Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-05-04

Home from trip in the East and
- employed that winter upon an esr.
N work Of his, entitled sFroua Corn.
" toGnnd Cairo" / must trus,
einIy = ny memory for the following
uipiecenee q him, as I ind Il only
10y eketehed in my diary.
= - NJ ; professional artist erou
- - aft~atmoapkce 3 Rpn1
! 3FtEt1 tha The author u VANITY
Fair" His fondness for art commenced
early in life and for several years be
pursued his studies with an intention
Of entering the list Of aspirants for ar
tistic fame, and, like Hazlitt, became
discouraged and relinquished it practi.
cally; but the art-idea was predominant
in both, and developed itself in other
channels-in the one by writing pictures
oflife and human emotions which willpro.
badly live longer than if he had portrayed
them on canvass; and in the other by Civ
ing to the world some Of the most sensible
and valuable criticisms on art ever written
The time devoted to the study of art
was therefore of great value to Thacke-
ray, as it gave him an insight into
character, and enabled him to work out
details SO mihutely and truthfuIly that
all his delineations are strong and effec-
tive. Some Of his pages of fiction are
creations artistically constructed with
light and shadow, firm. bold, and spark.
ling touch, yet often of so dilicate and
sweet tone that no force or nodifca-
tion Of color could excel. Even admit
ting the common criticism applied to
him, that "he does not choose to idealize
human nature" he had enough of the
imaginative quality to give finish and
charm to the realities of life. He often
looked back with fond longing for the
Juvenile mistress he had courted and
parted from with regret, and there was
to him fascination in everything con.
nected with painters life. Rome,
therefore, suited. him admirably, and be
gave himself almost entirely to the 80.
ciety Of students and professors of art,
indulging frequently his old passion by
making sketches and clever illustrations.
He formed n number of warm personal
friends, and took great interest in their
several careers, and there are instances
Of self-denial and unfeigned liberalty
long to be remembered BY those who
knew his kind heart and witnessed his
generous acts. One of these came un-
! ssoslas e<.vatien, svhich-I I'll
speak Of hereafter.
On his second visit to Rome he was
accompanied bv his two young daugh-
ters, and occupied very pleasant apart.
ments in the Via della Croce. l happen.
ed to make my call on twelfth-night and
found the distinguished author stand
ing behind a tall desk at the end Of the
room, which apparently had been i'm
provised to suit his peculiar habit of
standing when at work. He shook
hands with me very cordially, presen-
ted me to his daughters, and then,
without further ceremony or word re-
turned to his writing stand and resumed
his pen. He seemed entirely to ignore
my presence as also that of another
visitor, n countryman of his who also
was making an evening call.
The young ladies were very quiet and
parsimonious in their observations. which
was somewhat embarrassing, but find
ing the Englishman disposed to monop-
olize the conversation, l remained silent,
and would have taken NV departure in
a very few moments, had not Gang ht
a glance at Thackeray's commanding
figure, as it bent over the quaint piece
of furniture, which, appeared to be but
feeble and rickety support for his
heavy arms and shoulders, and / expec-
ted momentarily to see the fragile slel-
eton, which shook in every joint, fall to
pieces under the energetic hand which
piled the pen with vigor and earnest
ness I had rarely noticed in any other
individual.
soon forgot the crazy machinery Of
his desk in watching the extraordinary
contortions aud expressions of his face;
now it would assume a most grotesque
character, as much like the English
Punch as features so infexible as Thack.
eray's could be made to portray; then it
would change to fierce, he,o ole anger, and
sometimes put on the semblance of gen.
tie, seductive sweetness. Some of his
grimaces were SO comical that they
nearly made me forget the presence
of his daughters, ald I was near the
rudeness of bursting out in laughter
as eue might have done in witnessing
comic performance ut the theatre
was % facinated. despite the question.
able good breeding of it. tha. could
not withdraw my eyes from his face.
''Good Heavens r. / mentally exclaimed
"do authors bring their thoughts into
existence BY such twisting and with.
ing of muscles 2" ] coniectured tha,
he was writing something in which there
was q deal Of fun and satire, and where
there was q strange variety Of person:
engaged in extremely animated dia.
logue.
watched him for an hour, hidins
my impertinence as well as l could from
the young ladies'. As for Thackeray
himself. he was totally unconscious o
nv gaze, his eyes were riveted 10 hi.
paper and his pen, and his contortion.
went on ia complete abstraction from
al surroundings. Occasionally caugh,
I - - r IL