Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-12-13


A correspondent Of the New York Evening
Post writes from Richmond, the following Curl
Gus story:
1t is said by those who are familiar with the
subject that there is no authentic likeness of the
beautiful and unhappy daughter of James the
First. The portrait which hangs in Holyrood
palace, and the LocheYen picture owned by the
earl of Merton and copied in Lodges portraits,
are alike of doubtful authenticity. Convinced
that there was not in the united kingdom any
picture of Mary drawn from the living original,
Chalmers, who wrote her biography, caused an
ideal likeness to be painted in which the best
and most correct features of the various por-
traits and sketches found in England, France
and Scotland were, as he conceived, happily
blended This ideal, together with the Loeb
even picture, were inserted in his biography.
When Elder, an artist of this city ,Ihad decided
to paint a picture of Mary on her way to the
block, he naturally applied at the state library
for the best likeness OF his subject which the
books then could furnish. Dissatisfied with the
engraving in Lodge he turned 10 Chalmers, and
found, to his regret, that both of the pictures
which it originally contained had been cut out
by some artistic thief. In despair he was about
to return to his studio when gentleman who
happened to be present said:
81 can tell you. where YOU will find the most
perfect likeness of Mary Queen OF Scots that
have ever seen; finer than that at Holyroo6,
with which am familiar"
"WhereP the artist asked eagerly.
SIN this very city; at Mrs. 5" giving
the number OF the house and the street.
ROMANTIC HISTORY.
Fl caring of this incident your correspondent
sought an interview with the gentleman just
mentioned, and in the conversation which en-
sued learned the history of the picture in ques
ton. 1t is sufficiently curious. Forty or more
years ago MIR, Joseph Mayo, (for a long period
the mayor of Richmond then young LAWYER
in the old lady pXnOspd n a
drenching shower He promptly offered his
umbrella. Thanking him for the courtesy she
asked his name and residence, in order that she
might know where to send the umbrella after
she reached home. He gave the desired inform
alton, the umbrella was returned and the matter
forgotten. A few days afterwards he received
note requesting him to call at such a house in
a certain street. On entering he was greeted
cordially by the old lady whom he had be.
| lrended, and, to make brief story, the inter
view resulted in his becoming her attorney for
life. She proved to be a widow, of Scottish
birth, named Kerr. Her property was large,
| ard her conversation and every surrounding
| showed her TO be a woman OF extraordinary
| taste, culture and refinement Her son and
| only child was a lunatic. Of her history preVi-
Gus to her coming TO this country the present
writer has been able to ascertain nothing what
| soeYer Mr. Mayo had charge of all her BUSH
| ness matters up to the time of her death, which
must have occurred hye-and-thirty years ago
| She was then ninety.
In token Of her affection for Mr.. Mayo's little
daughter, to whom she had taken great fancy,
she left the child musical box, and the nina
| ture Of Mary Queen of Scots. The miniature,
| she declared, had been in her mothers family
| ever since she could remember; was an heir
| loom, indeed, of many generations, and she
| priced it beyond all her other possessions.
That she did not leave it to her crazy son is not
| to be wondered at; but why it was not be-
| queathed to some other relative is a mystery.
| This rare pcture-the age Of which is only a
matter of conjecture-your correspondent had
| thesple assure Of examining a few evenings ago.
THE MINIATURE.
| Originally the miniature was cncased in
heavy ugly wooden Frame discolored by age,
| but without paint or yarnish As a likeness it
resembles somewhat the Lochleven portrait.
but is very much more beautiful. The express
sion is wholly different AS work Of art it is
unquestiOnably OF a high order Of merit. From
the long but not prominent chin the face rises
in rapidly widening oval 10 a brow massive
and broad, shaded by curls of the most exquisite
auburn, graceful, delicately pencllled curls, in
which the unknown artist discovers masters
skill He was in love with that hair and well
be might be. The brows are afched the eyes of
decided brown are wide apart as the OK eyed
llcras, the nose broad but finely cut, the lips
handsomely carved but unskilfuly coored,
and the complexion clear and pale, with the
iantest tint Of the rose near the check
bone. A coquettish hat Of straw worstcd
or other light brown material-it is
hard to tell what - covers her head.
The ruff is unlike any other, broad
deeply cut in points aud beautifully worked; 1t
lies Hat on her shoulders, displaying part of
her fair throat and adding greatly TO the effect
Of the picture II is drawn together under the
chin little way by white cord with tassclled
ends depending on her breast, Her dress, Of