The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-07

thirst tor the knowledge that was IN the
air. until he was called TO rest. lie gre"
famous, and his old townsmen heard OF
him as of one of themselves and enloyea
his fame. He was going home. ne sasu'
and long thought surely he would soon,
and he would have had a triumphant re-
ception: but cares multiplied and the
wears came on, and he died in this
strange. far-off land, bat not
stranger or alone; and here SUD
denly at my feet, written in marble
land around the snowy stone is frame
of grass, green and sweet, as If the month
were May in the old home), is the name.
Hiram Powers, and that he rested from
his labors at the age of g. And so LEAD
all the paths of glory-to the grave In
the midst of the acres of galleries OF FLOR
ence there is hall devoted TO the por-
traits of artists, by themselves. 1t is ex-
ceedingIy interesting to see them as they
saw themselves, or. rather. wanted others
10 see them. There are hundreds OF these
portraits, and OF course the daubs were re,
iected 1t is distinction for ones face TO
be here Look around at the swarm OF the
distinguished. This is fame. These are
the tablets of immortality, perhaps. W nat
is it all worth, after all? These are the
creators of the beautiful-those who do
the work of transfguration-and you may
fix your gaze on one face, if you please, a
faded one, dusky with age, only the eyes
distinct and they follow you and make an
appeal. They seem to say GU are
the first for years and years and years 10
see me; wait moment; l may be able to
tell you something you should remember.
Nv dust has returned to the dust that the
winds blow. and my works are forgotten
as mine, if they have not utterly dlsap-
peared. Ny name means nothing to TINS
generation. You need not look for it for, If
you shall by miracle find it. it will tell you
naught. 1t is but one of the lnnunerabie
throng. These are old walls. They will
stand. have room here. ForSetfulness
is not neglect. Here l shall remain, to
catch the eyes of some other wanderer and
stranger when you are gone; tor still, as
always, in your busy end OF the world as
everywhere the men and the nations shall
perish Mock me not because have but
a narrow space; from il shat! behold the
procession of time until the barbarians
come again, and they may miss me. A
point of light that is inextlnguishable-
that is fame"
| shall not attempt to describe the CALLER
les of Florence, for the task is far beyond
me. There are vast areas, miles and
leagues of pictures. One fingers before
few names that are we'll known; INDUCES
for a minute an impression that apainting
says something to your soul; seeks, per-
haps, TO see what it is in one cluster OF
forms that is ineffaole, while the higher
tints and broader suggestions of aQother
are unsatisfactory, If notinsignificant. 1t
is not my purpose to follow the guides or
the guidebooks through the palaces and
over the long bridge lined with portraits
that crosses the Arno and con-
duets kyou into another hemishere.
almost, it may be altogether. as
glorious as that from which you have
emerged. We must wait, as il we had
abundant leisure, in the "Tribuna." Here
is a broken satyr by some matchless old
Greek, restored by Michael Angelo. and,
lol the Venus Medicin' and Raphael's
Madonna and Child, with the gray bird
and red crest; Raphael's portrait of his
sweetheart, buxom and benign; two
wondrous Titians, golden-haired, vo-
luptuous and celestial; a Van Dyke,
Correggio, a Dnrer, a Holy Fam
lily by Michael Angelo, and another by
Paulo Veronese. All the wealth is in one
small octagonal room of one of the enor-
nous palaces. Suppose that apartme Mt
could be transferred to the United States,
shown at Chicago and made part OF the
New York museum. Who can estimate
the riches the country would gain?
Could congress, perhaps, or the state of
New York, or the state of Illinois, or the
city of New York, or the city of Chicago,
be persuaded to make an appropriation
for such purpose! When Ben Butter
worth limited that the Italians wight sell
a few Madonnas and find their advantage
in it, he may have uttered words of wis
dom, provided he was serious and reyerent
in the utterance. Italy has more art than
she can fully enjoy. She might part with
enough to make others opulent and still
possess 'riches beyond the dreams of
avarice," an abundance exceeding the ca
pacity of assimilation. 1t has been said
with a sneer that Italy has most profita-
bic industry in the entertainment Of those
who visit her to see what she was; but she
has that to be seen that no other land
displays, and if she should part with
few specimen treasures, seeing them would
only stimulate the desire to see more. The
Madonna and Child and cherubs of Raphael
in the Dresden gallery do not deter visitors
to Florence and Rome, but animate them.
What would not one of the splendid
Raphasls in Florence be worth to the Chi
cage fair? Or, say, what an attraction
group OF Madonnas, one each of ten of the
truly great artists would bel If it were
not practicable to buy, it should be
possible TO borrow them for year.
with ample security for safety and re-
turn. Does some one say this would
be an encouragement Of superstition? Is
there sneer for the story? Is there the
commonplace offered by ignorance as in
tallible and conclusive, that it Is pity art
had not found some other theme than the
Child Christ and the Holy Mother? What
do we know that is higher than hui
manity? Through what types shall we
learn TO see with clearer eyes that which
is tairer, loftier lovelier? What is holier
than pure young motherhood? Where is
the divinity of innocence and the inspira-
ton OF love so impersonated as in the babe
in its mothers arms? Why, Chicago might
well afford to finish the cathedral at Flor
ence for the loan of q few Madonnas for
the fair to which the world is summoned.
She Is, or Is to be, offered the gathered
treasury of thousand years by Genoa, if
she will give her aid in the Columbian
celebration IN the city of Columbus. The
journey from Chicago to Florence may be
made comfortably in less than a fort
night. The one city is representative of
rushing, OF ELUSIVE material progress
q progressive movement that is as a
Hood-a city that was spot in q
swampy wilderness when the other had
accumulated an immense inheritance and
was adorned by her children of genius. 1t
should not be impossible for some of the
priceless things so profusely stored in the
white city on the Arno to be sent as a
sacred trust to the fair that is 10 celebrate
the discovery Of America by an Italian,
Tor they would be missionaries of truth
beyond the Atlantic, and at once enrapture
ana enhghten the millions there who
more than others strive and achieve. and
who would give the supreme triumphs of
art exalted appreciation.