Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-06-15

Iully done. inferior clOck-WOrk
heayes her bare bosom, moves her
arms at intervals, stirs her legs,
turns her head languidly from side
to side, and rolls her eyes. Her
face and form are beautiful, and the |
accessories are in artistic harmony
with conception of the Egyptian |
Queen; yet her features are not
Egyptian, being rather those of a
beautiful French woman. An
Ethiopian slave, equally nude,
stands at her side,and fans her. At
her feet lies a naked little boy. A
bird flutters on the arm of
her seat. A golden canopy
hangs above the group, all
being inclosed in q glass case. The
whole is surprisingly natursl--so
much so that it has a natural effect
upon the spectators. Young girls
come suddenly upon it and draw
back appalled,. They have nerved
| themselves to look at the statuary
and pictures, but this sight is too
unexpected and realistic to be borne
with steadiness. They escape with
out delay. Women inspect the
group shyly. Men are not to be
scared away by any feeling Of mod
esty, aud unless escorting sisters or
sweethearts, stay on the spot in
numbers sufficient to constantly
crowd that part of the corridor. l
am aware that such wax works, and
worse, are common in European
museums; that artistically they are
to be commended as triumphs of
skill, being totally unlike the eff
gies usually shown in this country;
but | don't think they ought to be
thrust unwarningly upon the sight
Of mixed congregations. Some OF
the commissioners are of my way
of thinking, and Oleopatra's stay
T on the grounds may be of short du-
ration. President Hawley is from
Connecticut, and is Puritanical. He
: stops in front Of Cleopatra, while
stand there.
"What do you think of her?"
| ask.
: GA thing of beauty, " he answers
4 'but not Joy forever. / guess We
! will have to get her out Of sight
l | must talk with Sartain abou
: her."
n Mr.. Sartain is the superintendent
Y Of the art department.
= WHO ENTERS LEAVES MoDEsTY BE
n HIND.
L also seek Mr.. Sartain and asl
y him why the fourteen rooms sc
i apart for France are not open. II
e says he does not know, unless th
= French Commissioners are waitin
" for more pictures to arrive. Hun
IS dreds of paintings are there now
/ piled with the faces toward tn
u walls. Glimpses of a few confrr
/ the presentment that nudeness wi
1t be the striking feature Of the dis
y. play. l am permitted to turn seN
n eral of the frames so as to see wha
e, they hold. The first trial disclose
1e a life-size picture of an utterl
le naked woman. The subject is nj
v classical. She is a Frenchwoma
g; Of the present time. OF course,
ID can't know that by her anatom,
Is for Nature follows no changes {
"a fashion in molding human form
5h nor by clothing, for there isn't
8, vestige of any; but by the fact thl
lY her hair is arranged in one of I'll
We elaborate styles Of the presen
s, The catalogue simply tells me 81
OIL is "A Woman" and there could |
re no mistake about that. Anoth,
IN turn of a frame shows me- a recur
DIS bent woman--the other is erect
by and a third reveals one who HI
tie stripped herself to the waist
ls- pray, as apugilist would fora fgh
If Americans desire to learn Il
Nv lesson to which have alluded, tn,
ly may make rapid progress after tt
IN Ernnnh Dnnartnant ID onpnnd