, 1873-06-15

The Eafly Trials OF q Great German
Artist

and smile as they recall their own days OF fe,
indignation at world that failed to appreciai
their genius, and ut the preference it showed |
men who, in their opinion, deserved such or
couragement least OF all, Occasionally, alst
ono Of these elder members is prevailed upon
let his friends catch glimpse OF his own e1
perience, and thus it Was that, On = recent oeca
sion, great German, accidentally finding him
self in such company, told the young artist
the instructive story Of weIl-mown and eni
] nent sculptor As it illustrates the trials K
| which even men Of genius ara but too otter
exposed, and teaches the Lesson that self-made
men are not, az 70 many believe, pecu'
liar institution Of our own country, the outlines
ut lesst may here be stated The artist Has q
poor PEASANTS son, born In q remote province
Of the Kingdom OF Prussia For years he
worked a. a common deld-hand for his uncle, a
Eua1l but well-to- do farmer, and a. he had never
bean to school, and could neither read nor write,
he passed his Sundays In carving every bit OF
rood he could procure. His uncle died, foget-
ting to provide for his poor nephew; the little
farm WAS sold, and the youth sent out into the
wide world. He vent to carpenter IN neigh
boring town, who had once praised his work,
hne hnd entered bis service IS n an appse4tcs
A0e 49, ~ AAA9 0AAAot A4O 6E0AAS A4
the handsome old cathedral, examining
the Gothic arches, and the carved stalls
OF the canons, and trying to copy them at home,
in his master's Workshop. Fortunately, there
came occasionally old furniture to be repaired,
and as the carpenter was not q cabinet-maker,
he loft the quaint chairs and chests OF drawers
to his apprentice, who thus was enabled to train
his eye, and to become better judge Of such
work. At last he Ventuled upon carving, frat
bouauet OF flowers and then an infant Christ.
xrF <uA1 11r 1o$fr hu% 7+1%
Hho came to inquire altar some orders abe had
given She took the t#o carvings aud showed
them TO the Governor OF the Province, Who wss
80 much struck with the skill and the talent they
week lster orders came that tho artist
should bo sent to the capital, where he
would be entered At the academy, and
his travelling expenses we're advanced Full OF
Joy, he started, his knapsack on his shoulders,
and the generous git of sI6 in bis pocket, on
first experience in Berlin was Little encourag-
ing; when the Professors heard thst he WAS
so years old, they refused to receive him, and
the great Ranch candidly advised him to re-
hat one Of tho masters there Ed himself begun
bis career quite Is late in life; be took pity on
the poor PEASANT, and presented him to the Di-
rector. When the latter heard that the new
RnRa t s a e. hd a1 hs fssa sa shs ss ::
man, having wife and children at home but
wher be was shown tho flowers and the infant
Christ, he asked rudely: *Where did jon learn
tilat2" IT never learnt anything, Sir" "But,
e i poer or xlst bad niss yea of a.
and did not understand the question. II mean
who taught you Wood-carylng II learnt it
By myself, Sir" Nov he was intereated, and
consented, At last, shaking his head ominously,
The poor man found himself there amid Little
boys who plagued him sorely; his heavy hand
WAS unable to use pencil to advantage. and he
vas eoon transferred to the nnodeIng-room.
Here he felt easier, for ho conld knead
which had SO far weighed him down. For
two years he worked indefatigably, but at
the expiration OF his term he only felt how much
there was still to learn, while his native place
expected him to return as an accomplished mas
tex. Still he determined to continue, but where
were the n1eans :? For many days tho sunshine
was. as he said, the only warm dish he enjoyed,
and often and often ho Was reduced to his last
penny. One day be was literally starving, when
help came most Unexpectedly. He had, in ft
which. as peasant, he thought be ought to un-
do1stand better than anybody else, and friends
haa sent it to m exhibition. Fortunately it OBJ
tained prize, and as be rose from his knees, hav
ing invoked Gods aid, 3 letter was brought in
the magnificent sum Of 500. This
amount enabled him to remain two years longer
in Berlin, which he devoted to indefatieable
study, and inceasant eforts to improve his akill-
The sale OF = carved crucifx furnished him the
IN quarry in Cnrrara, and then, With his scauty
BavlngB, went to Rome. But here new difficult
hes arose he could, after manner, support
himself BY mending casta and assisting artists,
but where should the money come from to pay
for models marble, and the Indispensable tools.
De had finished Christ on the cross, but no. |
body would buy it, and once more starvation !
stared in his face. It wns tho third day on
which he had eaten nothing. when he..was sitting
n sheer despair in his dark Workshop, an empty |
or even to rise. He was sunk in prayer when |
1orsenan passed BY, stopped, looked at the |
,aryod 6gure long time, asked it it were for /
ale, and rode of again without saying word. |
l friend happened to como IN soon after, and |
eeing the artists condition, bought him few
'ennys worth Of bread. But the next morning
no carriages drove up, filed with great ladies' |
nd gentlemen, the poor artist had to put 4 |
'1snk over tTo chairs to enable them tosit down,
nd then, at their request, showed them his
7ork They asked him what was his price, but
> he had no experience in such matters, he
eft the decision to his visitors. Tho day after
he Prince and his wife-for such we're his new
atrons-returued with 9 number OF friends, and
rdered large sum Of gold in bags to be taken
rom tho carriages and to be handed to the
is good fortune till they had Ill left, and then |
astened home. hiding his treasure under his
orn mantle. To the end OF his lifs be said, be |
'ould remomber the delight with which he sent
7r . hot cup OF coffee, and indu1ged in two
mall loa7es OF broad! He pnid at once his
ebta. end set vigorously to work beginning 8
BIT his trisIa We're not yet at an end. Several
ears had passed, bringing but scanty support,
hen his purse WAS once moro empty and moth
lg on hand to sell but large group in marble,
hich had exhausted his Treasury. He was
ace more overwhelmed with debts, and unable |
} buy decent meal. It WIS Sunday morn
g, and he sought relief in urgent prayer, I I
hen two wandering mechanics, Germans, hap
aned to catch glimpse OF his work and asked
ave to come in and SEQ the group He opened
ia door; they entered, admired, and at last
:oke out in loud praises Of the work, and ee-
,cially Of the happy man who could make such .
masterpiece and earn much gold and great
NOR The poor artist had to disabuse them
ID told them how much happier he had been
bis earlier years; <" then, h be said j" as peas.
IT'S laborer, had $40 a year and no cares as q
rpenter's apprentice had nearly dollar .
eek, and was quite contented; even as
ldier never felt want. But now, when +
END hundreds, and great Lords come to see
g. am all the time in trouble, and just now I
am 80 far in debt that il help does not come
on, must 30 to Jail Tomorrow" The two I
avelers were dumbfounded by this rerela~
N, but they soon began to whisper to eaeh
her. and at last gentured, with much embar-
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