Stevens County tribune. (Morris, Minn.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-31
RUSKIN'S SACRIFICE.
How He Gave up His Wife to the Man ST.
Loved

How He Gave up His Wife to the Man She
Loved
The London correspondent of The San
Francisco Chr0ntcle tell the matrimonial
history Of Ruskin and Millais as follows:
Between 80 and 35, Ruskin met and
was delighted with very pretty and
graceful young woman of social posi-
ton and nice culture. should say he
had fallen in love with her were he not of
so peculiar physical temperament He
admired her sufficiently to ask her to be
is wife; and e, approaching his gifts
and scholarship, and fiattered by the
preference of so distinguished man, &C
cepted his offer. He questioned her. it
is reported, as to the nature of her affec.
ton; expressed the hope that it was
spiritual rather than emotional, mainly
platonic in character, as he confessed his
oan to be. AS may be inferred, she an
>wered in the affirmative, and doubtless
believed firmly every syllable that she
uttered. 1t would be strange indeed if
any woman should imagine or allow her.
self to be less ethereal of sentiment than
any man on planet. With the mutual
understanding that theirs was to be a
union of minds, they were married.
They seemed to get on pleasantly for a
| few months-at least it seemed so to the
husband, absorbed as usual in study
and writing. He greatly admired her
beauty-he probably regarded her as a
picture or statue more than a woman
and never wearied of praisingit. DESTROYS
of having er portrait taken, he chose his
| frSn Hxh0 HOI
Charles Collins. Dante Russell an Others
formed, and still form, the pre- Raphaelite
school, to transfer her features to canvas
S gave the painter number of sit
tings, and the husband was so much con-
cerned in the work that he sometimes
watched its progress. Millais, as is wei
known, is handsome and wlnning-he
was especially so when young, he is
barely fifty now-and was dra at once
to the young and lovely wife of his
friend, an attraction that appears to have
been reciprocated In plain parlance
Millais and Mrs. Ruskin tell head ovel
heels, OF heels over head, if you like, il
love with one another without the leas
intent on their part. Ruskin himself il
said to have perceived the fact, although
the lovers had not been in the slightes
lndlscreet or conventional, or even tt
have intimated one to the other the con
dltion of their hearts. The author o
"Modern Painters" is as generous as he i
chivalrous. He did not, as ordinary mel
ould have done, fly into a jealous rage
nor did he have scene with his wife
He told her gently what he had perceived
and assured of his continued friendship
and of his earnest desire to promote he
happiness at any plice. She turned Grim
son at the words, as if they had been
revelation Of her own soul, which in par
they might have been. She could not be
lieve the thing possible at 6rst-the sur
: prises OF the heart are generally over
: whelming; but very soon she acknowledg
ed the trnt and the painter did likewise
The critic condemned himself for dullnes
: in thinking platonic marriage natural o
salts actory, and announced his willing
ness, yea, gladnesS to assist the pair to
! felicity they were obviously fitted fol
Instead of putting any obstacles in tn
? way. he would remove the only one t
} their love and happiness-himself-an
:. he kept his word faithfully. Under tn
. | pCCulldI GllClS was III
s trouble in obtaining divorce. The maj
ter was managed privately, without an
e scandal, and in due time Mrs. Ruski1
3 who was, became Mrs. Millals, who il
They have proved from all accounts
/ most harmonious couple, and they are 6
G much to one and other to-day as the
l were during the honeymoon. Moreove
: Ruskin continues to be the firm frien
u Of both, visiting them regularly and sha
: ing in a reflected manner in their happ
< ness-a fact which demonstrates til
a argeness and nobility of Ruskin's natur
/, Millais' famous picture-it has bee
e engraved and is very COMMONLY
i Huguenot Lovers" is almost a faithfl
:, portrait of the artists wife, and the a
i legged fact has added not little to i
g | nopularitv