Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-17

THoRvALDsEN's DINNER INVITATIONS
Thanks to his servant, however, the artist at
last maintained a certain method in this bust
ness of dining out. AT first, he was governed
by the fancy of the moment. When the hour
drew near he would look over the papers on his
table, and, from among the four or five invita-
tons which he was sure to find there, select on e
almost by accident. But such system had
numberleSS Inconvenience and, TO avoid giving
offense, Thorvaldsen was Obliged to change it,
Wikens, his servant, was faithful, systematic
fellow, who knew what was proper. He adopted
the plan of writing down all his masters en-
gagements in the order in which they were re-
ceiyed; and after that, when Thoryaldsen was
urged 10 accept verbal invitation, he would re-
ply, 81 cannot promise. See Wilkens; he will
tell you whether | am disengaged. You must
arraugeit with him." The servant thus became
person of consequence. Great lords intrigued
for the first place on mis- list; they fattered him
and offered him money, but nothing
could alter the legitimate order. Wilkens
was an honest man, a slave to truth,
and absolutely incorruptble. In conse-
quence of this arrangement, people fire.
quently did not apply 10 the artist when they
desired his company at dinner. They simply
wrote their names on the servants list When
the hour came, and while Wilkens was helping
him dress, Thorvaldsen would ask, "Where am
| going to dine to-day? ?" and as Wilkens
always went with him. and came for him. 1t
often happened that the old master, If he neg
lected to inform himself beforehand, did not
know who it was with whom he was dinin o.
Upon one occasion ThOrvadsen received an in
vitation from the king himself. His majesty
had come with the queen to the dtelieF, to see
the model of the statue of Christian w., to
which Thorvaldsen was putting the finishing
touches. "Herr Counselor" said the sovereign,
graciously, as he was leaving, 81 engage you to
dino with m npyt Thursday - The artist uayp
an interrogative glance at Wilkens, who stood
by the door. The poor servant, red with embar-
rassment, dared not reply. "Can acceptH said
his master to him. "Is there any impediment?"
Wilkens then committed the imprndence OF pro,
nouncing the name Of GrSted. That's true"
quickly reolied the artist; and turning toward
the king, "Your majesty must deign to excuse
me. really cannot accept. Thursday happens
TO be the day of Grsted's fete, and l have posi-
lively promised to 30 to Roeskilde." While the
courtierS were half scandalized at this reply the
king said, with a kind smile, 81 am very sorry,
but ! hope to be more fortunate another time. !"
The artist had always been fond of the theatre,
but the late dinners in Copenhagen entirely de-
prived him of this amusement. In order to en-
joy greater liberty in this respect, he determined
that, as a rule, he would dine at home if Will
kens' wife would prepare the meals. The honest
couple tried so hard 10 please him that he feared
he was giving too much trouble; and this fancy
so disturbed him that he devised plan which,
IN his simplicity, he imagined would work well.
He accordingly limited to his servant that his
wife would find it less inconvenient if they all
took their meals together an arrangement
which seemed to him theImore feasible, as they
also lodged in the palace. But Wilkens, with
his respect for propriety, could not for mo-
ment consider so monstrOus a PROPOSE
ton, and tried by various pretexts to
evade it. When Thorvaldsen proposed it
more plainly, he opposed it chiefly on
the ground Of the difference of hours, as his
wife and he dined much too early. "If that is
all replied the old man, "the thing is soon set
tied; let us compromise the matter. You dine
little later, and | a little earlier, and then we
shall agree" Driven to the wall, Wilkins was
finally Obliged to give the true reason for his
opposition. "What will the world think, he
said, "when it hears that the counselor dimes
with his servantsp "The worldb the
world" exclaimed Thorvaldsen "There
you are again with your world Have not
told you thousand times that | care moth
ing for what it thinks about such matters2 Am
J not free to live as please2 And BESIDES Will
kens, | consider that you are quite as good at
your business as am at mine;' and the master
was so much offended that for several days he
would not speak 10 his seryant.-FrOnl Lie of
ThOrUdldsen, By Eugene PL0n