Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-13
CHAPTER v.-rHE GOLD MEDAL.

CHAPTER E.-THE GOLD MEDAL.
The picture is finished; the gold medal
has been awarded; and "Tragedy'' is
the artistic sensation of the latest Royal
Academy exhibition. The barrier and
the policeman have once more appeared
in the central gallery of Burlington
House.
Not alone for its exceptional merit is
Philip Forsyth's "Road to Siberia, -
the talk of the art world. Some
thing of the romance associated
with it has leaked out. The busy gossips
of the society papers have told its story
in many and various ways. The facile
pen of the Jenkins of the Review, whom
We nave met at Lady Forsyth's recep-
tons, had, however, penetrated some of
By no means correct in its details, the
Review had graphically suggested the
courage Gus and friendly journey of res
cue which had been performed by Dick
Chetwynd; the telegram of the British
consul at St. Petersburg; Dick 8 surprise
on its receipt. his hurried councils with
Philips mother and friends and his
prompt expedition TO Siberia, were told
with journalistic effect. Dicks kindly
reception at the hands of the Russian Of
fcials, the usefulness Of his early expert
ences as g war correspondent in expedit-
ing his march, his adventures by land
and river, and the scene by the tragic
frontier pillar were quoted in all the
journals and eagerly devoured by the
public. But Jenkins secundus was alto
getheT at fault when he endeavored TO
indicate the part which the Countess
Stravensky had played ID this extraordi-
nary drama.
The mystery of the story indeed was
untouched. The Countess Stravensky
had disappeared as completely as if she
had never existed. Neither the police
nor Dick Chetwynd had solved the Stra-
vensky problem, and Philip Forsyth kept
his own counsel in regard TO that notable
person-kept it with a logged silence
that no one could weaken. The young
artist had come home again entirely
changed in 4 and habit, and
strangely altered in appearance. Pale,
thoughtful. and with the strongest ten
dency TO look upon the ground, Philip
now appeared TO live in a world of his
own; and, happily for himself and for
al l LO OCNOlCO IiluGCli WILL d CHILL u /
tensity to his work. Back again at the
studio beyond Primrose Hill he lived
there for DAYS together without making
his appearance at his mothers or visiting
the Chetwynd household. On quiet
evenings he might be seen strolling over
the hill, or smoking g cigar upon one of
its highest seats. AS a rule, be began
work with daylight, and only laid down
his brushes at the approach of night.
His models we're queer people, mostly
selected from foreign emigrants and
sailors at the London docks.
For months his only recreation appeared
to be in continual visits to the port of
He made sketches Of the Jew
ish refugees from Poland Il other dis
.tricts, and occasionally brought his
straight TO his studio, lodging
them close by; finding vent for his feel
ings and directions for his art in subjects
of moder Russian history, not painted
ostentatious political point,
as might a been expected
from his somewhat fauatical impulse,
but with q pathetic fervor that per-
a margin even for the tremen-
dous difficulties that belong to the Rus
sian situation. These studies, however,
pictures yet to come; and it is
not within tbs space of this present
chronicle to do more than forecast the
future of Philip Forsyth from the stand
point OF his remarkable work, "The
Road TO Siberia, which has sufi-
impressed the fathers of the royal
academy TO secure for its painter the first
step TO honors which he neither desires
nor resents.
Once in a way he will stroll into the
club, or the Hogarth, of on even
ing, and take a quiet, sober part IN the
social life OF these pleasant establish
ments. Occasionally throwing off the
shadow which has fallen upon his young
life, there is no assumption of undue
thOughtfulness or gloomy manner; it is
quite natural 70 him, and is accom-
panied with a certain Inconsistencies of
which disarms the personal
affront Of unsYmpathetic criticism. He
has rivals in his art, and critics in the
press entirely ignorant of bis antecedents,
who credit him with Intentional airs of
eceentricity, and characterize both his
manner and his work as commercial and
But Phillip has suffered, and is
and once \ week when he goes to
bis mothers TO spend Sunday aud accom-
pany her TO the little Catholic chapel
round the corner, Lady Forsyth finds q
asw pleasure and Satisfaction in his COM