The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-03-09

You look into encyclopedias and books
on arr you viii find quite "a catalogue of
his groups in marble. and you viii
learn that to him belongs the honor Of
having restored to sculpture the posi-
tion which before his day it had lost
among the fine arts in Italy. | should
not wonder that we have "A modern
Canova in England at the present time,
in ncighbor Of mine who is making
as powerful a mark on English art rs
Canova made on Italian in his day.
hut what set out 10 do was 10 amusc
myself and my readers with "A bit of
biography which is just as fine as any,
thing in fiction. propose TO make the
briefest kind Of story out Of two true i'm
cidents in the life Of one Of the world
greatest artists
lie was only three years old when his
father died. His mother married again
and he was left To the care of his grand
mother. He was delicate boy with
dreamy eyes and natural love Of the
beautiful This is common gift in
Italy. Thoughtful. loving and wise
guardians of children are uncommon.
This boy was blessed will, beth: other
wise he must have died in infancy. The
world knows nothing of its losses of
children who might have lived TO be
great. The hero of this romance Of
youth was born i'm little village
under the government of the an
cient Republic of Venice. His grand
mother delighted in everything that
pleased him. She told him stories
OF Venice and sang To him the romantic
songs of their native hills and valleys.
The adventurous history OF the djacent
seas We're full of romance, the fairy
tales, the religious ia bles the romantic
ballads OF the country sunk deep into
the little heart Of the lad as he grew up
and began To appreciate the beauties OF
the world into which he had been born.
His grandfather was the stoncmason
OF the village. whose work had won for
him local fame. lie resolved that the
boy should be his successor and 10 this
end he had him taught drawing. The
boy indeed had pencil put into his
hands while he was still an infant.
The grandmother had stored the lit,le
mind with bright and poetic fancies.
while she strengthened the body with
the watchful care of loving nurse.
The grandfather when the time was
opportunc turned the lads fancy into
practical directions. In an Italian viii
lage there would be the right kind Of
sympathy for a boy who showed u
natural artistic temperament. though
some of the lads playmates complained
of his ''sullenncss." a youthful mistake
for Thought" soon after he had be-
gun to make figures Of men and things
on paper the shrcwd stonemason put a
lump Of clay before him and showed
him how sculptors modelled. the i'm
struction being crude. OF course. but
useful. The grandfather. watching the
apt pupil. pictured him ut some future
day in his place adding ornaments to
the village tombstoncs. displaying his
cleverness upon new buildings, and
otherwise maintaining the reputation
of passagno, which was the name Of
this Italian village.
At the early aN Of ninc the boy was
able to help his grandfather in the
shop. Hitherto he had only amused
himself. though always in n way that
could not fail to be of service when the
time should come for him TO take his
grandfather's place. But grandfather
and grandmother TO their sorrow had to
confess that the boy continued to be far
from strong. The affectionatc old dame
nurtured him with the greatest care.
L. 81 81 a
laborS Observing that the modelling
of flowers and animals gave him more
delight than any other occupation, he
encouraged him in this enjoyment of
his natural bent; and the boy became
quite. a little expert especially in the
modelling of animals. lie was only
fourteen when an incident occurred to
bring him to the notice Of a noble pa
tron Of the arts In those days both
art and literature owed almost every
thing To the special recognition and as
sstance of the aristocracy.
The nobleman in this case had pal
ace near the cottage home Of the young
modeler. lie had chef who not only
prided himself on his cooking. but
upon the artistic Arrangement Of his
table. by some accident or strange
oversight at almost the last moment Of
the serving of one of the nobleman's
great banqucts il was found that the
principal ornament of the table was
still wanting Wonderful constructions
in sugar. clevcrly cut flowers from
vegetable growths, artistic designs
IN haste and other perish a BILE foods
bore witness to the cleverness of the
chef and his assistants. but the central
design was wanting. The stonemason
was known to be skillful designer.
lie was sent for, but found himself nm
equal TO the emergency. The genius
OF the grandson prompted the lad to
take at the food the tide that so early
and in so prosaic fashion had come to
him with fame and fortune. Looking
round for some material for his pur-
pose he asked the servants for a jar OF
butter. Provided with this he dcliber-