Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-20
RUSKIN IS INSANE.
The Great Art Critics Brain Gives Way
at Last,

London Special TO New York Herald.
John Ruskin, the great leader in English
critical literature, has become hopelessly in.
| sane.
There has been great deal Of whispered talk
| in the upper art circles Of London for months
past concerning Mr. Ruskin's condition and the
peculiar circumstances by which he is en-
| vironed There has been no public comment
on the matter because of the general desire
| among his most intimate friends Swinburne,
Jones and others-to have nothing said about it.
Now, however, the removal of his publisher
| from Orpington to London and the change in
| the sale Of Ruskin's books from the no discount
| system which he instituted, to the ordinary
methods prevailing in the book trade, together
with other circumstances make further secrecy
| impossible.
GRADUALLY FAILING FOR YEARS.
The story of the great mans breakdown. as
| told by gentleman who for many years has
| been on intimate business and private relations
with Mr. Ruskin, is as follows: "Mr Ruskin's
mind has been gradually failing for seven or
| eight years. The first public suspicion of the
| fact occurred at oxford in 1886, when after
delivering several lectures Of a series, he broke
| down during the delivery Of one and became
| incoherent on the platform and greatly exer-
y %
| He delivered no more lectures there and the
matter was hushed up. His health improved,
and in 1888, the occasion Of his last visit to
London. he went 70 the academy, Grosvenor
and other galleries, in company with Oscar
Wilde and was never more perspicuous in COM
ment or brilliant in conversation. At this time
| he said he should not Immediately return to
Brentwood, his residence in Cumberland, and
he took the place Sandsgate, in Kent He then
| went to France, and, after spending some time
fhpnna To xyio
! to Miss Alexander 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 COM
pany with them and two physicians he was
brought to the home Of his life at Brentwood
In November reports reached London of his
having had a violent paroxysm, during which
he broke all the windows OF his room. Since
that time he has lain in bed continuously. He
refuses all except liquid food and manifests no
desire to get up. He is steadily growing
weaker and the probability is that he will never
go out OF the house again."
HIS RELATIONS WITH MRS. SEVERN
Mrs. Severn, DR.. Powers and two attendants
now have Mr.. Ruskin in charge, and all being
reticent in the matter very little is known here
as to what goes on. Mrs. Severn, whose name
has been mentioned frequently of late. is a
lady Of fifty. She was an adopted child of an
elderly lady, cousin of Ruskin's, and on the
decease OF the cousin became Mr.. Ruskins only
relative, with the exception of another cousin,
Capt. Ruskin Of the army. The two cousins have,
| however, not been on speaking terms for many
years. On the occasion OF Mrs. Severn's mar
riage with Severn, water-color artist Ruskin
| settled 200 pounds on Mrs. Severn. He
conceived dislike to Severn soon afterward and
for years Severn has not been permitted to live
| at Brentwood, though his wife has dwelt there
continuously. They have lived together only
during periods Of Mr.. Ruskins visits abroad.
BRENTWOOD AND ITS CONTENTS.
Mr. Ruskin has made will leaving Brent
wood to her. The house is wonderful treas
ury of art and other valuables, whose value
cannot be estimated. The owner in twelve
years past has spent over 100000 on artistic
| gems of various kinds and these, in addition
| to his many presents from friends, made won
derful collection. There are contributions from
many great English and foreign artists. sketches
| innumerable and collection Of precious stones.
| Among his remarkable possessions are three
hundred mssals, some Of them illuminated and
| the rest in grisaille, which are worth a small
! fortune in themselves, as they comprise one
| fourth of the entire number in existence.
| Brentwood and its contents comprise about all
| Mr. Ruskin's estate. All his money has been
expended there. The income from his books
| is between $4,000 and 5000 per annum.