The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-03-21
MR.. EDWIN LANDSEER'S LAST DAYS.

Then comes the sad concluding scene
the long illness and the anxious watch.
Was ever any one more tenderly nursed
and cared for? Those who had loved him
in his bright wealth of life now watched
the long days one by one, telling away its
terly, but sometimes he used to 60 into the
garden and walk round the paths, leaning
on his sisters arm. One beautiful morn
ing he looked up and said: Z" shall never
see the green leaves again." but he did
see them, Mrs. Mackenzie said. He lived
through another spring. He used to lie
in his studio, where he would have liked
to die. To the very end he did not give
MP his work; but he used to go on, paint
ing little at time, faithful to his task.
When he was almost at his worst-so some
one told me-they gave him his easel and
canvas, and left him alone in the studio, in
the hope that he might take up his work
and forget his suffering. When they came
back they found that he had painted the
picture of little lamb lying beside lion
This and "The Font were the last pic
lures ever painted by that faithful hand.
"The Font " is an allegory of all creeds
and all created things coming together into
the light of truth. The Queen is the
owner of "The Font" She wrote to her
old friend and expressed her admiration
for it, and asked to become the possessor
Her help and sympathy frightened the
sadness of those last days for him. 1t is
well known that he appealed to her once,
when haunted by some painful apprehen-
siors, and that her wise and .iudicious
kindness came to the help of his nurses.
She sent him back message; babe him
not be afraid, and to trust to those who
were doing their best for him, and in whom
she herself had every confidence. Sir
Edwin once told Mr.. Browning that he
had thought upon the subject, and come to
the conclusion that the stag was the BRAY
est of all animals. Other animals ale born
warriors; they fight in a logged and de-
termined sort of way. The stag is natur-
ally timid trembling, vibrating with every
sound, flying from danger, from the APP
proach of other creatures, halting to fight.
When pursued its first impulse is to
escape; but when turned to bay, and flight
is impossible, it fronts its enemies nobly,
closes its eyes not to see the horrible blood
shed, and with its branching horns steadily
losses dog after dog up one upon the other
until overpowered by numbers it sinks
to it's death. 1t seems to me, as think of
it, not unlike a picture of his own sad end
Nervous, sensitive, high-minded, working
on to the end, he was brought to bay and
at last overpowered by that terrible mental
rout and misery. He wished to die in his
studio-his dear studio for which he used
to long when he was away, and where he
lay so long expecting the end, but it was in
his own room that he slept away. His
brother was with him. His old friend
came into the room. He knew him, and
pressed his hand. y = AS time goes
on the men are born, one by one, who seem
to bring to US the answers to the secrets of
life, each in his place, and revealing in his
turn according to his gift. Such men be-
long to natures true priesthood, and
among their names, not forgotten, will be
that of Edwin Landseer.-The CornhM
Magazine.