The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-19

How the Indiana Artists and Students Are
Enjoying Themselves in Pennsylvania.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
| BIRMINGHAM, Penn, July A.--One of the
| pleasures for the summer offered to Indiana
artists and art students the art excursion in
to the Allegheny mountains, planned by Miss
| Sue Ketcham, of Indiana and Messrs. Schilling
and Vanderpoel, of Chicago The Indiana party
numbering seventeen, left Indianapolis July 2
The persons being Miss Sue Ketcham, Mrs.
David Coffin, Miss Fannie McCarty, Maggie
Day, the Misses Stevenson. Mary Robinson
Carrie Gall, Addie Brown, Jessie Fisher
and Eta Lamb, of Indianapolis; Miss
Goodwin of New Castle Jennie Dunsmore and
Mollie Zoer, of Greensburg; Charlie Graves, of
| Fort Wayne, and Cora Campbell, of Danville
Though nearly all were strangers at starting
having mutual interests and anticipating the
! same pleasures it was but a short time until we
felt as if there had never been time when we
had not been friends. The afternoon and nights
ride as far as Pittsburg had the usual expert
ences of travel. There we met the Chicago
division, Messrs. Schling and Vanderpoel
Misses Hills Chapman, Murphy, Vanderpoe,
| and Mrs Fogg, Mr.. Gleason, of Chicago Miss
| Drake, of Dakota; Miss Wright of Missouri; Miss
| Hill. of Iowa; Miss Hutchinson, of Wisconsin;
Miss Maltby of Ohio; Mrs. Waterous, and the
Misses Gatchalls and Maltby, of Illinois At
| Cresson Springs we were given an observation
car to view the mountain scenery, Horseshoe
| Bend, etc. This ride was delightful, the air
exhilarating and the scenery SO charming that
whatever fatigue had been felt, was forgotten,
ard three miles beyond Tyrone we ended our
journey in gay spirits.
At the station at Birmingh were met
with private vehicles and driven a short distance
to Mountain Seminary. Here let me say if there
| are any who like Washington Irving, wish to
withdraw from the world and it's distractions
indeed, to forget life's hustle l know of no bet
| ter place than this. Twelve hundred feet above
| sea level, we are entirely shut IN by hills with
| blue glimpse now and then of the distant noun
! tains, while the waters of the blue Juniata flow
| at our feet Though seemingly away from tie
| world, the Pennsylvania Central railroad running
through the river valley, makes the outside
boarding house is the young ladies'
seminary, known over this part of
the East. Such influence does this school
| exert, am told that scarcely young lady can
| be found for miles around who is not seminary
bred. For twenty eight years this institution
has prospered under the proprietorshp and
| principalship of l.. G. Grer So greatly is the
seminary appreciated that no advertising is
| needed. Standing on its merits and attractions,
| its halls are constantly filled. Mr.. Grier and
| family a truly hospitable, intelligent and
cultured people, and their beautiful home near
| by the main building represent the ideal home.
The main building is ancient In style OF archl
| lecture, but modern improvements have been
added until we can enjoy the novelty of the
| quaint and old, yet have the comforts of the
new. The building is situated on the mountain
| side, in grounds OF seventy acres, which offer
| every attraction, both to those who wish for
vevety lawns with cultivated flowers and to
| those who most revel in that which is romantic
and half neglected. Rustic seats and swinging
| hammOcks in unexpected places invite luxurious
| rest; rustic bridges and shady paths lead into
| unseen beauties; trees and shrubs from every
cline flourish here, while flowers, both wild and
cultivated, grow everywhere, and daisies cover
| the earth. These, with the beautiful rhododen-
dron, which is now blooming in it's perfection
| have given us much delight, and l am
sure bushels of these blossoms have
been mailed to absent friends. Near
| by the seminary grounds is the village
of Birmingham, which, in the long ago. was the
| town of most importance in this region But
time seems to have worn itself out, and
| eternity set in" and the inhabitants are living
on the glories of the past, like the Atheniaps in
the decline of their metropolis, ''spend their
time in nothing else but either to tell to hear
| some thing" Not enterprise is known
save the proverbial country store and postoffce,
and carrying water from the town pumps, a
popularity of the inhabitants being that one is
never seen without bucket; even the toddling
infant, with small pail, is intent on going for
water
| In such an unconventional place one can read
| lily imagine the absolute freedom we enjoy
| Nothing is expected or required of any One yet
fine advantages offered for study in sketching
in pencil, charcoal or colors All the instructors
are interested and attentive Each morning we
are given a lesson of three hours, and every one
is seen with art materials, sketching stool, easel
| and umbrella, enthusiastically bound for new
| view The weather is never too warm nor too
damp to prevent work. The inhabitants are so
| astonished at this innovation. they give them
selves and all their possessions into our hands
| One young lady whose greatest delight is in
sketching children, finds an inexhaustible supply
of models ready to pose No sooner does the ar
| fist begin than she is surrounded by children
of every age and size, all anxious to have their
| picture made" At the close of the first weeks
work. an informal art exhibit was made which
astonlshed every one A committee was APP
| pointed to arrange for this and in few hours
the suite of rooms adjoining the parlors was
transformed into bright, attractive studio,
| hung with draperies of rich colors, beautiful
flowers, and two hundred sketches-the work of
| six days This seems almost incredible, but
proves how earnest are these lovers of art and
their determination to improve these fine advan-
| tages so seldom given. These exhibits will be
made each week If so much was done in one
week, what may we not expect in the weeks to
| follow
The days were full of demonstrating,
| writing, long walks, etc, but our evenings are
| monotonous. Just imagine thirty girls with the
| witcheries of pretty dresses, dainty laces and
exquisite flowers and no gentlemen. The cry,
| "Oh, for man! Oh, for man. goes constantly
up. Music, cards and dancing are introduced.
but without relish. IT'S like fair, juicy fruit
which promises much, but when tasted is with
out flavor.
Misses Carrie Gall and Addie Brown gave
surprise to the household in the way of pro-
| gressiye euchre party one evening, which proved
to be success even if the tall girls with ribbons
on their arms were forced to do the duties of the
missed and wished-for gentlemen. One young
lady says: Everything is complete and enjoy
ment perfect if We only could see some real live
men, C.BC.
Catherine Lewis and Her Nymphs.
Atlantic City Letter in Baltimore American.
Shortly before noon Catherine Lewis and her