The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-14

Sizes ana IN the corner was built turret
com handing a view on all sides. The
windows were strongly latticed to resist
| the storms.
Mrs; SS severn took US to her room to show
US me Water-color portrait of Ruskin
| maue In 1858 by George Richmond In the
9raWing-room nung u oil sketch by Gains
borough, an early Burne-Jones and more
water coiors of Turner and Hunt.
The master is up," they told us md
we were asked to ascend to his beiro"n' mn"
directly above his study 1t is very
small. not more than 10x16 feet, with q
narrow mahogany bedstead, table
lounge and chair. On the walls are hung
Ruskln,s favorite pictures = the st.
! Gothard Pass" and all the rest of Turner's
which Ruskin especially likes. A fruit
piece-grapes-by Hunt and a picture bv
his father complete the list.
We all descended to the spacious dining
room for luncheon, Here are more art
treasures, of each of which an interesting
story is told by Miss Severn or her mother.
On the ''duck-egg" walls is fine Titan.
a Venetian Doge. which was saved from
the ire in the ducal palace In 1867. Here
are portraits of Ruskin's father and
mother and one of Ruskin at the age of 3
beside the old family dog.
When the artist, James Northcote, asked
the child what he would have for back
ground, the future man asserted itself in
the simple answer, boo bills" and the
blue hills are there, though with bad per-
spective.
We talked of many things about the hos
plta Die table; OF distant California, to them
the very end of the earth in every way.
But we always came back TO the master of
the house.
For several years Ruskin has done no lit
erary work-indeed his "Pr8terta" in 1889
was his very last. We were told of
the physical and mental clOud CT that
period But he has improved very much
OF late. so that now in all but the power of
resumlng work he is himself again, though
very aged and feeble.
he arises quite late. After breakfast he
goes TO his study and reads for while the
newspapers or book and then he will
walk out In the gardens or along the
shores OF the lake. He enjoys seeing old
friends. his neighbors and young people,
but his strength does not permit him 10 seq
the distinguished stranger from the dis
lance. In the evening he nearly always
has game or chess with Mr.. Severn or
one OF the neighbOrs. Music is also his
delight, and they have much of il at Brant-
wood.
HIS memory is yet vivid and in company
hels genial and often talks as brightly as of
old. Ruskin inherited goo, 900, but it is
all gone-to needy friends and philan-
thrOpic endeavOrs. The interest he spent
on himself. but the capital gradually
dwindled away in gifts to an army of FAM
lily pensioners. but the old man IS now
well cared for. HIS works WELD at present
an annual income of from $4,000 to $4,000.
Ruskin appreciates his great popularity in
America, but formerly, owing to the
enormous extent of piracy practiced by
our publishers. America was always a
touchY spot with him.
Mrs. Severn had disappeared from the
room. When she returned she surprised
us by the announcement that the master
would be pleased to see u.s." Soon we
we're in the presence of the great author.
he took our hands gently and his clear
blue eyes, looking out from under his large
overhanging brow, seemed very kindly
and full OF interest though he did not
speak. We withdrew with the certain
knowledge that life full of noble labor
and honor was drawing TO a fitting close.
There was much of peace and calmness
and beauty in his face and in the spot, so
far removed from the echoes of the outer
world.
Perhaps it is after all as his secretary
and bographer, Mr.. COllinwuod, writes:
"For now the storm cloud has drifted
away and there is light in the west-a
mellow light of evening time, such as
Turner painted in his pensive Epilogue
'Datur Hora Gu eta There is more work
to be done, but not to-day. The pillow
stands in the furrow and the laborer
passes peacefully from his toll home
ward" II. S. ALLEN.