Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-06-11
LIVING MODELS
For the Life School of New IOrk-HOW
| Shop Girls Increase their Incomes.
New York Tribune

slight figure fitted in at the door OF the
Academy of Design the other day and dis
appeared in an inner room. She had rosy
face and bright eyes.
"That is one of our models" said the pro-
fessor, rolling his eyes at the door. "a great
change has taken place III public opinion
concerning the use of living models" con-
tinued the professor, willing TO talk. "Ten
years ago there was outcry against it.
People said it was scandalous. Posing being
a new thing, it was hard TO get a model OF
either sex. Now you can get hundreds, and
engagements are made weeks in advance"
"What pay do they get2" --
"When the life. class was first established
we had to pay 81 50 an hour; now the regu-
lar price is fifty cents an hour. Models pose
from twelve to twenty hours week. They
are changed every two weeks, so as TO give
the students a change of subject. Men are
better models Than women, as they are less
easily fatigued."
allow long does the model stand without
resting?"
"An inexperienced one only twenty min
utes at first. Stand in one position five min
utes without moving a muscle and you will
get some idea how tiresome it il" - -'it
"Do they show much embarrassment
$50 much that the muscles are as rigid rs
iron, and they become drenched with perspi-
ration. But after posing two or three times
the embarrassment wears off. II becomes
| merely routine business" lfttH d.. -t.
- "Do many make it profession"
"There are several men who do nothing
| else. They pose here at the Academy, at the
Art Students League, and in private studios.
Most Of our female models are young women
who work in workshops and factories. They
receive small wages and think it great for
tune il they can earn 80 week extra by
posing. They invariably give fictitious
names. . t.-" thr-''i 20
"Ssme curious bits of romance have come
under my observation" the professor re-
marked, after pause. "a pretty little bru-
nette came in one day and asked for am en-
gagement. She was in straitened circum-
stances, but did not disclose her history. She
was 40 sweet-tempered that she became i
great favorite. have never seen any one
so ambitious to earn money. She would pose
eight hours a day. 1t made her grow pale
with fatigue, but she wouldn't give mp.
Well, it turned out that she was a married
woman. She belonged 10 a gsod family
when she married Japanese, the son
of an ex-minister from Japan. The hus-
band spent all his money, was thriftless, and
earned nothing. She had to keep him. She
frequently posed for artists in their studios.
A richly dressed woman came in one morn
ing and inquired for her. The model she
said was her niece, and she intended to make
neI the nelress 10 Her properly IL sue Coulu
be found. After two days search the
model was traced TO private studio, where
she was posing for artist and his vile.
This was the last heard Of the pet model.
sit is always the whip of necessity that
rives people into posing. One day woman
of refinement made an application. She was
Handsomely dressed, wearing a sealskin
sacque and silk dress. Her face was pale
and careworn, and she said she had not
| enough 10 eat. Her story was that she had
married we'll, her husband having an income
of $4,000 year. When he died the fortune
they possessed took wings. She said she had
tried copying and other methods of earning
living, but she had not met with success.
Her figure had always been admired for its
grace of outline. Why should she not pose?''
ado you have any boys for models?"
"One Of the best subjects we have ever had
was young boy. He had a form like ApOl-
10. His father was downtown banker,
who was ruined by the panic of 1878. This
model, whom l met in the street yesterday,
has now a responsible position as bank
clerk. One OF our students posed last winter.
He was from Maine, and had to depend en-
tirely on his earnings. This young man is
one of the most promising students in the
Academy. All kinds of people drift in
people you would never dream Of. One of
our handsomest models is an itinerant Meth
odist preacher. He has the form of gladi-