Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-03-08
DREAMS.

the great Mechanics Exhibition in
Boston was one whose history only
three persons besides the participants
i'll the mystery knew.
This picture, measuring five by
four, was an Easter cross, formed
entirely of ivy and lilies; the ivy was
to typify Christ clinging to the cross,
and the Easter lilies, new life beyond.
The base was formed Of lilies of the
valley: to the right, representing the
two Marys, stood two callas, en-
shrouded in mist, Which had dripped
into a pool beneath, rejecting the
stems and backs of the leaves of the
two callas--meaning the tears which
laid bare the innate sutferiugs 10 the
gaze of tumultuous multitude.
Who that gazed upon that wonder
full reproduction of Nature as the
symbol of life and death read the
artists fine meaning? Yet such was
the syInbolical intent embodied in her
theme, and which to Miss Cotton's
richly Imaginative conception was
pnmistakabc.
Miss Cotton was an ideal painter of
the old school, whose unique little
studio was reached through the Getty
touch of the modern school was ever
al eyesore to her studied fine touch
Snd-tini5h idea of art.
Moreover, Miss Cotton cherished
her old-school ideas as something too
artlike to bear improving upon, and
based her prediction for fine work
upon the indisputaUle fact that there
were no '.daubs" in Nature; call
Gods works are finely finished, and
he never hurries anything; all things
beautiful unfold by a gradual process; -
and then, with a loving look at her IA
vorite canvas, "There's my Madonna
I've spent more or less time upon that
for nine years, and now | see some
thing in your eyes-iust stand where
you are, and don't wink a lid; now
I've caught it.' And with a few slow
and accurate touches, a light shading
air, one sees at once the very slightest
change in the downward glance of
this Madonna of nine years develop
ment; though far from recognizing
how ones own eyes Influenced the az
nstic sense of subject.
How we all who were privileged to
be "receiyed on Wednesdays" loved
the dear, eccentric old lady well
even 10 be amused at her many eccen-
tricities; and perhaps it was, there
fore, | allowed myself to be led into
what might have proven dire mis-
fortune to the grand old lady az re-
CARDS this identical Lily Cross, which,
after having gained "a history" hung
unconsciOusly enough among its fel-
low pictures, and none knew how
doubly symbolical its meaning to .
<fw
Life is very strange, indeed, in its
abrupt transitions, and thus it hap
pened that at twenty [ was called from
slife of rural leisure to take upon me
the responsibility Of thriving photo
graphic business which death had
bereft of its managing head; not to 90
into details, of which, suffice it to say,
that our dear Miss Cotton, ALWAYS a
privileged patron of this same photo
graphic studio, continued her patron
age as faithfully as ever, aud many a
fantastic order for a poet head, a
Greek athlete or Morse warrior. exc
cuted with patience and Kindness,
which, later we saw finished in oil.
This process of doing in oil on albu-
men prints was rare knaCk which |
fancy but few artists are in the secret
of; and, which | fancy a favored re-
cipient of many secrets of the dear old
genius-out of loving respect, aud
bound thereto by many a VOW taken
on the blade of her '"palctte knife, -
which for fifty years or more had been
associated with more cOlors than
(" heavens arched bow of color" ever
bore to human eye-must needs hold
still sacred. Thus twas that on the
day preceding the opening of the ex-
hibition | received a note from Miss
Cotton, desiring me to photograph her
I" Lily Cross" ere it was hung in the
art room. Directions for placing,
lighting, etc. were given, aud the copy
night secured to me.
OF course, as fancy and scenic pho
Biography were not in my line, the
copyright was a very pretty compli-
ment which one accepted because Of
the donor; and ever ready TO favor
It's whim of the dear soul. the picture
was sent for forthwith, and in due
time deposited under our eight" but
too late for manipulation that night.
Sc with cautionary counsel TO Fred,
one of the printers who was accommo-
dated with bed Oh the premises in
order to DC on hand early enough TO
make amends for the shortening of
the days at the sunset end-for pho
tographers no less than farmers must
.'make hay while the sun shines'-I
surrendered the keeping of the "Lilv
Cross" to his care. after surrounding
the art treasure Of twelve months labor
with screens and other protective para
phernalia of an operating room, and
again returning to impress the i'm
Portsnce of our trust upon the other
employees, left the studio. Reaching
home, change of scene brought other
thoughts, and rs cuisine odOrs (if in
vitlng) are apt To obliterate care for
the time being, the thrall of collodion
and ammonia and other Photographic
compounds subsided, and for the few
brief hours preceding the unconscious
ness of sleep, my mind was dispos-
'essed Of Photographic technicalities.
But the morning brought with it
strange feelings of apprehension.
Why, could not understand, but the
one thought dominant was the oily
Cross" Surely, nothing but fire
sould destroy it.
Arriving at the studio at nv usual
time, L found, to my surprise the
outer door locked. l unlocked and
entered; all was ready for business,
but no one present, and silence every
where.
L assembled to the various depart.
ments, and at last found the whole
concourse of emplo! es on the roof,
and Fred greets Inc with "The Lily
Cross is gone, and l haven't left the
building since nine o'clock last night
We are looking for tracksI"