The Portland daily press., 1883-02-16
Artists Models.

Charlotte Adams has an interesting arti-
Gle in the February Century upon human
models of New York city, in which she tells
the following:
Most artists have known the discipline of
poverty, and, unless success has hopelessly
Embedded them in selishness, they keep a
blown by adverse winds to their studio
doors. 1t is difficult to believe that the
sturdy realism of New York life should offer
such suggestions of romance as are present
ed by the procession of models which, in the
course of winter, passes in review before
the eyes of the artists. Most of them, espec-
tally the female models, pose under fictitious
names. They come no one knows when ce,
and vanish when necessity no longer de-
mands that they should exc out livelihood
In this precarious fashion. The tragedy
which treads upon the heels of comedy in the
great city's life finds pitiful exemplifcation
in the brief summing up of the list of female
models on the academy's books. Married
women whose husbands cannot support
them, or women unable to procure other
employment" Many of them are educated
and refined. One adds to the small income
derived from copying law papers by the OPP
portunities given her to pose in the acad-
envy. Another case cited was that of
young lady, who, having married a foreigner
of position, discovered that he had wife in
his own country. Left penniless by her
husband and her friends, she supported
herself by posing. A touching episode was
offered by the case of an English actress
who went out to Canada with her husband
in search of professional employment. The
husband fell i'll and died, leaving the wife
unprovided for and with child to support
Unable to procure an engagement at time
rphoy tho fnopoial danrasei0n NJ bo oonp
Try affected theatrical matters and having
found her way to New York, she became a
model attached to the academy. 1t often
happens that pretty face looks down from
the wall in New York spring exhibition, of
which only this is known-that its owner,
passing under an assumed name, applied at
the studio for employment, and, after earn
ing the money she needed, carried her
beauty and her reticence back into the OBJ
security they came from, leaving the artist
who had perpetuated the one and respected
the other to speculate upon her identity, and
perhaps at some later day to meet her in an
entirely different sphere of life A rounded
arm or throat, a tapering hand, a head of
curling golden hair have temporarily
fed and clothed many young woman.
When the genius shall be born who will
reconcile the : opposing elements Of New
York life in fiction, as BalZac did those of
Paris, it would not be strange if he should
find some magnificent type of heroine in
some anonymous beauty in the New York
studios. Many of the professional female
models have become such because they
found they could earn better living by pos
ing. She formerly gave lessons in languages,
and barely managed to exist. Another mod
ell, who is noted for her stately presence and
superb physique, is greatly in demand and
commands SO day. But the average fee of
a model is so cents an hour when the en-
gagement is made by the hour, or 81 day
when the engagement Is made by the day.
For morning or afternoon session, wheth-
or of two or three hours, the model receives
only 81, unless there be special agreement
to pay more.