New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-05

spoke
by this or nothing l shall be remembered. Here
is my title to honor
/ saw before me the oft-embodied beauteous
legend of Pygnalion and his dream-bride, but what
matter how often such theme is handled by the
genuine artist Here conception Of warm
life, passion and beauty that must live, that must
assert itself and its authors claims before all the
figures. The sculptor bending forward to embrace
their frames a-tremble with the joy of the first as
yet unastcd kiss. Enough 10 say that the spectator
held his breath M he gazcd so intense, so uneX,
pected the vision of loneliness before him. 1t
struck me rs 'gazed that in Pygmalion the sculp-
tor unconscousy without doubt yet unmistak-
ably. had portrayed himself, whilst in the figure of
the awakened girl l could trace only the purest
English type of beauty; and why, indeed should
English sculptOrs seek any othcrf There are Eng
lish faces and, though much rarer, English forms as
perfect those recalled to rs by Greek art whilst
the artist instead of giving ms q mere copy gives
us his own ideal, his own embodiment thus in
reality creating for u.s.
Ellcrton, much pleased with my praises at length
gently drew the curtain over the group,
1t is strange, he said ~ we were about 10 qht
the studio. Mya seems 10 have conceived almost
jealous DISLIKE for this work. suppose because
so fond OF it,
observed that he went ont Of his way Ia avoid alu
sons to it in the presence of his wife. But for this
little cloud however, there seemed the most perfect
understanding between the par. She had iallen
quite easily into her place as lady of the house. full
filling her social duties and directing the servants,
as if to the manner born. When luncheon was
over, neat little pony-carriage was brought to the
door, and, with servant ut her side, she made her
calls. and would drive into the ncghboring town
10 do her shopping. She got all the newest books
from q subscription library, took up crcwci work
painting porcelain, and other fashionable fcml-
nine occupations; she studied music assiduouSIy,
cultivated the acquaintance of all the neighbors for
miles round and, in fine showed an inordlnate
capacity for amusing herself. This must have
been tgrcat comfort to a Woodworking man Ike
Yon must positively stay to the end Of The week
hc said to me when we separated after that first
cbcn he f., is % a
ramhlc in the New Forest.
The Pygmalion is now quite finished. and J
have invited u few friends in the ncighbnrhond 10
come and look at il, before il goes 10 the Academy.
lou have not single plea to urge by way OF eA-
As had not indeed! A fan7r, alas by profess
sion might rs we'll bee in the New Forest Just then
IA anywhere else. anywhere else ~ IN tho New
Forest Ellcrton had ever been. moreover my most
delight fnl frIcnd-hc WAS that to everybody. had
grown deeply Interested in his japanese bride. In
need of no more urgent persuasion, were any more
needed from such a host stayed. Mya was III
tcrc,tiug me now from wholly new point OF view.
| had ibcgun hy anal ing her beauty hal next
studied her as u curiou- intellectual phenomenon
finally set to work as Psychologist Ia anatomlIe
her oharaccr There Wcr" some moral puzzles III II,
not lca, Of which WIS that curious aversion to her
husbands ant. 49,,
What was tie origin Of such avcIsioni Did it
arise from instinct PASSION or want OF artistic per
II might we'll he that this cold. pure sculpture
world came rs mystery painful almost ~ death T.
self. to a child of NOlupiuuuS Nkrs ana warm
richly -COlurcd outward existence, or III hlVut ~
that she saw in tins art of which her husband was
80 thoroughly the master. tins art 10 which he was
~ pas,iouatcly devoted something that divided hrr
from him only. and. ~ such. To Ice disttusted anu
even hated: or lastly Il might be- that IN her q, IN
MANY ariisiically speaking defective natures. III"
faculty of approaching form was wholly wanting.
