Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-03-07
Sir Edwnrd Landseer.

When he was a very little boy, Edwin
Landseer used to ask his mother 10 eet
him copy to draw from, and theu-so
bis sisters have told me-complain that
she always drew one or two things, either
shoe or a cOrrant pudding, OF both Of
which he was quite tired. No wonder
that this was insufficient food far the
eager young spirit, fer whose genius in
afler lie two kingdoms were not too wide
range. The boy when he was a little
older, and when his bent seemed more
clearly determined, went to his father
and asked him for teaching.
The father was a wise man and told
his son that he could not himself teach
him to be painter, that Nature was tue
only school, Observation the true aud
only teacher. He told little Edwin to use
his own powers to think about all the
things he saw TO copy everything and
then he turned the boy out with his
brothers-they were all three much of
au age-to draw tha world as it then ex-
listed upon Hampstead Heath. There
seem TO have been then as now, little
donkeys upon the common, old horses
grazing the turf and gorse, and chickens
and children at play, though | fear that
now, alas no little curly. headed boy is
there storing up treasures for the use of
a whole generation to come. Day after
day the children used to spend upon the
Heath In the fresh air, at heir sports aud
their fights, but learning meanwhile
their early lesson. Their elder sister
used to 20 With them, a young mentor TO
keep these frolicsome splrlts within
bounds. One can Imagine the little party,
buoyant, active, in the full delightful
spring OF early youth. Perhaps youth
is u special attribute belonging
to artistic natures, to those whom
the Gods have favored and the old
fancitul mythology Is not all fabe.
Some boys are never young.
When last saw Sir Edwin Landseer,
something Of this indescrihable youthful
brightness still seemed to be with him,
although the cloud which dlmmed his
latter years has already partially fallen
But tue cruel cloud is more than half
century distant at tho time of which i
am writing, and thanks be to heaven the
whole food of life, aud work. and
achievement lies between, Little Edwin
painted n picture In these very early
days, which was afterward sold. 1t was
called the Mischief makers !" a mis-
! chievous boy had tied a log of wood to
the lsil of IA misbhievous donkey. Tue
liLIle donkey's head in the south Ken-
slngion Museum may have heen dra = n
upon Hampstead Hea,h-a careful b. ack-
cad donkey, that cropped the turf aud
looked up one day, soiue sixty ) ars ago,
with a puzzled face. Perhaps IL was
wondering at the size Of the artist stand
ing opposite, with his little sympathetic
uand at work. Ths diaN.ng Is marked
&c. Lsndseer, five years old"
This little donkey, OF ths line
Of Balaam's ass, had already
found out the secret and knew how to
| speak In bis own Language to the youthful
| prophet. Our liItle prophet needs no
warning on his journey be is not ahou'
10 barter his sacred gift, aud from Hamp
stead Heath and from many a widel
moor, he will honestly give his blessing
to the tribes as they come up. The trib,
of the poor the tribe 4 hardworkiul
rich; the tribe of Manchester; the trb,
Of BegraviH. Which is there among
them that mas not been the better for 1t
| There are other sketches iu the frame Al
the South Kensiug.on Museum u police
man pointed them out to me. "Hs kuev
Sir Edwin's pictures we'll. and hi
sketches, too; why, he was only sll
years old whtn he drew that doc,
said the policeman kindly The dos
Is pointer curling It's tail there i
the household cat, too, with broad fac
aud feline eyes. There is a more elab0r
&c sketch done al the age of fifteen, nul
probably representing the same pointt
.rOwn inio an ancient model now, AN
promoted from Oiack lead To wafer color
The young painter himself must Aavl
oren near starting in life by this time
born with his fairy gift the time wa
come to reveal II. Little Edwin was elgh
years Old when he first engraved plat
If etchingsi asses heads, sheep, donkey
were all there, aud then came a seeUnl
late for lions and tigers He WAS al
Says drawing animals. When he wa
thirteen be exhibited the portrait OF
pointer and puppy, and also the portal
Of MIR. Simpsons mule, BY "Mnster Z
Landseer, ms mentioned in the catalogue
Cordial Magazine.