundred Years from NOW. Yet hc there
10y in no way imcaplritatcd from min
I Il. / a.
necessities. of its author.
Following close upon Mr. Trcmainc' :
remark WIS heard the we'll know II krI"ck
of the prnit>>nr. who, hI\ in" hccm cor
dially if not "h~rquinm>ll admitted. sat
down in - clair ol'p">ilc tn" picture.
and studied il - while in silence. lie
Was not given to unnecessary cnnNcI>.l-
ton Braim~. learning. and money g.
taken in sufficiently Large quantities.
will cruc amy one of l"quacitl. and the
Professor bore evidence of free indul-
"cucr iii all three. Nevertheless, his
expression WAS simple and kindly. and
he looked like Il benevolent old fellow
enough. I> why should he not
~ l"u'Nc been more than successful
here. Edward." said he at last. "Thr
world might rcmcmhcr l"u tnr this.
Edward flushed. 80 far. very good
indeed The idea of Il board bill haN -
inc ever caused him unca>inc>S!
TO look behind the veil society
draws over our real selves. continued
the Professor. land paint what We are
InWardll conscious of being. or of the
capahility of Incoming. j. Il great feat
You have AT once caught and idcaliIcd
the likcnc>>c> aud in the most difficult
part of your subject the maiden. Hide
"ar,lc have best succeeded. Beau
titul :l> she is. You have painted her
soul rather than herself"
Edwards flush hcrcupom 50 dccpcncd
that one might have imagined other
sentiments than pleasure concerned III
lis production. Such. ut amy rate. WIS
the fact : he had long loved lIildcgnrlc.
the lovely ward of his patron. the Pro-
tc>Sor; and IN painting this picture had
doubtless Thought tn shadow forth the
fact to that gentleman. and prepare his
mind to know the hitherto carefully
concealed secret. He now awaited the
next remark with some anxiety; much
might depend on it.
Ills IL confirmation of my theory.
said the Professor, muSim%ly. "Who
looks at life diSp;l>>ionatcly. alone por-
trays it clearly. Now III this idealizcd
con junction of maidcnhood and youth
of Yourself and lIildcgarde is en-
bodied the very essence of love; but
had You been under the influence of the
passion. you could never thus have
painted it,.
Rather dampcr. "Confoumd his
theories, :" calculated Edward. very
much below his breath. Evidently
paint-hru>h language wasn't plain
enough. Must try the other way then.
Il don't quite agree with You there.
Professor, he began. in Il gently argu-
mcntatiNc manner. "LoNc. it strikes
me. is the best teacher the truc>t cN-
achieved in this picture is due to the
sentiment inspiring the artist rather
than to his skill Not impossible.
When people hear what they have no
wish to hear. they sometimes say. i'll II
harsh tone. Il don't understand You !"
That was exactly what the Professor
said. Then he added. "lou don't mean
that " and paused, looking full at poor
Edward. Had Edward been older. "r
wiser. he would have perceived that the
Professor wanted, not an explanation.
hut Il disclaimer. and had made the
pause i'll order To give him Il chance to
put one III before il WAS too late. But
he was Young and foolish. and bestowed
not IL thought upon the matter. HAY
ing beforehand decided that this would