St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-20

no public comment on the matter be-
cause of a general desire among his
most intimate friends to have nothing
said about it. Now, however, the re-
moval of his publisher from Orpington
to London and the change in the sale of
RuSkin'S books from the mo discount"
system which he instituted to the or
binary methods prevailing in the book
trade, together with other circuln-
stances. make further secrecy impOssi-
BILE. The story of the great mans break
down, as told yesterday by gentleman
who for many years has been in iRti-
mate business and private relations
with Mr.. Ruskin, is as follows; "Mr.
Ruskin's mind has been gradually fail
ing for seven or eight years. The first
public suspicion of the fact was aroused
at Oxford i'll 1886. when, alter deliver
ing several lectures of series,
HE BROKE DOWN
in the delivery of one of them and be-
came incoherent on the platform. He
delivered no more lectures there. and
the matter was hushed up. His health
improved, and in 1883, on the occasion
of his last visit to London, he went to
the Academy and other galleries in
company with Oscar Wilde and was
never more perspicu0us In comment or
brilliant in conversation. At this time
he said he should not Immediately re-
turn to Brentwood, his residence in
Cumberland. and he took a place at
Sandsgate in Kent. He then went
20 IL.
same time at Amiens went thence
to Florence on visit to Miss Alex
ander and seemed in good health. At
Venice, however. he had an attack, and
broke down mentally. Mr.. and Mrs.
Severn, living at Brentwood, were sent
for. In company with them and two
physicians he was brought home. OF
his life at Brentwood since his return
very little is known. In July last, how
ever. Miss Kate Greenaway went to
visit him, but her stay was brought to a
sudden termination by an unfortunate
occurrence. In company with MIR. Rus
kin she went out on the moor back of
Brentwood to make some water-color
sketches. In the midst of her work she
noticed that her companion was actlng
and looking strangely, and talking in
coherently. Suddenly
HE SEIZED HER CoLoRs
and large brush and angrily daubed
paints of all kinds all over her sketches,
She ran back to tile house and informed
Mrs. Severn. who sent an attendant out
for him, she having had an attendant in
waiting on him ever since his return.
Since that time Mr.. Ruskin has been
necessarily detained in his own house,
No one outside OF Brentwood has seen
him since August. In November re-
ports reached London of his having had
a violent paroyysm, during which he
broke all the windows of his room. Since
that time he has lain in bed continu-
Ously. He refuses all except liquid
food, and manifests no desire to get
up. He is steadily growing weaker.
and the probability is TINT if he ever
leaves his ued he at all events will
never go out of his house again.
His doctor is Charles Powers. a local
practitioner of middle age. There has
Oeen SOME rather critical comment
among the specialists nf London over
the fact that SO eminent a man, whose
condition demands the care of special
lSJ III mental diseases, should have A
physi clan who, while a capable general
practitioner. has not the special ability
Which the case mpeIatively needs. Mr..
RuSkin's family physician is Dir. Ac-
lands OF Oxford. lifelong friend. but.
a difference of opinion between them il,
1873 deprived him thereafter of DR..
Aclands' services. Mrs. Severn. DIR,
nd ttnyfR ,aff, Il.
him In charge. and, being
RETICENT IN THE MATTER
little is known here as to what is going
on. Mrs. Severn, whose name has been
mentioned so frequently of late, is q
lady of fifty. She was the adopted
child of an elderly lady cousin of Rus
kln's. and on the decease of the cousin
became Mr.. Ruskin's only relative,wit
the exception of another cousin, Cant.
Ruskin, of the army. The two cousins
have, however, not been on speaking
terms for many years. On the occasion
Of Mrs. Severn'S marriage with Mr.
Severn, a Mater-cOlOr artist. Mr.. Ruskin
settled 4t,700 on Mrs. Severn. He cor
ceived dislike to Severn soon after
wards, and for years Severn has not
been permitted to live at Brentwood.
though his wife has dwelt there
together only during the peri
DDS of Mr.. Ruskin's visits abroad.
Mr.. Ruskin has made will, leaving
Brentwood to her. The house is won
derful treasury of art and other vaIua-
bles, whose value cannot be estimated,
The owner in twelve years past mas
spent over &100,0G0 on artistic gems of
various kinds. and these. in addition 10
his many presents from friends, MAXI,
wonderful collection. There are con
tributions from many English and for
ee! Sn artists: sketches innumerable, and
a collection OF precious Stones. Among
his remarkable possessions are 500 mis-
sails, some of them Illuminated, which
are worth small fortune in themselves.
as they comprise one-f0urth of the en-