Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-10-10
From the Aldine.
EN- IMMATURE.
FROM THE GERMAN or R1IzF

found a joyous life awaiting her as pu-
pill in the studio of Gerhard Dow, the
EAmous painter of the Netherlands.
Her father had at last yielded to her
repeated entreaties for instruction by
a regular master, and the hope of en-
riching both herself and him by the
practice of tho art, which he esteemed
but lightly, had decided him to send
her to Leyden, to the home of Dow,
who was o distant relative of her de-
ceased mother. Thus, for the first
time, Anna stepped from the gloom of
a lonely youth, into warm, bright at
mosphere of affection. Free to devote
herself openly to the art, which she
had so long secretly adored, she now
blossomed like o rose, to the Joy of all
who saw her, and her rich talent devel-
oped itself with astonishing rapidity.
Dow's studio was a spacious room,
with northern exposure, full of soft
lights, and looking down upon the wa.
ters of quiet stream, Wondrous or
der reigned in the cool, attractive re-
treat. The master never began his
morning work until every particle OF
dust had subsidized. Long after blonde
Anna stood painting zealously at her
easel. Dow would wait patiently,
watching the fine notes floating in the
sunshine, and when the giddy whirl
had ceased. he would slowly bring forth
from a chest his palette, with all its
belongings, carefully select his colors,
and take the brush in his hand. Then
there must be no going to and fro
among the pupils-a rule of especial
irksomeness to impetuous Franz Won
Mieris, who would gladly have run
every five minutes from one easel to
another. Anna wore her brown froch
logged up, least in her quick motions il
might sweep the floor and whirl cloud
of the dreaded dust into the air; and
indeed she had no cause to blush fol
the little feet which stood in thell
high-heeled shoes, as trim and delicate
as princess own. Her close fitted
jacket displayed the charming outlines
of her graceful form, and her padded
sleeves were pushed back from a pair
of hands which Franz Won Mieris de-
clared the fairest in the Netherlands.
Unfortunately for the young scholar,
Annals easel was placed at such an an
gle that only at rare intervals some
turn of her head brought to his view
her d;licate profile and rosy cheek. So
he admired all the more ardently thu
golden hair fastened in heavy braids at
the back of her head, and falling on
each side in o shower of curls. We
have q charming picture of Franz Won
Mieris in his later years, in which he
has represented himself standing be-
foe his easel, dressed in black velvet.
his bold, handsome face turned toward
the observer, and his aristocratic hand
res ing between the folds of some rich
drapery hanging over the back of 9
chair. Near him stands girlish fig.
ure in the precise attitude of the beau.
tiful Anna in the old studio; the slen.
der waist, the lovely shoulders and
neck encircled by golden chain, the
luxuriant hair, q glimpse of the cheek.
and white delicate hand--all are de-
]lneated with the touch of a master;
Upon the easel is a family outlined
picture of a lady, blonde and beauti
full with smiling lips and eyes-the por
trait of the young pupil herself. On
one side bass-viol leans against tn,
wall, q remainder of the merry musi,
which sounded so often through th'
studio, and in the background appear
Fran Katherine bearing refreshment
for her husband and pupils.
Indeed, there had been no dearth o
music in the Leyden studio. If Dov
were weary, or the sky gray and over
cast, Anna must sing in her sweet voice
or the artist Terburg come over will
his violin, and Franz play the brass
vlol. Poor Franz was sadly angry tha
Anna never seemed moved by the PLAIN
tive strains which he drew from his in
strument, and answered cnly by 70
gish smiles all the languishing glance
with which he accompanied them. Th,
maiden could not be made to under
: stand the sentiments of this susceptible
heart. She jcsted with merry inditfer
ence, deaf of his half uttered declara
tions of love, and ut last told him plain
" that the gay, Iight-heartcd Fran
Micris pleased her II thousand time
more than his quiet, melancholy doubt
A wonderful instrument is woman
heart. The most practiced hand ofte
. fails to elicit harmonious accords fro,
its delicate strings, while sometime,
: beneath lnskiiled fingers, sound fort
;, the sweetest melodies. So the heart {
the fair Anna, impervious to the urde,
eyes of Franz M,cris, melted before Il,
. gentle glances Of the young sculpto
Jacob Heer*', who, having just retur,
Ell from Rome, was frequent visite