The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-10-30
CURRENT COMMENT.
THE MAN-ABOUT-TOwN AT VAL
ENTINE'S STUDIO.


Frederick wsrde. the Tragcdian, and
tho scuIptor-Intcrcst'ng Work of "a
Great Genius aud Ar;ist-Thc Military
Again.
A cordial. hearty greeting.
clasping of hands: an expression OF
face that denoted warmcst friendship.
Edward 4. Valentine. the sculptor, and
Frederick Wanlc. the tragcdian. were
standing face 10 face. divided only by the
sloOr~il Of Valentines studio.
Come right in" said Mr.. Valentine, his
face glowing with pleasure nj meeting his
old friend. "Come in, gentlemen; am
glad 10 see You ALL
Tln neN: minute found the group Of
friends i'm the studio Of the celebrated Viz
ginia sculptor, surrounded by the wonder
fuI works of the man. tengible ofishoots
evolved from busy brain. The eye for a
moment did service. The tongue was
siilled by thought. II WAS some time be-
fore any one spoke.
Mr. Valentine excused himself 70 finish
Il note he was writing when the party en-
tered.
81 am a poor correspondent" said he,
and If | were 20 be 80 unfortunate as 10 be
sent 10 the bad place reckon they would
sef mo 10 answering notes. II they knew
how | dislikcd IT,. If were 10 get letter
from Petersburg on business, ] would get a
horse and buggy. | believe. and drive over
and attend to the business rather than
wriic.'
SIGITISIN THF STUDIO.
The interior of Il SCULPTOR studio presents
"A curious picture 90 the novice. II II won
dcrful 20 notice the di-aray with which al
sorts Of things lie strcwn around. The
shelves show plaster CASTS of prominent men
Tor il III /
hundred battles. Beside him, covered with
dust. is the poet whose sweet songs have
soofhcd tender hearts. Hardly, partially
hidden by some strange furniture. is he 10
whom was given the applause Of listen
ing scnatcs 10 command Faces faini-
liar 10 fame, known in history. are
looking down from every nook and
Granny. You are in a WORKSHOP OF art. ana
all about YOU are scattered the appliances
Of God-gyen gin, 10 De grappled only by
hands, moved by inspiring thought and
guided by a depth o. feeling that creates
wonder almost akin 10 awe. You feel that
You breathe an air Of mystery. and sort ni
CONSCIOUSNESS Of insigniiicaucc on the part
Of the bchOldcr creates oppression. The
past sweeps before YOU. Imagination sup
plies the link with the future. Fancy UNI
rolls her magic scroll, that YOU may JON
the two and rcycl in rccOllections Of the
trials and struggles that choked the path
way 10 fame Of The men whose faces are
reproduced from life before YOU.
VALENTINES JACKSON.
In the centre of the studio stands Na'cn-
tines model of the colossal statue Of ~t1n
wall Jackson. which. when cast i'm bronze.
will be- placed over the grave Of the i'm
mortal hero, in the town Of Lexington. a.
II i. hard 10 make comparison where 80
much genius has been displayed, even i'll
comparisons were not always odiOu-. but,
if such u task be- attempted, il would. per-
haps. be just criticism % say. that this
will be- Mr.. Valentines most popular piece
of work
The face. the figure, the pose are perfect |
the features readily recognizable 10y all who /
were ever favored with sight of the hero |
while he lived. The head is bare. slightly !
thrown back. a. if hc were overlooking "a /
field Of battle. the lips are compressed and |
firmly closed the left Lex thrown back. sus-
tans the weight of the body. the right |
thrown forward as if ready TO adj /
vance. The right hand grasp- with /
determination a field glass. which is |
pressed against the body: the left hand /
rests upon the hilt Of his sword. II is Jack
son .'standing like stoncwall an very /
truth. one hundred years from to-day what
romantic thoughts will teen in the brains OF
those who. standing before this representa-
non oil one Oh the filf~l if'iHNlh N'l' iliiitN
men of these times. commit themselves 10
20 over the cyentfll days Of his life.
THE BLIND GIRL.
Some wears ago Mr.. Valentine visited the
ASYLUM for the Blind. in >taunton. Virginia.
While going through the wards of the asy-
lnm. he heard "a remarkably sweet voice
singing these lines:
For Thee. my God, the living God,
My thirsty soul doth pine.
OF, when snail behold thy face,
Thou majesty divine
Turning to see from whence came the
sounds of song, ne saw a pretty blind child.
with upliflcd hands and sightless eyes.
sending up a. Him. who can raise the fallen
and give sight 10 the blind. her hymn of
PRAYER. IL felt touched 10y the scene and
The sight" said the sculptor" and knew
that what touches one man touches another.
determined to make Il study of the Incl
dents. and there is the result
This work of itself would suffice to make
the sculptor great.
The exquisite feeling refinement of pa
ihos. and inspiration of art are written 50
plainly as to strike the most careless OBJ
server.
Mr.. Valentine has heart a. we'll as
brain.
IuE NEW STUDIO.
"l.et us 20 into my new studio" said Mr.
valentine.
The new studio j, in process of erection.
lust i'm rear Of the old which \, at No. SO
east Leigh street
When completed it will be- the largest
studio of the Kind in the United states. The
entrance il 80 arranged that IL can all bc
removed, and in ease an equestrian statue
is being modelled this front can be taken ont,
the model wheeled opposite the opening.
al
greater than il usual Fan advantage that
YOU cannot have in New York" said the
sculptor. pit will be- finished with Buck
ingham slate. and here within the walls of
his studio MIR. Valentine can keep his clay.
the year round, damp all the time.
IL do not intend 10 make this place too
nice or two comfortable. old fellow" said
he addressing Wardc. II call You old fell
low. but am deal older than YOU are. |
don't want it too fine; ii will be 50 hard 10
leave it. | have worked hard over Wonder
tponting TO the old sjudio) and mean 10 ,
preserve that for my private studio. some
of the ~addest. and vet sweetest, moments
of my life have been spent there. and love
the old place. have worked conscientious
"; aud NOull remember what | told You
wears ago, "WoIk conscientiously and
you'll succeed: il Will all come back 10 yOu"
YES" said Mr.. Ward, ",o destroy such a
belief would hc 10 ruin the most blessed |
hope of man. Ii is the dr,lughts of discom-
fort that blow through our homes ON earth.
that cause Us 60 hope for a habitatiOn into
which they will never enter II Is the trials \
and drawbacks of youth that makes Us hope
for the happiness of full manhood. Disap-
pointed there. we look higher for reward" ,
\ visit 10 the exhibition gallery, SOL east ,
Leigh street. ended a most pleasant morn
ng visit. Here YOU will see busts of Edwin u
Booth. Commodore Matthew +. Mauy, n
Right WOrshipnil John Dove, General l.. G.. 4
1. Bcaurcgard, General Joseph l.. Johnston,
Ion. John II. Baldwin, Colonel John :. Mos
~. Robert Burns. Ludwig Beethoven. Sene-
al Albert Sidney Johnston, General George *
T.. Pickett, Ex-Governor William smith o.
Extra Biliy). Ex-Governor Henry \. Wise,
Rev. j. u. Jcter. Hon. {. G.. Memmim-
GER, Secretary Of the Treasury Confederate
states; Hon. Robert \. liayne. G.. Z. Il. {
James. the novelist: James Thomas, Alex
,nder Won Humboldt. Baroness Won Holt l.
endOri. and "A Richmond lady; The Pcni- il