Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-07-17
ROSA BONHEUR.
HOW SHE LOOKS, DRESSES
AND TALKS.

~ 'tN' VII 'hf va thp1' tguh-
day excursions which are such noted
features of Paris life that first bcheId
Fontaincblcau. The chief attractions
Of the place are its magnificent palace,
the picturesque forest near by and the
" Cour de In Fontaine," with its great
pond. A diversion peculiar to the
place consists in throwing hard rolls
into the pond aud watching the eager
and unsuccessful attack of the carp
upon them. / was looking ut this
sport when ! noticed that screiul peO-
pie were staring in my direction.
Looking about me saw that the per
son who drew the attention Of the
other spectators was little stout lady
of masculine appearance, her hair gray
in places and parted on the side, with
bright, black eyes, strongly marked
features and rcsolutc mouth. She
wore plain black silk skirt, with vest
and Jacket Of black velvet, white linen
collar and cuff, a plain black hat and
II fob watch-chain attached to watch
which she carried in her vest pocket.
Altogether the lady presented strik-
ing appearance ! FASTENED to meet
some friends, but fingered long
enough to give the lady chance Of
getting ahead Of me ] was much
surprised to see the lady stop and talk
to my friends, and when | came up to
them ! WAS introduced to Rosa Bon
heur. | was prepared TO hear the
name of celebrated parsonage, for,
in spite OF any ccccntricity Of dress,
the true Partisan will not stare unless
it is really at some one he knows to be
n celebrity. Mile Bonhcur, although
past iiity.-cyon years Of age, look.
hardly more than iOrty.iivc. We re-
cciycd nn invitation to her atelicr for
the next day and went there at the
time appointed.
Rosaiie I-adorc Bonheur j. the old
est daughter of Raymond Bonhcur, Il
painter who gained some fame. She
has two brothers and one sister, all
artists of more or les rcnown. The
sister Julicttc Mime. Pcyrollosl j. al.
most the only female friend or com
panion Mile Bouheur allows. 4 plain
court, somewhat neglected, leads to an
entrance which at one time may have
looked interesting, but is now hidden
beneath dirt On the hr.t floor are
the apartments Of the great artist
You enter the hallway into the studio,
into which The light streams in from
two Windows. The furniture i tho
roughly Bohcmiau-ljkc. Everything
j.. iu picturesque confusion halt.iin-
i.hcd picture. on idle oascl- and brok.
IN model. of animals heads. We
were shown the living apartments Of
Mile. Bouhcur by Mime. Peyrollc,.
The apartments are not remarkable
for anything save tb" absence Of
picture. Not one single oil painting
has she either in her parlor OF sleeping
room. In 1861 she wa. elected Priu.
cipal of the Free School Of Design for
Women, and she told me it had been
= long desire on her part to help
women in the walks Of art NJ this
school female pupils Of good rcpute
can go through course of drawing,
painting, wood engraving, &c. 1t i
from here that most of the female
artists who make their living by paint
ing fans, boxes, bottle. and other arii-
clcs for which Paris Is famous, have
graduated True" said Mile Bon
heur, "it Is not the highest kind Of
art, but it i one way in which the fe-
males of Paris can raise themselves
above the ordinary labor of sewing
aud drudgiug which kills 80 many
every year DO you not find the
care. of the school very irksome?' /
asked. She laughinely turned TO
Mime. Pcyrollcs and said, My poor
sister must bear it all whenever am
very busy, or do not feel in the humor,
she docs the work at the school for
me-" | said TO her. DO you find that
women as a rule like the drudgery
necessary to arrive at the real art ulti.
mately?' She answered, 1T is like
everything else that women undertake.
Some learn Just the first rudimeuts,
/ then start out 20 earn their living the
best way they can with what they have
acquired. There are Others who work
from day TO day for the real love of
art. ! think can safely predict that
there are two pupils who are now in
the life class that will make their
mark as artists"
From wha; stations of society do
you get your pupils'' :" From all
classes most of them are the daugh-
ters of respectable clerks or small
tradesmen who must earn their own
livelihood some day" Mile. Bonheur
showed US small picture of herself
painted by one of her most promising
pupils. You sec" she said, pointing
out every merit in the portrait, " how
originally this flesh tint is used and
how the effect is produced. / asked
I 4 - A T.