Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-10-03
MisCellamenMs.
Artistic Bill Nye.

| have Just returned from visit to
Willow River Falls, where went for
change of scene and incidentally for the
purpose of bathing few angle worms,
writes Bill Nye from Hudson, WILSON,
sin. These Falls consist of beautiful
sheet of water running perpendicularly
to the surface of the earth between two
rocky walls, where for centuries Willow
river has taken grand tumble to itself,
as Herbert Spencer has so eloquently
said.
took my sketchng material with
me and drew rough but very accurate
little etching of the falls | an passion
ately fond of etching, and | wish that
more Of our young people would give
their attention to drawing. first learned
to draw at sixty and ninety days, but
now, thanks to assiduous industry and
untiring perseverance, | am able to draw
at sight.
Willow River Falls, looking from this
side. Scale, 100 feet to the inch.
The above view of the falls, as the
reader will see ut once, is from this side
No one, more than the artist, can realize
the great difficulty of getting an accurate
view OF anything taken from the other
side.
ought, perhaps, to apologize for
few defects in the minor details Of this
picture. am aware that the trees are
somewhat conventional, but you should
remember that this is n conventional
year, not only in politics but in art.
Another note Of explanation may be
of use also. The idea Of supporting
waterfall by means Of a sawhorse is not
frequent in nature, sbut | have adopted
it 10 several instances where objects that
/ have drawn seemed to need some arti-
fetal support. [ first drew the falls,
and then showed the etching TO warm
personal friend, who advised me TO build
a stone abutment under the corner Of the
cataract. This | could not do without
involving u greater expense than | felt
warranted in making, 80 have intro
duced tho sawhorse into art, hoping that
it may be Of use to my friends
am aware that it is at first blush
violation of congratulated rules, but
some one has TO make the first stride to-
ward reform, and il might as well be
myself as any one else. SO long as an
innovation or stride in the direction Of
improvement must DO made, whether it
be in the field of art or letters, shall
not hesitate or shrink from my plain
duty.
In this case, the beauty and accuracy
with which | have skeiched the falls
itself should mitigate the horrors Of
violation of long established usage.
| do not undertake TO conceal the fact
that several Of my friends have severely
criticised this equestrian study Of Viii.
low River Falls, and | do not wish to
deny that these criticisms have given
me much pain. Still | believe that the
day will speedily come when these scef-
fers will acknowledge their error and be
forced to admit that was right.
Some, too, have criticised the manner
in which the sheet Of water in the draw
ing seems 10 curl up at the end. This,
too, is an unjust and harsh judgment
upon the work. Various water curls
variouSly in falling, and any ctchist who
will construct u cascade with a more
graceful and rythmic ornamental curve
10 il than the above is certainly invited
TO do so. Whether the Doric, the Ionic,
the Gothic or the Presbyterian style Of
architecture in waterfalls be adopted, is
simply matter of taste. | do not wish
TO enter into any discussion. | simply
give my own experience for what it is
worth, and ask that my work be judged
fairly and impartially