Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-04-25
ROSA BONHEUR'S DRESS.

Yates. in London World.
ROSA BONHEUR'S DRESS.
The Famous Artist in Her Studio and in
tho Streets of Paris.
That Rosa Bonheur dresses in male
attire has often been commented up
on by her biographers. The idea CON-
monty obtains that it is her usual
costume. But if you should meet her
in the streets of Paris you would see a
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'hon,,eur.
But r ,sa Bonheur at work in her
home does wear male costume. Years
ago, when she was a 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-o on of the stables than
if she had gone amongst them in pet
ticoats. For when Rosa Bonheur be-
gan her stulies. 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. a studio for women did not
exist in Paris. A woman sketching
in public would have been annoyed b7
public notice. Also, at the period when
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 tirst-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 appreciat-
ed the good studio qualities of the
blouse; and when she first resolved to
go to her out of-doors studies disguised
rs a boy student, she wore it; and at
work now, when she is sixty-twoyears
old, she still keeps to this easy gar
ment, having added to it the ortlin airy
mems trousers, which makes her feet
appear very small. also 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.
I remember that one afternoon we
were walking together on the border
of the river 1T BY, when she discov-
cred in the distance q canal-boat load
ing with stone from quarry on the
river: The digging and blasting to
get the stone lind destroyed pictur-
esque promontory that was dear to
Rosa's eyes, and she exclaimed in con-
sternation: "They are destroying and
carrying off my landscape!'
ITO build art galleries" laughing
ly replied.
Are you sureP' she asked, continu-
ing the pleasantly.
Certainly, they would be vandals
indeed. if they destroyed the pictur-
esque for any other object. madame"
AS we were talking we had stepped
out of the narrow path to let a 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 astonishment
knew he must be stranger, for all
the inhabitants round about her cha
teau knew by sight the famous painter.
Henry Bacon, Il. Wide-Awake.
-s-A1
"A mouse got into the money