The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-10-18
WOMEN WHO POSE.
Difficulty in Securing Nude Models for
the Study of Life Glasses.

Detroit Times.
"Modelsl Yes, I find such luxuries absolutely
essential in my classes which study from life.
But 1 must say that | DO not have the greatest
luck in the world finding proper ones" Mr.. w.
B. Conely, the artist, put down his pallet and
brushes. and with a smile on his face, turned
around in his chair and settled down for a talk.
'You see in these life classes" he continued,
1--WE must have persons with figures as nearly
perfect as possible, Now, | do not allow any
person of bad antecedent5 to pose as a model
Before l accept the services of any woman l
must know that she is of pure life. My pupils
come to ne to study, and they look at the I'M
clothed figure as nothing more than any other
animal. l have had advertisements inserted in
the papers time and again for models. and l offer
liberal wages, but somehow | have not been as
successful as l would like to be-"
Cannot this be accounted for on the ground
of inherent modestyf"
Il think possibly that may have something to
do with it, but | cannot see why it should. The
face of the woman is always masked, and no one
could tell who she was. The pupils look on her
as a model merely, and in all my experience l
have never known one of them to insult a
woman. The model l have now has been sitting
for my classes for over a year, but, though well
shaped, she is lacking in the plumpness and
symmetry so much to be desired. have there
fore sought to obtain others. Several have been
here lately, but, though-with the vanity which
makes the sex-they all think they are perfect,
| find that every one has some glaring defect.
One has been too thin, another TOO feshy; a
third not properly shaped"
you must have had some unusual experiences
in your searehP
Eyes, l have had a few of them. Probably
the most pathetic was one | had this morning.
A young woman of fine figure, so far as / could
judge from her outward appearance, came here.
She was nervous and bashful, as though she
were afraid 1 would eat her up. She said she
wanted to engage as a model, She showed me
every proof that she was all straight so far as
morals went, and then bursting into tears she
told her story. She said she had been happy in
a loving husband and cheerful home until five
years ago, when her husband died suddenly.
She had managed to live on the little they had
saved and by doing sewing and little jobs. A
few weeks ago her money was nearly gone. She
saw that she would have to obtain steady en-
ployment. She tramped the streets in every di-
fection until her shoes were worn
out. She answered adyertisements
and sought in every way to
obtain work. Then she saw my notice and
nerved to the sacrifice by the fact that she had
no hopes, hat her rent was overdue and she
cried most p~itifulIy as she said, If my husband
model I comforted her as best l could, quoted
her fears and talked kindly to her. This after
noon she will return to submit to an examipa-
ton as to her qualifications. Whether she suits
or not l will do something for her.
DO not some of the models betray great
fright"
FOh yes. Some Of them have not had the
courage to appear before the class and have
hastily run away from the disrobing room, but
after they have understood how they are treated
they lose their foolish fears"