The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-10-14
ART STUDY.
A Picture of Girl-Students' Life in . Paril
Atelier.

A Picture of GirI-Students' Life in Pari6
Atelier.
Better than any words of mine. says
a writer in Harper'S Bdzar, is what one
of these girl-students says herself ini
some notes which asked her to make
for me, in addition to the sketches made
by another girl at the same atelier.
give them just as they are:
''For any girls coming to study art in
Paris, to live as we do in q quiet hotel
is far better and more economical than
to board with a French family or pen
sion. unless with a wish TO master the
language. Nothing can be more simple
than our habits. We have one room,!
and we descend to table G'hote when
we choose-not otherwise. We cook
our own breakfast over a spirit lamp at
8 A. NJ, and go straight to the atelier,l
where we work till y. Then dejeuner
at a cremerie, and work again till 5 P
NJ. Returning to our hotel we can dine
if we like, but more often we boil our
kettle, have tea and an egg, and spend
the evening over book. 1t sounds
rather mOnOtOnous life, yet we ALI
find it very attractive, and the weeks
slip by only too fast.
''Even the regular morning walk Isl
pleasant. At the hour the Quarter
Latin is filled with street sellers wheel
ing their stalls about housewives mar
keting in their white caps, and little
children in black pinafores (not white
ones) being taken to school by their
bonne or garcon. Streams of men, too
on their way to business, a newspaper
in one hand and a roll in the other, inn
ply that hard-working Paris is waking
up to its daily life.
Our atelier gives US every opportun-
lty for the study of character, for in
daily work together most peoples ma
lures are clearly displayed. There is
the elderly Spinster, prevented from
study in her youth, and always envying
the younger students who have their
| life before them. Beside her is a patient
| artist who has been toiling for wears
without making any visible progress,
but who still hopes to succeed one day.
| Another, equally Woodworking, with
her whole soul in her work, scorns such
thing as outward appearance, and her
dress, once aesthetic, looks like worm
out robe de chambre slowly melting in
| to a bundle of rags. But a few who
combine the love of fashion with the
love of art come here in costumes more
suited to the Champs Elysees than to
our crowded studio, where they are in
serious danger of rubbing against pallets,
| knocking down easels, etc.
''Companionship is one of the pleas
| antest bits of student life. Our frugal
| tea parties, when the hostess Soiis the
| kettle and sets the table, and We all sit
round the fire and discuss the last ex-
hibition, especially our own professors
| work therein, or the success of one of US
in getting into the salon, which is held
as universal triumph to all Conver-
sation never flags. for some of us have
| lived at the ends of the earth, and can
| describe them well. and others ara
| political spirits who belong to a debat-
| ing society, and wish to reconstruct the
world after their pattern which the reSE
| gOod-naturedly but resolutely disap-
| prove. Then where to spend our Sunday
afternoons is always an important con-
| sideration. Nearly always we go out
| of town by road or rail, and after sir
days spent in the atelier, its close at
mosphere reeking with oil and turpen-;
tine, the smells, sights. and sounds of
the country are only too delightful.
''Such are our pleasures; but after all.
the most interesting thing is our work.
Every Monday we have the excitement
| of posing the new model. We begin
enthusiastically, but Tuesday, after the
professor has criticised our drawings, our
spirits usually sink little. Lower still
they get Wednesday and Thursday; by
Friday, when the second professor
| comes, they are usually down ut zero.
Saturday finds us in deepest despair,
| only comfOrted by the resolution to do
better next week, and that day is gen.
orally devoted to water-cOlors, or PEN
and-ink sketches. or portraits of some
picturesque fellOw-student, usually kept
as a SOUVENIR when the time for leaving
the atelier comes, and the girls who
have been working together all winter
| go their several ways to meet again
when and where. who knows? Proba-
bly, never"
But still they have done good work,
poor girls! and mingled it with a great
deal of innocent enjoyment. And
though Paris is. most will agree, not 4
desirable place for girl to study in
alone, still necessity has no law, and in
community is much safety. Then young
students seem to 20 through the ordeal
unscattered. and. so far as l could
Judge, without being unfeminized. For
they are wOrkingwomen, and, as they
honestly say, have mo time" for any
thing but work. 1t is idleness which
breeds the follies, or worse than follies,
of many young people, teaching them
to substitute Irritation for love. and the
craving for more admiration instead of
that self-devotedneSs which, however
sad, is at least more noble than the self
ish vanity of 4 conquering beauty. The
busy life of workingwoman may hard
en- her little, but it will never degrade
or deteriorate her; and very often, IN
good time
If love comes. he will enter,
And soon find out the way.
But should he never come, the woman
learns to do without him. and will be all
the happier and better woman for hav-
ing put her life to useful account And
therefore, as a help TO the many girls
who must work. and do work, | have
given this simple, truthful, and faithful
picture of how they work in a Paris
atelier.