, 1879-06-08

|
tion. It made q verttable sensation in artistic
| nnd literary circles, was highly praised and no
lentlv abused; but, on the whole, WAS ranked
as a fresh and valuable contribution to crstt
cisn." The authorship vas we'll known to most
OF his friends and very soon to the general
public, who pronounced tt q very remarkable
production for young man OF 2i,-as' It as
| sured}y Was. . :: -~s
Ruskin's other works-such a. the "seven
Lamps Of aa Of xepiee
are we'll known, having been widely and ad
miringly read and having exercised an e1traor
dinary, even shaping, influence on modern art
He is master Of certain k1nd of eloquent
original and almost always fresh, BY vigor' and
picturesqueness of style, upon and into the SYM
pathetic mind. He is thoroughly intellectual ;
he runs to nerve aud brain rather than to body
rage, said to be strictly true, abundantly testi-
fies. 49,
Between 80 and IS, Ruskin met and was de-
lighted with very pretty and graceful Young
woman of social position and nice culture. !
| should say he had fallen in love with her, vera
ment. he admired her sufficiently to- ask
her to be his wife; and she, apprectating
hia gifts and scholarship, and 1attared by the
| preference Of 50 distinguished man, accept
ed his offer. He questioned her. it Is
reported, as to the nature Of her affection; e1-
pressed the hope that IL was spiritual rather
/ than emotional, ,-painlv Platonic in character
| as he confessed his own to be-. As NAV be in
! ferred, sto answered in the. affirmative. and
doubtless believed very firmly every syllable
she uttered. It would be strange indeed il any
| woman should imagine Or allow herself to be
/ less ethereal Of sentiment than any man on the
| planet. With the mutual understanding that
theirs was to be union Of mfnds, they were
married. They seemed to get On pleasantly for
| a few months; at least it seemed so to the hus-
band, absorbed as usual in study and writing.
| He greatly admired her heauty,--he probably
| regarded her more as picture or statue than
| a woman,-and never wearicd OF pratsing it.
DESTROYS to have her. portrait taken, be chose
| his friend, Afil1ais, who, with Holman Hunt,
Charles Collins, Dante Rossetti and others,
formed, and still form, the pre-Raphaelite
| school, to transfer her features to canvas. She
! gave the painter number OF sittings, and the
| husband was SO much concerned ia the work
that be sometimes watched its progress.
.Mllais, as is well known, is handsome and
winning,-he was especially 80 when young, he
is barely 50 now,-and was drawn at once to the
young and lovely wife Of his friend,-an attrac-
ton that appears to have been reclprocated. In
plain parlance, Afillais and Mrs. kuskin fell
head over heels, or heels over bend If YOU like,
In lore With one another, without the least In
tent on their part. Ruskfn himself is said to
have perceived the fact, although the lovers had
not been IN the slightest indIscreet or conven-
ttonal, or even to bare intimated one to the
other the condition OF their hearts, The author
of Modern Painters " Is as generous as he is
chiyalrous. He did not, as ordinary men would
have done, fly into q jealous rage, nor did be
haye scene with his wife. He told her gently
what be had perceived, and assured her OF bis
continued friendship and esteem, and of his
earnest desire to promote her happiness at any
price. She turned crimson at the words, as
X thev had been reVefation to her own
soul,-whfch In part they may have been.
bic It flrat,-the surprises OF the heart
are usually overwhelming,-- very soon
tie painter did likewise. The critic condemned
himself for dullness 10 thinking Platonfc mar
riage natural Or satisfactory, and announced
his willingness-yea, gladness-to assist the
pair to felicity they were obviously fitted for.
Instead of putting any obstacle 10 the way. be
would remove the only one to theiE love and
happiness, himself and he: Kept his word
faithfully: Under the peculiar circumstances
there was no trouble in obtaining a divorce
The matter was managed privately without any
scandal; and in due time Mrs Ruskin, who was,
became Mrs. Millais, who is. They have proved
to be, from al1 accounts, most HARMONIOUS
couple, and they are Us mnch to one another
to-day as they were during the honeYmonth.
Moreover, Ruskin continues to be the firm
friend Of both, visiting them regularly, and
sharing In q reflected manner in their happiness,
"a fact which demonstrates the 1argeness and
nobility Of Ruskns nature. otilais' famous
picture,-tt has been engraved and is very com-
mon,-"The Huguenot Lovers" is declared to
LIE
faithful portrait OF the artists wife; and the |
alleged fact has added not little to its popu- |
laritY.
Ruskfn has always been conspicuous for bis
!mptacticality. He is dcnsely ignorant OF |
human nature and the WAYS of the world; which !
Is easily expllcab1c, because the fortune which /
he Inherited has prevented him from coming into |
contact With the rough side Of lie. With the |
best intentions, ae frequently plumbers con
men Of wealth and culture, be has great sym
pathy with the masses, and would gladly benefit |
them. he feels that they need to be educated. |
and he Is convinced that proper art-education |
would help them materially. Those acquainted |
conscious. that bis regard for art or art-prin-
cirles is absolutely nothing. He has no more
care for or about then than he has for the pos
sib!c tnhabitannts Of the planet Saturn. Every
he had anY such knowledge, would not be John |
Ruskiu. 1t IS not to be wondered at, there
fore, that be should have Issued some years ago
q publication, "Fors ,clavigera,n with
Misunderstanding class in RESPECT to his theo-
rics and opinions Of art Hardly any OF the
class It is designed to instruct and elevate
have any conception Of the meaning OF the
The circulation IS very small ineVitabl7,-som
times not more than 200 or 30o,-and It Is pub
lished at continuous expense, which Ruskin |
sustains cheerfuly Us financial liberality is one
OIL his many FlFLuc6. EOlnE Oh QlS 1rleu1S DlTf ]
assured him THAT "Fors u does no good in the
direction he aims ut, but he does not believe it.
They have wanted him to discontinue it, nut he
will not accept their counsel 1t has been aus-
pended several times from illness of the pro-
prictor and editor; but he will be likely to issue
It during lie, which may not be much pro-
|onged, as he is feeble, aud has been an INVALID |
for years. Several months ago he was generally
supposed to be at the point Of death. His
obituary vas prepared By all the newspapers
lere and on your side. and yet he declined to
lie. But he will not survive, in ali probability,
my length Of time, tor he is fragile at best,
Eorn out With nervous friction and labor, and
u}l OF ailments. Personally he is very plain, /
,avns large and heavy features, and q thin
rasted look that indicates anxiety and suffer-
ng. Notwithstanding his culture and gentle !
caring, he has not refined face OF expression,
ut any amount Of irritability and peeyishuess
a every Hneament. 4 man Of genius, learn {
ng, principle, and character, he is caprcious
nd wavward, and undentaby one Of the oldest =
:.: AFTER. = H. 9
: i. =. -: =
nd now the night Of heavy grieffs falling; ,
L-A.A fA 1.f- IS- t--x