Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-14

| VII"
Jacks One Weakness Was Mice.
| like the shelves, and concealing a painted
| tin wash bowl and pitcher on a wire stan
| dard.
We had three plain chairs and one low
| rocker which always had to use at meals,
| being the tallest and the only one whose
| chin would reach above the table when &C.
| cupying It,
The walls were soon S0vered with the
| best of our sketches eEd Paintings an the
whole effect was really very charming.
We used gas stoves for cooking and heot-
| ing but as our cooker had only one lid IL
required great intellectual ability to keep
| In zee tninLS hot at one and the same time
and the feats of an East Indian juggler
would grow pale by contrast. Nevertheless,
we found them most satisfactory. and
would like to write an eulogy on them right
hcre-their cleanliness, comfort, economy,
&c.-but, as Kipling says. that is another
story.
The Division of Work.
We divided the work equally among us,
and it really proved very light. Though We
did not swear by our palettes and mahl-
sticks to faithfully and tiously per-
form our duties we felt just as strongly the
responsibility of making our little home
for such 1t was, though temporary-bright
and attractive.
Dresden and the Musmee had studio.
which, besides a skylight. had window
overlooking the square, and the ledge of
| which was ornamented with the milk can,
butter dish. &c, and to our intense surprise
| the landlord didn't object The potatoes
shall reveal tive kept in box under
the divan.
Poor Dresden! l can see her now, pairing
potatoes If they We're dynamite bombs.
and the Musmee getting breakfast, bearing
the frying pan in one hand and the coffee
pot in the other, a determined little look in
| the corners of her determined little mouth
and in her eyes: For Art" with a very
capital A. Jack and l didn't mind Very
n Cch. Given: Jack cake of Sapolio-a
dazzling result.
soon earned the title of Madame lie Mere.
/ don't know just why, except that l was
the biggest interviewed the grocer and al
ways insisted on the girls wearing rubbers
and carrying umbrellas when it only looked
as If it might rain before they returned.
l also had to keep the accounts. and Sat
urday nights found me inundated on the
altar of duty, my head bound by net
towel. the girls speaking in hushed tones
and moving on tiptoe, while l frantically
tried to make things come out even.
There were four parties of skylight camp
ers like ours within two blocks, most OF
them men. Almost without exception. they
lived that way from economical motives.
Poor fellows! They came out very spirit
uelle looking in the spring after a course
of oatmeal and condensed milk.
No one but artist knows what an ar
fist will endure for the sake of art.
Our amusements were very simple and the
400 were not included. One evening a week
we had a sketch class. and on another We
read and spoke French. under the guidance
of one of the girls who had lived and
studied in Paris.
Sunday evenings We were always at
home after ), and our friends knew they
were welcome. The big Chinese lantern
was lit. and the light from the gas stove
was as mellow and charming as wood
fire.
At or haf-past We had Russian tea,
| sandwiches and cake. served on our very
assorted china: but oh. how good 1t tasted.
while we discussed exhibitions, art meth
DDS. artists, books music, our own hopes
and fears for the future. and friendly coun
sci and criticism were exchanged.
There was only one standard, and that
was absolute truth. No society shams or
self-deceptions hourished long in that at
mosphere. and We all knew we stood for
what actually were
Afterward the men always helped US to
wash the dishes. and the glass and china
received such a careful and artistic polish
ing as we didn't often bestow on it,
We had theater parties occasionally when
there was anything especially good going on,
and sat in the pee nut gallery" Though
the men went with us. we always insisted
that it should be Dutch treat" for We
knew they had no more money than they
needed.
Then there was an occasional dance at
the school, Of which the fancy dress ones
were our favorites, for, with a few yards
of cheese cloth and a great deal of time
and ingenuity, We manufactured wonderful
and artistic garments DIT very slight ex-
pense.
The Masters Visit.
But the best of all was when the master
came to dinner, as he sometimes did. to the
dove cote. as he called our rooms. Now
isn't this charming?' he would say, as he
entered, laughing like a boy, and painting
from the long flights of stairs
Isn't it delightful?" Then when his
overcoat was laid aside the pockets of
which always looked very bulgy and queer
he would carefully unwrap a big bunch of
carnations or roses from their tissue paper
covering, which after being duly exclaim-
ed over would be placed on the center of
the table and mingle their fresh fragrance
with the spicy odor of the rose jar, which
always stood open to remind me Of
my home in the south. After dessert the
Notwithstanding packages would be pro-
duced from the overcoat pockets, and their
contents spread over the table-funny, fas-
Grating little Japanese nuts tiny, rosy
lady-apples. or richly colored tangarines
And then over our coffee he would talk to
us-and oh! those dear, delightful talks.
With the language Of a poet, the color
sense of an artist. the truth of scientist
he laid before us the beauties of heaven
and earth. Quaint, droll, witty, inspired
by turns. he held us spellbound. Unworld-
ly as a child: making an idyl of the sim
pest pleasures Dy tle poetry OF MS magma
tion he was like an avenging god, when
fighting for the purity and beauty the
truth of the principles on which he based
his life and teaching. / know not how We
can ever be grateful enough for his infiu-
ence, or ever repay his untiring patience
and help. Happy days! full of work and
congenial companionshlp. I think we will
all feel that it was the best part Of our
lives. And to you, Dresden, the Musmee
and Jack, who helped to make 1t so pleas
antly enforceable. 1 kiss my hands, and
hope that life will blossom for you as we'll
In January as May. G.