The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-11-26
I.aTaIa q. Mead.


connected with bis history become mat
trrs of public interest. The thousand
who .wIincSScd the unvciling Of Ia
great President at Springfield, on tn
18th OF last month, pronounced il Il pei
feet success. The artist has fixed, IN ell
during bronze, every feature Of Mr.. Lin
coin in more accurate lines, and viii
stronger, more speaking force, than an,
other sculptor has yet approached. il
preparing his model, he used every pho
to.raph and piclure-a score or Two
that he could find, and from each he sc
lected every lincamcnt that could illus
tratc the features and character Of hi
great original. Hence the perfection
which all admit he has achieved.
But our object in This article is mainly
10 give a few Cf the facts IN relation L
his
ROMANTIC MARRIAGE,
more especially for the benefit of on
begin 10y saying that Mr.. Meade wa
lett in charge Of the United States Con
sulatc at Venice by his brothcr-in-law
Mr.. W. ID. Howells, at present CT itor o
The Atlantic Monthly during Mr.. How
ellis bridal trip home to America
Everybody who has been in the quaint
old city of the Adrialic will remember
the crowds that Of AN evening promenade
on the beautiful piazza San Marco
While residing ia Venice, the youthful
artist met a lady whose perfection OF
form, flashing eye, classic face, and Gle
giant bearing toward her associates made
case of desperate love at first sight.
Bat Of The lady he artist knew nothing
whatever; he could no: speak a word OF
her language; he WAS a stranger in a
strange land and how 10 make himself
known TO tie object Of his ardent af!ec-
tioLs MAS The problem not only OF the
hour, but OF week after week, perhaps,
month after month. OF course bis own
promcnades on the piazza were lon. and
frequent, and, taking care not 10 be Oh
served, every meeting with his inamorata
oAiy increased the ardOr of his affections.
While AT home Mr. Iowclls was offer
ed and accepted tie editorial q a'rf the
IlaHtic NoaHy. In due time Mr.. Lin
coin appointed the Hon. Francis Cotton,
"t Galesburg, H., TO the Venetian Con
talate, and, on his arrival in Ncricc, Mr..
Meade returned 10 his studio in Florence,
where lie had already acquired some
cGicbrity as a sculptor. But absence
from his unknown divinity was intolcr-
able 10 the young artist. lie went back
ID Venice and told his story 10 his
friend and countryman, Mr.. Cotton,
whose sympathy and kind Offices were
at once enlisted Ia behalf Of the discon-
ISOLATE lover. The interpreter aud rs.
siStant of Mr.. Cotton was a member Of
one OF the older noble families in Venice,
aud without at first knowing the object
81 the request, he WAS commissioned 10
find out who the lady was that had so
captivated the heart OF
The American artist. She was found 10
he both IN her connections and culture
all that could be desired, and now the
problem was how 10 make the lady aC-
quaintcd wIh the character, social stand
ing, and prospects Of her lover. In time
this WAS sufficiently accomplished to
meeting of the parties most in
interest, but all the talking had to be
done through an interpreter, for neither
Guild yet speak single word of the
others language. 4 very romantic kind
pt courtshlp, surely; but Cupid has "a
thousand liIlle arts by which he wins
tusceptivc hearts besides those which
men and madcns yainly strive TO con-
zeal under the forms OF speech.
Tc cut short our story, Mr.. Meade was
accepted, and thea new obstacle was
thrown in their way. The lady was Il
Roman Catholic; her intcadcd was not.
BY the laws OF tho Church ruling in
\ cnice, no priest was permitted to unite
hem ia marriage. The Pope WAS APP
acalcd TO in vain 10 grant n dispensation
"a their favor. But love breaks ali bar
riers. a civil marriage, permitted under
Victor Emanuel was performed for them
n Florence, and soon after a Catholic
Bishop in England, in accordance with
he principles OF the lady, made their
marriage and their happiness complete.
SIR. Cotton and Mr.. and Mrs. Meade
net tor the first time in several years
past AT Spring tield nj the inauguration Of
what will probably be the masterpiece
If the artist. We need scarcely add that
herr greetings were most colGla! and
lcartv. 1t must have been Iroud day
OF Mrs. Meade; tho realization of a wo-
mans brightest hopes. Here were the
highest civil and military officers OF a
great nation, TO dedicate 4 statue 10y her
husband of n patriot who, next to Wash
ngton, will fill tho highest place in
American history. She bore her honors
With a grace and dignity worthy of 4
laughter 0: tho old Romans. Qucenly
II bearing, in figure, and in form the
peer Of Eugcnie herself, she, is 4 most
Nnrlh rnnsn~i OF ono OF Amnrina's most .