Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1893-08-30
Extract From, a Private Letter.


Contributed
AUGUST %, 1898.
cannot realize that am safely here and
have time to write a sure enough letter, such
has been the hurry of the last two weeks.
/ can never forget my visit to Chicago 1t
is worth any sacrifice to see the Worlds
Fair. Nothing l saw gave me as much
pleasure as the Art Gallery. II is impos-
sible to put into words the impression some
of the pictures made upon me. There was
one by German artist called "The First
Communion of the Hussites." You re-
member the penalty of that communion was
death. The artist has put upon canvass all
the faith and heroism it took to take that
communion. The centerpiece OF the PIC
ture is young girl. / can shut my eyes
and see her pale, rapt expression-her face
shining so with faith that it is hard to real
ize there is not light behind it to give 1t
that shining look Of peace. In the same
Austrian collection is "Mater D0lorosa"
with upturned face aud her hand resting
sadly upon the crown of thorns in her lap
which was perfectly beautiful. Another
picture around which you always see a
crowd is in the United States collection and
is called Breaking Home Ties" 1t rep
resents a young lad leaving home. The
scene is so lifelike; the simple homely
kitchen, the sister with the lunch basket,
holding BY the collar a Shepherd dog in
whose wistiul, dumb face you can read that
the affectionate creature knows there is
something going on that is stirring the
hearts of those he loves there is the father,
holding in his hard worked hands the time
worn carpet-bag; standing by is the grand
mother, with kind looks of sympathy, her
face so sweet with its look of aged peace
But the soul of the picture is the parting
between the mother and that boy. Oh, the
look of that careworn face, and the search
| ing, tender look into her boys eyes, / can
never forget. He returns it with such a
steadfast, loving glance mingled with look
of resolve on his fresh, young face, as If ac-
cepting some sacred charge from hers.
saw strong mems eyes fill with tears as they
looked at it. must not take up my whole
letter with the Art Gallery. Que night we
took ride on Venetian gondola rowed by
a regular gondolier You can hardly imagine
a more romantic scene. Just picture us
seated in richly cushioned gondola, built
like those of the fourteenth century, rowed
by a gondolier in the national costume,
gliding along on the clear, blue waters of
an inland basin surrounded by magnificent,
snowy buildings lit by thousands of fairy
lamps that cast golden lights on the waters,
catching strains of lovely music in the dis
lance from the open-air concert of Gimore's
band. After we had been out for some time
we asked the gondoier if he would not sing
for us. With an ominous shake of the head
he said. "Me no understand me speak not
English" After pause he asked, mo
parley vous francaise? BY our combined
efforts we made him take in the idea that
we wished him to sing. AS soon as he caught
the idea be responded with aacrity. Drop
ping his oars he assumed most striking
attitude and rolled out an Italian song
After it was over he said to one of us in a
low tone and in French that that song was
about bis faraway sweetheart. Margueretta.
You do not know how amusing it all was.
We nearly fell out of the boat laughing at
the absurd sentimental air of the love-sick
Venetian. No more until see you again.
Truly,