Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-08-16
HoLWoRTH's "PURITy."
By John j. a Beckett. I

By John j. a Beckett.
Ct is pretty odd to have happen right
here in New York, isn't it? And
rather romantic
"And you never saw her face at
ALP" said Caldwell with an accent
of wonder as he knocked the ash
from his long, black cigar.
"Neverv returned Holworth emphat-
ically. 81 have no more idea what she
looks like than you have. L would give
$50 to have one look at her. But | am
afraid | never will see her face now. l
got my model, however, and one that
suited me to dot, so / can't complain.
But it's strang experience, isn't it?"
"Tell me the whole thing again, :"
said Caldwell, leaning back and put
ting his hands in his pockets. "Now
that the episode is closed, as they say
in diplomatic circles, | should like to
hear all the details over again."
The two men were sitting in Delmon-
ico's on Sunday morning so bright
that one almost had to view it through
smoked glass. They had concluded an
II o'clock breakfast. Philippe had re-
moved the debris of the chicken, Mary
land style, and the Spanish omelet,
and they We're enjoying their smoke
and branny and soda.
Holworth, nothing averse, proceeded
to comply with Caldwell's request.
"You know how anxious [ was to
get a good model for my statue?" he
said. "But as | wanted a woman of
ideal physique, that was no easy mat
ter. First, because there are not many
of that kind of women, and secondly,
because those who are would not be
likely to be models. | wanted woman
in the bloom of youth yet in the full
flower of development. A suaver type
than the Venus of Milo, but with the
same touch ofsuperb womanly dignity.
My statue was to be called purity"
and | wanted to create a woman in
marble that should be faultlessly per-
feet in FORM absolutely nude and yet
SO sweetly chaste as not to suggest ma
kedness. | wanted woman whose
Hphys1que should breathe modesty. If
Adam had been sculptor he would
have had his model at hand in Eve.
But am not Adam and there are not
many Ewes around New York, and if
there are they don't tumble over one
another in their rush for a sculptor's
studio. / have had phenomenal luck
in getting one, and it is no wonder that
she should be invested with all this
circumstance, which proves her rarity
and exclusiveness.
"Well, / advertised for what L want
ed-a woman of faultless figure to
serve as sculptor's model-hoping the
impossible might occur. 1t did. But
[ wish you could have seen some of the
women who answered that advertise
ment. / wonder what their idea of a
'faultless figure could be! After few
days, however, / got this typewriter
letter. There was no clue afforded by
it, as you remember
"Let me see it again, if you have got
it with you," said Caldwell.
Holworth took several letters from
his breast pocket and running through
them selected one, which he passed
over to Caldwell. He waited as his
friend carefully read the following
note:
eff can serve your purpose as a
model will pose for you on the follow
ing conditions. You will see from the
fact that l am willing to accept your
word that you will fulfill them that
suppose you to be not only sculptor
but gentleman, namely, man OF
honor. These are the conditions:
''In the first place l must remain
heavily yelled as to my head, not only
on my arrival at and departure from
your studio, but also, and particularly
during the time l pose. l shall also be
gloved.
"Secondly, you must promise that
you will make no attempt to discover
my identity and that you will not men
ton me in any way until l am entirely
through the posing. l can assure you
that the slightest violation of your
promise in this regard would lead me
to discontinue posing at once.
"Thirdly, from beginning to end OF
this business you must regard me as a
mute. Do not expect me to speak one
word. for 1 shall not. You can give me
any directions that are necessary, but
you must not say anything that would
call for a reply from me.
t'Fourthly, unless it is impossible tC
secure the pose or turn that you wish
in any other way, you must not touch
me. / should suppose that with a little
patience and by being explicit in you
directions you could get the pose you
want without having to touch me al
all.
ssFifthly, and in way this condition
is as important as the rest, you mus
nav me S. an hour. This last will fur
nish the key to the others. You viii
not need to be very keen to deduce tha
I am led to do this work entirely fol
the pecuniary consideration, and that
am conquering my aversion to it fol
the sake of this greatly needed money
"If you will solemnly pledge you
word of honor to sacredly observe thest
conditions, will come to your studio
on the day and at the hour you may
appoint, and you can see whether
will serve your purpose. Naturally,
believe / have figure which will meet
your requirements or | would not con-
sent to this preliminary. In case yot
accept the conditions insert the follow
ing personal" advertisement: No
blesse oblige. Pas moins, la Purete,