Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-07-04
b. s. @.
BALTIMORE. June. 1874


~ must tell you what have seem
worth in my estimation q trip to Eu-
rope: Saturday night we walked out
TO Mt. Vernon church and the monu-
ment l,y moonlight, and on our way
home stopped at the Masonic Temple
Ter lock ~ Dubufe's great picture that
is on exhibition there. r. 7 could bus
make you see itas did | tits canvass
20 by DO feet, framed magniiicenily, and
divided into three compartments, rep
resenting three different episodes in the
life q "Tbe Prodigal SON.
The eentfe.piecs is brilliant with lile
and coloribg, and contains forty figures,
some Of them life size. In this rises
palace with porlicos supported by hugo
capitals, and group OF gay maidens
and dashing men are lounging here and
there, their faces filed with the intoxi-
eating pleasures Of the moment. There
is everything Ia this scene TO beguile the
senses; rara flowers maddening wine
like real-rcd and sparkling, and Ia the
centre Of the reckless crowd stands tho
prodigal, ROBBED in vivid scarlet His
face is a perfect type Of Jewish beauty,
according to my ideal--his hair black
| as jet and flowing, his attitude picture
in itself There is look Of safety Oh
his face, wonderfully suggestive 81 the
vanity Of earthly pleasures In his right
hand he holds "A glass Of this bright
| red wine, and seems aboutto make some
fatal pledge. On his right. ID i flutter-
ing. sheeny robe Of white. young girl
leans toward him, her round, fair arms
clasped about big neck, imploring him
with pleading eyes to tlesist on bis left
reclincs woman. his hand clasped IN
both Of hers, and folded ID her white
bosom she is dressed georgeously, and
her lovely, tempting face Is instinct with
passion; the antithesis--my hobby, al
yon KNOWS remarkably striking. Be-
hind him is another Of these seducers,
with her face bent close 20 his ear. and
she ia so completely lost to everything
but realization Of bis presence that
she is totally oblivious OF the fact that
one Of her adorers has stolen this oppor-
tnnlty to snatch kiss from her white
shoulders. OFF in another part Of the
gorgeous palace yard ii i gronp playing
cards The face Of the trimming man ii
marvellous; another company Of maid-
ems are reclining in varipos attitudes,
listening toa poet who with his souI up
on his face II feeitiug his opa Uerses,
doubtless forgive the sacrilcge.) or at
little distance, an exquisite. thought
mi faced maiden seems absorbed in med
iiatlon --ber face IS a rare conception.
All Of this il what strikes your eye
as yon first glance at the certre-pece
as you look longer, you observe another
palace farther off, with marble steps
leading UP q the porches aud groups Of
happy cAreless people playing harps
and reclining on ottomans.
Then the sky right overhead Il dag
cling blue, but towards the horizon dark
.clonds are rising that betoken storm.
thought thcfuggestion there Sc beau
tiful.
That was how !" be spent bis substance
IN riotons living"
On the left Of this, bat perfectly con-
nected with it. ii a grey, sombre scene
contracting markedly with the glow and
warmth Of the other broad, barren
heath with swino feeding upon hnsks.
and on q grey rock sits The prodigal,
lsaning on shepherds staff, haggard
aud worn, with a face of abandoned de-
lection Above him dark clouds ara
piled, not one ray Of sunlight gilds The
scene, the atmosphere is thick, tangi-
b grey.
This is whore che faip would have
filed himself" etc.
The right hand scene is colorless also,
but there is something soothing III the
aspect, unlike the weird, awesome dark
ness Gifts companion piecr; it represents
him at his fathers door. He has reached
the steps and falenat the feet 81 the
aged sire. who with bis feeble rims
casping him IL invoking the forgiveness
and blessing 81 God upon this erring
but repentant one; ia the doorway
stands the mother with clasped hands
and thankful eyes, and at the feet 81 the
prodigal is the dog, who seems to know
tn Il there u cause for Joy, and expresses
It to the best Of bis canine ability Now
that have fnishcd feel like erasing
every line have written, it SO fails to
do the magnificent conception jnstice
Remember that every figure is origi-
nal and distinct, every face different, and
every attitude wonderfully graceful aud
natur'l.
| would BE manned, crippled, halt.
blind.to have Dubnfe's genius and exec
utive powers; thousands have visited it,
aud il has won a worldwide reputation.