Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-04-12
ROSA BONHEUR'S DRESS.
The Fam Gus Artist in Her Studio and
the Streets of Paris.

The Fam Gus Artist in Her Studio and I'm
the Streets of Paris.
That r sa Bonheur dresses in male
attire has often been commented up
on by her biographies. The idea COM
monty obtains that it is her usual
costume. Bat if you should meet her
in the streets of Paris you would see
large, elderly lady, rather plainly
dressed in black, her abundant gray
hair tucked under close bonnet; and
unless you were attracted by the
peculiar strength of her face, and by
her piercing attentive eyes, you would
not notice that she differed from any
lady in the passing crowd. except that
she wears the red ribbon of the decora-
ton of the Legion d'honneur.
But Rosa Bonheur at work in her
home does wear male costume. Years
ago, when she was young woman
and student, she adopted it. because
it gave her more freedom in her
studies at the menageries and cattle
yards. Dressed as boy she at
tracted less comment and attention
from the hangers on of the stables than
if she had gone amongst them in pet
ticoats. For when Rosa Bonheur be-
gan her studies. fifty years ago. young
women artists were not as common
as they are at the present day when
there are many studios especially for
women art students. Then, fifty
years ago, studio for women did not
exist in Paris. A woman sketching
in public would have been annoyed by
III 81 h.,
she adopted male attire art students
were not the fashionable men they
are to-day; they did not follow the
passing styles in coats hats and neck
ties. but wore what they considered to
be more artistic garb-looser, freer
and easier clothes than the dandy;
and when they were at work the
workman's linen blouse was the usual
garment The adoption of these
blouses may have been for two rea-
sons; first that they were picturesque,
cool, and did not hinder the free use
of the arms when at work; and
second-what ought perhaps to have
been named first-it saved the coat
and in those days. when the student
often entered the profession of art
against the wishes of his parents or
friends. coats were hard to be got.
Naturally, Rosa Bonheur appreeiat-
ed the good studio qualities Of the
blouse; and when she first resolved to
go to her out-of-doors studies disguised
as boy student she wore it; and at
work now, when she is sixiy-twoyears
old, she still keeps to this easy gar
ment, having added to it the orlin ary
mems trousers, which makes her feet
appear very small, also a wide
brimmed felt or straw hat In, this
dress. with her short hair. she appears
much lower stature than in woman's
apparel, and looks like remarkably
we'll preserved middle-aged man.
/ remember that one afternoon we
were walking together on the border
of the river at BY, when she discov-
cred in the distance canal boat load
ing with stone from quarry on the
river. The digging and blasting to
get the stone Ind destroyed pictur-
| esque promontory that was dear to
Rosa's eyes. and she exclaimed in con-
sternation: ''They are destroying and
carrying off my landseaper'
10 build art galleries. laughing
ly replied.
Are you surea' she asked. continu-
ing the pleasantly.
Certainly, they would be vandals
indeed. if they destroyed the pictur-
esqne for any other object. madame"
| AS we were talking we had stepped
out of the narrow path to let q peas
ant. heavily laden, pass, and he. hear
ing me say madame" turned and
looked at US; he turned and looked
a second time; and beyond us. along
the path and up the hillside, he still
looked. evidently wondering where
the madame could be whom was adj
dressing, and by his establishment 1
knew he must be stranger, for all
the inhabitants round about her cha
teau knew by sight the famous painter.
| Henry Bacon, in Vide Quake.
| IT Ia n iff3cuif IN, Irinu or A.