The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-24

floor, with little terrace on the roof.
This was generally used 70 dry the linen.
but | soon found another use for it besides.
brought home little lamb, which was
presented me BY friend, and installed it
there. In my leisure moments | drew it
over and over again in every possible
position. and one night, after l had sue
ceeded in making a fair drawing, | said to
my father;
Il wish to become a cattle painter
Then began TO make excursions into the
country to paint from nature and mixed
freely with cattle dealers, so that became
thoroughly acquainted with the ways of
animals"
when did madame score her first sue
cess ?" | asked politely.
I'm 1871 for the first time exhibited two
pictures in the salon, one of rabbits, the
other of goats and sheep. Since then for
tune smiled on me. though it was quite
step from the humble beginner to the ar
tist who had won all the salon prizes and
upon whom Empress Eugene herself con-
ferred the cross of the Legion d. Honneur
am the only woman who has received
that cross for intellectual achievements,
and her eyes glittered with pride, for it is
the Joy of her life; even the exorbitant
prices she receives for her pictures from
her English Purchasers cannot outweigh it.
In the meantime she had finished her
sketch and motioned me TO take look
at it.
Don't you think these sheep look excel
lent in the barren, wintry landscape7
But people want them painted in their
native country, and so have to invent
some scenery, as have never travelled so
far. This scene could appear more nat
ural, but it would not satisfy the public,
and we artists only care for the effect, you
know"
Her pictures at all times will be a SUBJ
ject of wonder. Other animal painters sur
pass her in color, composition and even
correctness of drawing, but one has TO go
back in the history of art as far as Paul
Potter to find such vigor and such knowl-
edge of the animal, which is the more sur
prising in woman. And her steadiness
in her work and exclusive love for art are
rarely met with among the most enthusi-
astic artists.
The peasant girl drove away the sheep,
a servant packed up the easel and painting
utensils and so we walked back, she lean
ing lightly on my arm. asked her about
her present occupations.
She told me she let no day pass without
doing something; she was an early riser,
but INDUCED in nap during the day and
retired to bed early, so she could most
likely prolong this mode of life for quite
while, and later on, "Eh bienr' she ex-
claimed, ''all things come to an end"
Then she told me that she was lately en-
gagged in painting a lifesIze portrait of Buff
falo Bill on horseback, who had been her
guest at Thomery to be painted by her.
And that besides a number of small pict-
ures for the market she had devoted much
time to her lions.
ssYes," she smiled, az have a pair of
lions in my menagerie," and she led me to
the cages which, unlike those in the
geological gardens, are very spacious and
contain in the middle an artificial stony
eminence and a tank of water. She then
led me through the stables. There were
horses and COWS of every breed by the
dozen, herd OF sheep, goats, a number of
rare animals and any amount of smaller
ones, like rabbits, poultry. etc.
AT last we arrived in a sort of reception
room, ornamented principally with pic
lures, mostly by modern animal painters,
among them several excellent Troyons
whose pupil she was for some time
The furniture was exceedingly plain, for
she never had any taste for luxury. She
is peculiar woman; the complete absence
in her of all the sentiments and of all the
necessities which usually characterize her
sex is everywhere obvious. People affirm
that she never used perfumes in all her
lite, that millinery and dressmaking are a
horror to her and that she wears jewels
only on rare occasions.
For her meals she enjoys strong, nour-
ishing food, not much better than that of
the better situated peasants, only that il is
served in better style.
1t is also said that she has but little love
for family life and that she has never been
attached to any one half as much as to her
horses and cattle. 1t is a fact, however.
that she never married and no love affair
ever came to the notice of the public.
Notwithstanding her castle is ALWAYS
frequented by crowd of artists as well as
men of The world and she moves among
them in her nonchalant, Bohemian man
ner, in her careless toilet, always chatting
away, now and then smoking cigarette
and retiring and sitting down to work
when she feels like it,
A picture, apparently of handsome
young man with short curly hair and of a
slender yet heavy boned figure, attracted
my attention.
On remarking it she exclaimed: That's
me 80 years ago.
This was always the costume she donned
On her sketchinr tours