Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-25
CHAT WITH A MODEL.
How Pine Face ana ShspelY Figure
Afford n Livelihood
for City Girls.
story Of Girl who studied Art and BE
came hIodel-Hcr Experience
In the studios.

YOU pass her on the street. This is
tribute which women Of striking np
pearance cannot avoid. The ladies Civ
her but passing second glance, for the,
see at once that she is simply clad ant
offers none OF those Invaluable sug
gestions as TO the latest novelty II
feminine attire. But the eyes OF the NOR
cavalier observes will tarry longer. II
one who takes note, Of genuine
beauty OF form and feature thi
plainly clad young woman is thu
conspicuous figure Of the promenade.
II you have been much at the art shows
you NAV see something familiar in hei
features, says the New York News. Il
you have tho entree TO the private arr
galleries Of this city, you win see painted
faces and figures that bear a remarkable
resemblance 10 her own. 1t Is just as
well to state the fact; she Is an artists
model. Like most models she has one
name for private life and another for pro-
fessIonal use. She leads one life IN the
studios and another in the outer world,
and does not care TO have both spoken OF
at the same time. Her city home is the
on Twenty-second street, Just within
the shadow OF the towering bulk Of the
Chelsea apartments. Here with a con-
genial companion, a young lady who
makes q modest living by typewrlting
down town, she carries on what is known
as eight housekeeping Those prlvi-
legged to visit these apartments say that,
though In no wise elaborate, they are
very costly and artistically decorated.
Here and there is an easel, canvas and
a palette, while on the wall are several
sketches from the brush OF the model
herself, for 1t seems that this interesting
model has been and may yetbe something
more than a model.
In person this young woman Is rather
ali, and OF the stately order of feminine
ovellness. Her features are regular,
finely moulded and expressive; the pro-
fllc like that OF chiseled Diana. Her
eyes are large and lustrous, and light up
her Icountenance with thoughtful ANNA
ton With these good points she com
blnes, as few women do, an almost per-
feet mouth. The contour OF her form Is
suggestive OF the lines Of the famous old
marbles, and the arts Iof the modiste
would but detract from her grace. Venus
was said to be apparent to mortals by her
gait, while this, her modern representa-
tive, betrays the fact that she is q model
by her unconscious habit of "posing" at
every attitude.
1t Is difficult TO persuade professional
female models to talk OF themselves and
their affairs. They deliberately, and per-
haps advisedly, cultivate mystery con
corning their identity, their place Of
residence and all their doings. The
artists themselves know very little about
them beyond the fact that they can be
engaged TO pose at so much per hour.
Even their names are generally assumed
and their genuine address kept secret.
So that II was only after considerable
reluctance that the young lady In ques-
ton consented TO give the writer sketch
Of her career and how she came to adopt
her peculiar calling.
This Is the models story
~ was born-well, 1t doesn't matter
how many years ago. but less than thirty,
for after that age models are passed. My
father lived in little town In Northern
New Jersey. learned something of
drawing in the public schools, and had an
ambition TO be an artist. Some eight or
ten years ago / came to New York and
Joined the classes at the Cooper Union.
AhJ HNOHA1 NSAN HOOAl ohN huh w earn
my expenses by working behind the
counters OF Fourteenth street dry
goods store, In those days was
enthusiastic, and thought there was
great future ahead Of me In art
Since then have learned better, and come
10 know that crayon or brush is very
pretty thing TO play with, but not much OF
a substitute for bread and butter, After
while had to confess that | had nc
genius at all and Il very little bit OF tale..t
and that, in fact, could be but an indif.
ferent artist at best. OF course | was
discouraged, but what was worse, was
ashamed--ashamad TO go home and con
Tess TO my old father that my ambitious
plans were q failure, and that the littl,
money he had eked out of his small In
come TO help me on had been spent fol
nothing"
"But why did you become model?n
"0hl that was all accident. had lef
the art classes aud was leading hum
drum life behind the ribbon counter on
Fourteenth street when an artist who ha,
seen me at the Cooper Union asked me /
would not sit for drawing-room stud,
that he was making. My wages at III,
store were but SO n week, and he said
might earn three or four times as mucl
as that by sitting as model, He praise,
my face and figure and said be was anx
ious to hand me down to fame. Hi
name3 No, | could not give you that
and you must not use names at all. Well
went TO his studio and posed for tw,
days. He said my features doubled tn
value OF his picture; II Is hanging now Il
Filth avenue pArlor, And he not onl
paid me literally for my trouble, but sal
he would mention me to his friends an
thought that could have all wanted :
do II would give my time to the work. I
care you now well known TO the artist
OF the citypn
81 am known and yet not known. The
know me only as model. They haven
any suspicion Of my real name, and
would not for the world have II known a
connected with posing My father a
home thinks l am still studying art 10
myself, and even the people in this house
who have been very kind TO me, haven
the least notion Of my real occupation
My roommate and the artist who first In
troduced me are the only ones In tn
secret, except yourself. And | think
shall have a hOna Ia nipl with that r.a.,