Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-01-07

Il am an old man and need time for
to such things. You will have do the
work yourselves"
Santa Maris!" sighed the servants.
Just then a smsll boy came tripping
up to the scene. His name was Antonio,
and Pasino was his grandfather.
Whats the trouble now?" he asked
| of his grandfather, who had returned to
| his work.
Its dreadful, Tonin" said Battista
We have no ornament for the table
It's bad scrape, and your grandfather
won't help US out of it."
"pll do ii" replied Tonh
"Go back to your play, boyr' said Pa
sino. You are only boy, and cannot
| do the work of man"
But I'll try. Who knows but that it
will come out all right?"
The servants were delighted at hearing
these words, and seizing hold of the bows
hand they led him off to the house.
| After they had arrived Antonio threw
| aside his coat and rolled up his shirt
sleeves. Then, washing his hands clean
| and white, he t.ld them to furnish him
with butter enough to make good sized
statue.
"What does the boy mean?" exclaimed
one of the domestics.
He means what he says, and don't
you bother him with your foolish ques-
tions," replied Pietro, with very self
satisfied air.
The butter was brought and laid on
the table. Antonio, taking up small
case-knife, began to cut into it and to
shape it as he thought best. Soon a
head appeared-not a human head, but
the head of some animal. There were
the eyes as plain as could be, the mouth,
the nose and the ears. Then there was
something that looked like name Next
came the body, with strong, muscular
legs rolled up beneath it; and finally
there was long tail with small tuft on
the end.
"a lion, as true as day " shouted
Battista.
Does it look like one 2" asked the
boy.
For all the world, and great artist
could not have done better" said Pietro.
Antonio was satisfied, and after wash
ing his hands again and putting on his
coat he hurried back to the orchard.
When the guests assembled at dinner
every eye was turned toward the orna-
ment which graced the center of the
table. The like they had never seen be-
fore and they wondered who it was that
had produced such novel embellish-
ment.
"A lion of butterw exclaimed one
"And how perfectp said another.
"What strange ideal" said another.
"And whose work is it, Senator
Falier?" inquired fourth.
"I know not" replied the Senator.
1t was cause for universal amaze
ment. No one was willing to eat before
the name of the artist was divulged
The servants were ordered in and ques-
toned about the affair.
"Anton1o did it," replied Pietro.
"Tonin! the little Tonin" shouted the
Senator. Bring him here at once"
The summons was obeyed. The boy
came in, looking halffrightened, as if in
expectation of receiving thrashlng for
his conduct.
All! no. Such was not the reward that
awaited him. On the contrary he was
petted and caressed by all the company,
n 60 ~ 70 tIot fol Al
one of the invited guests.
The affair was explained satisfactorily
to the Senator, and he complimented his
servants for their good fortune in having
thus afforded pleasure to his guests.
This event proved of the highest i'm
portance to Antonio Thenceforth he
was treated as one of the family by the
Venetian Senator, who, noticing in him
a genius for art, put him under the in
struction of good masters and became
his patron.
At this time Antonio was scarcely
twelve years Of age. He was determined
to live and die great man. He chose
sculpture as his profession and as
student he went to Venice. There he
studied long and faithfully, working
from early morning till late at night.
From thence he went to Rome, where
he established permanent residence.
By this time his name had become
famous over all Europe. His works,
beautiful and costly, were sought after
far and wide, and by constant applica-
ton to duty he amassed large fortune.
He was one of the noblest and best of
men. He cared little for wealth and
was very charitable to the poor He
possessed a warm heart, lofty soul, an
intelligent mind and an honesty and
sense of justice which nothing could de-
stroy. At the time of his death, in 1922,
and at the age of sixty five he was
honored 81 all the crowned heads of
Europe, and his name was enrolled On
the golden book of the capital as the
Marquis of Ischia. Posterity will always
remember him as Antonio Canova, the
4 !