thus rendering her quite in~cnsible to the charm oil
Elrrtou'- creations
Er tins ~ il may. il was quite evident that she
made no effort tn conceal her anilpAihy hud that
every expression Of 1t can-cd LIcrion 10 rln," In
spite of the passionate love un ms part the kitten
ish fondnr>- m hers. clund airldY h"t'r'd Oyer
them palpabc to Others. Would II vanish A. II nan
come would II break over thcir hcad-f his was
the question asked myself again and again aS the
hours riidcd by under their pleasant root The re-
cepti,n in honor uf the statues destined for the
Royal Acadcmy, had been pnt of for f." day
and ! was prr-~'d 10 stay on. lhrI" seemed u"
reason for gong. ] stayed, every d1l getting .
clearer insight. as thought, INTO the character "i
NV FRIEND wife. -,
in the eve of the reception. ! strayed into the
studio 10 see the effect Of Ellrrtors hna nrrhne"-
mcnt. II was one of those prarly March twihghtS.
pccul aIly bcautifying 10 a sculpl9rS workrnom
The hmpd atmosphere lent an ample play of HIGHT
and shallow to the graceful outlines and smooth
white surface Of the marble, whilst the s"lit
inn twilight fading from warm soft Nlolcts Ia cold
hard grays. filled the place Win pocuc awe
A. fingered in this drcam-land heard n voice nj
my elbow calling my name and looking up ~" the
srulutor's beautiful bride. her dn-ky loNclln"sN
heightened by dress Of purcrt white. only ia"
sparkle of diamond here ,:uld there renewing ItS
She approachcd me whcro stood. and having our
faces turned from A. rested our elbows on the -Il
and gaIcd down the long vista pc"plrd with wbi"
sladOwy FORMS standing stllI boldly out oi the
gathering gloom.
here = she asked. drawing her white lac" shaw
round her ~ If seized with sudden cold IL II To
me q region Of phantons from some sPrit world;
They hardly live vet who can call them dead
They dumb. yet To ne they all seem POSSESSED
Then. / replied with smile, why do you come
hrrei Why 40 Won STAY
Bccau,, | am fascinated against my will ! feel
cntlcrd toward this room, above all others ~ the
house. just h',an-c II makes me uneasy. DO You
know she SAID. turning 10 me suddenly j THINK
Mr. Stevens. that INV husband and | lnhahit two
wholly diirrcut worlds. This Is his. II never can
br ninr lis life. his soul, his heart. arr hrr".
IN" lifted hrr hand IN the direction "i tl" I'Nr-
ullipn. the stopping lover. the uprn-cd maiden
still dl-''r nIh'r IA The creeping d 3D. ana l!'i
i may hr childish. perhaps whimsical. hnt ii'''
fa,cr- a ..fuip my peace and MAX" tUr Wr'i'in'
on, sculptor needs no living love since his ideal
"a e.. In marble
But ,hr artistic ideal is rcrpctualy varying.
whilst love last. a lifetime replied, adding play
fully. Take comfort ~ the Thought that the statue
wonder !, q be- removed Tomorrow, and uni'e' you
wish II, need never come under your 'frS 'ia.u.
She WIS silent a. Il muslrg on my W"ris. which,
however seemed 30 no fcgf'r &" irt>~ui" her. .,
'Arc All s'ulptofs thus absorbed IA their worn
An true artists like rlcrton must be- replied
with c.npli-... 'Wcrr hr one shade les drN "t-d
10 i- ait. hr would not hold lt.!c h,h p''II'n lac
now does lbs virtue Of splendid acli'> rmrn:-.'
lie Is rich. lie dos not need tie "on'y' she
said almost ~ if talking 10 herself
And were he hIr-inl!lonalrr, II w"nd br INC
safu, to HIM as 10 any other man of genius. r.
piled warmly. 80 Mrs. EllcrtOn your husband
intellectual life is indeed here, and proud must y'"
feel that il il 80.
Would nothing wrench him from tho" lur
suits = she asked the words showing mr tn trarN
of Thought she was following. You are, be- ir,'1
me. his oldest friend. Speak canddy the Thought
i'm vonr mind. Will one phantom after another CON
tiuuc Ia shut me out of my husbands heart
Before | could answer. Ellrrtous voice on NV
threshold summoned us gayly to dinner.
~