Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-06
Familiar Ears and welI.Known CurIs-
BIZ Nye Likes the south, and tho
South Likes Him.

monious unison with mine own. Next
l squinted nervously through my green
goggles at the waving tresses of the
slghtless child, and in that undulating
haif L saw. reproduced in fac smile,
the uesses OF a wayward maiden who,
In days gone by, had frequently greeted
me on her threshold. In bewilderment
cast my eyes upon the statues swanlike
neck, and in that neck L saw depicted
portion of still another's anatomy. - And
so II continued, from head to foot. In
every feature OF the blind girl recog-
nized the features of some fair friend.
and before finished gazing at the exqui-
site work of art had about concluded that
the statue was. after all, only a grand
composite photograph in marble.
Months and months after I came from
the Columbian Exposition, and even after
i had ceased boring my friends with my
vivid descriptions OF n remarkable ten
cent lunch cohnter which / frequented
there, / marvelled and pondered over that
statue and wondered how IL came to be
Ike so many people. 1t looked as II
would never solve the mystery, but now,
thanks to feminine loquacity and vanity,
my doubts have been removed, even as
dirt is removed by the vigorous appica-
ton Of n corn husk and turpentine soap.
One night when the shadows OF ll:30
i. NJ. were creeping over the sunfowers
On the parlor carpet OF sweet friend
of nIipg I found
mental, and in an outburst of confidence
! said: Dearest, did you know that you
have n lovely little nose?" Modestly the
maiden replied. AS she caressingly plated
q little curl near my neck: mo, | never
thought my nose was pretty, but Mr..
Valentine. the sculptor. got me to sit
for him when he was making his Blind
Girl so that he could model it," How
sweet must be the thought" j replied,
"to have ones olefactory apparatus
handed down to pOsterity in undying
marble-to have future generations gaz-
ing enraptured on thy nose long after
the wild onions and buttercups have
sprouted. grown. and withered on thy
unpretcntious grave" And in MY heart
] rejoiced, for | had al least discovered
how the maid OF stone secured one
feature Of her familiar face.
Shortly afterwards az I was sitting in
the hazy veil Of twilight with another
girl, l again became sentlmental--a thing.
hy the vav, hich , Im quite l'abi- %
do on the slightest provocation. Noticing
the sunset glinting on her rosy auditory
organs, | softly cooed Sweetheart, you
have the dearest little ears | ever saw"
She tossed her head coquett.shly and
leaving IL her shoulders cI.. Tgpifei.
"For my part | don't consider them
pretty, but Mr.. Valentine. the sculptor,
admires them ever SO much. He asked
me to sit for him when he was making
his Blind Girl so that he could utilize
their likeness" Happy girl" | muir
INJURED, like the Marble Faun. you viii
be known TO future generations ~ your
ears, and I'm centuries TO come our sons
and grandsOns viii buzz admiration In
their craven image" | was another step
near the solution of the mystery, and l
awaited the future even as the hungry
man awaiteth dinner. Three days after
wards. as | was promenading with third
lady friend. | once more felt my heart
swelling with generous emotions, ana
affectiOnately removing Il sheep-burr from
the dark curly tresses of her who ac-
companied me, gently said: Little one.
and In its almost rythmic undulations 1
see the theme Of some lovely lyric"
Smilingly. and with playful intentions,
the darnsel plunged a hat-pin into my
arm as she merrily replied: THE trosses
to which you allude have never inspired
any poet save your ByrOnic self, but
they have guided the sculptor's hand rs
he moulded the clay. Mr.. Valentine used
my locks as his model when he made MS
Blind Girl" Grand. indeed, H. your
destiny"I responded. MEN recognize
other womens hair only when they hnd
it in their soup or pies. but yours VIII
be lauded and admired when the nam" or
pie IS but a classic memory of indigestion,
and when soup is but a haZy recolecuoh
OF liquid in which the Republican party
once floundered." And thus. nose By
nose, ear by ear, mouth by mouth, ana
feature by feature. | traced the history
of "The Blind Girl"
There IS. beyond the shadow or
doubt. no reason 10 question the iact that
Mr. Valentines statue really emDodieS
the charms of many, many or our hlch-
mond girls. and unless some one has .
deceived me, he even went to Mahchestvr
10 get a certain classic little nose, when
mas often ny
According to the sculptor's IDEAS, no one
nerson has all the charms which go to-
make the perfect woman. and, therefore,
In producing his beautiful ideal 1t was
necessary for him to have several
produce. as IL Were TINS COM
posite conception. Mr.. Valentine. by the
way. had occasion 10 smile himself while
ar the Worlds Fair. His superb statue
of Andromache and AstyanaN were also
on exhibition in the Virginia building and
attracted universal attention. On one oc-
oasion the sculptor heard gentleman
great enthusiasm oNer .hc
Mt. Vernon building and IN ,he
course OF his remarks the stranger s,'teu
that IL was an exact copy or Nashlhs-
tons original home. "To complete the
good impression" tragically added the
stranger. as he waved his hand to"aFuS
the marble group, I'VE have here Deautl-
full statue OF Mary. the mother OF WASH.
ington, together with the infant "eorse'
Rul Nye's history OF the United states,
that unique record of our nations deeds
which has excited so much comment IN
literary circles. is without DOUBT the
most impartial book / ever read. III MS
comments on the late war, Wlliie mas peei'
fair 10 the SCUM "iu
who have examined the work can iihd III
II not a word that would offend the peo-
ple of Dixie The author, In. recent let
ter TO a gentleman in this city, says: Inc
publishers wanted to bet me SILK ia.
Qmagine Nye in such hato that couiu
not write OF the war without oHehuihs
ony side or the other, but I've got the pat.
In fact, the letters / receive are mostly
from the South. and all are most kindiy
and most flattering." Continuing IN tnis
connection, the cheerful historian auus'
How could / give offence when feit no
bitterness? How could l hurt the ieei-
Ings Of my friends and neighbors OF the
South who have taught me hospitality
am proud Of the good words OF the press
and the financial success OF the booA'
also, that the colleges and schools are SO I
pleased with Its union Of entertainment
and instruction. and above all, l am thrice .
happy TO know that not one word OF ad-
verse criticism has come from all over
Dixie"
These are kind words. indeed. and these
deserve recognition. i move that one OF
the Virginia colleges confer the degree
Of LII. d. on Nye. or that his portrait be