The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-05-18
A METROPOLITAN PROTEGE.
THE STORY OF LITTLE MISS FOSTER
THE CRIPPLED ARTIST.

Becoming n Society Pet and Earning Her
Own Livelihood in Spite of Much Suffering
allow She Has Been Helped.
A New York correspondent, accom-
panied by a friend, a comedian, called
on a lady who has become well known
in metropolitan artistic and social cir
Giles. They were ushered into Il long
apartment which was in great artistic
disorder. Pictures, colored photographs,
PLAQUES, hand-painted vases, stray
sketches, easels with ilalf-fnished pic
lures on them and masses of natural
flowers were scattered around, but no.
body was visible. Theu, the correspond
ent says, my friend, the comedian,
raised his voice and yelled:
"Good-afternoon."
A moment later a shrill little voice
said:
els that youP" There was a rustic,
a portiere was thrust aside and a quee
little creature, with a wealth of wavy
brown hair flying in every direction,
came wheeling out in an invalid chair
and sped toward us like a locomotive
at full speed. AS she neared us she
Stacked up, and anne to a full STOP just
in front of my friend, whose hand she
seized and patted gently. Then 1 was
presented, and found that her name
was Marian Foster. The name was
not unfamiliar, but for a moment l
was unable to place it. Then l re-
membered that she was a little cripple
who had come from Cincinnati to earn
her living in the great metropolis.
She had beautiful dark brown eyes, and
her hair was really remarkable. She
wore it long and it fell almost to the
floor, flowing over her shoulders and
down over the sides and back of the
invalid chair. This chair was very
cleverly constructed. She worked it
with two little levers at the side, and
went wheeling over the room, as she
showed us her art treasures, with more
celebrity than we could follow. The
deXterity with which she rounded
table-corners and shot in and out
among chairs va vastly more inter
esting and amusing to me than any of
the pictures or PLAQUES which she ex-
hibited with great pride. 1 glancelat
a few of them, and found they were
rather mediocre. Shehas fair abilities as
a painter, but her talent is by no means
pronounced. 1 can easily pick out a
dozen girls among my acquaintance
who can do as well. She is a queer
little lady-as bright as a cricket, and
perpetually on the move. Her fare had
a peculiar pathetic look, and was very
attractive, though far from pretty ac-
cording to the general idea of pretti-
ness. She chatted necessarily, and as
the comedian cannot draw breath six
consecutive times without speaking,
the din in the room was quite fright
full; so l sat still and listened while
both of them related at the top of their
voices the history of Marian Foster.
Between the tumble of words, the
blithe giggle Of the happylittle cripple,
and the genial and sympathetic "Ha,
ha" of my professional friend, l
earned that she was discovt red by
Fanny Davenport. Miss Davenport is
b large-hearted woman, and when her
attention was called to the crippled
artist, who was Dravely and cheertully
earning her own livelihood, and sup
porting an invalid mother beside, the
Bympathies of Miss Davenport were
ully enlisted. Fanny Davenport's
SISTER had been cured of severe spinal
affection by DR.. Sayre, of New York,
Ind, after talking with little Miss
Foster, Miss Davenport found that
he was suffering from the anne dis
ase. Therefore, Miss Davenport in
listed upon the little cripple coming
o New York. There seemed no
nance of this, as the girls means
we're very slim, and she could barely
eep her mother and herself in board.
10 Miss Davenport brought her on
%erself, and put her under DR.. Sayre's
reatment. Under the physicians are
he improved rapidly, and was able to
Ealk around the room unaide1, when
he doctor went off for a European
rip; but she slipped one day, wrenched
er spine, and her limbs became para
Fzed again. She suffered intensely for
time, but stuck to her painting.
#. Sayre has now returned, l am glad
} say. and he has already effected a
reat improvement in her physical on
ton; but she is still sufferer. Ever
nee Miss Foster has been here, she
as been the special pet of professional
hd society women. Miss Davenport's
d was invaluable. She enlisted the
Fmpathies of dozens of women of the
age who were generous, both in Civ
6 the little cripple orders for pictures
hd various art designs, and in assist
G her pecuniarily. Then Miss
avenpOrt went among the society
omen here, and told them of the case
poor little Marian Foster, and the
suit was, before long Mrs. Astor
gularly sent the little cripple flowers,
id Mrs. Belmont sent her victoria
ound to take her for a drive three
Us in the week. A great many
(inters visit Eer, and the result of it
is that now she has more orders
an she can fill. and numbers among
r friends people who are constantly
irving to help her.