The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1895-08-14
THE ART OF MARCUS.
A QUAKER HoosIER WHO COULD
PAINT OR MAKE A MATCH.


state is Marcus Mote, the veteran Qua
ker artist of Richmond. He is now rs
years of ago and is very feeble. His
memory of things that happened in his
youth and prime is keen and true, but
the events of the day pass as the sum
mer clouds. 1t was he who first detied
the Quaker antipathy to art in oil and
brush, and he secured the petition which
caused the legislature to provide that
the public schools of Indiana should
teach drawing The petition was pre-
sented by Senator Baxter, since de-
ceased. Two years previously the Qua
ker artist had secured the teaching of
drawing in the public schools of Rich
mond by ordinance.
Marcus Notes talent was born with
him. 1t is said of him that when only
az years old his mother came homo
from meeting one day and found him
scratching rude picture on tho foot
board of the bedstead with q piece of
charcoal The Quakers held that paint
ing was of the devil and savored of
idolatry. The boy was rebuked, with
remark, "I do believe this mischief
was born in thee.
There was no relenting as the lad
grew up and the propensity to draw
and paint developed. He was forbidden
to indulge his talent, but he could not
be repressed. 1t is evident that had he
met with encouragement and aid, in
stead of rebuke, fame and fortune would
have crowned tho artist with their rich
est laurels. As it was Marcus had to
take to the woods for his colors. The
primaries he derived from red root, or
from red ink, tho yellows from yellow
root, and for blue he was Obliged to con-
tent himself with bluing from his moth
er's washing tub.
1.-THE only stealing l have ever done, F."
he said to Journal reporter, twas in
taking bluing from my mothers bluing
bag For brushes ] used the hair in the
squirrels tail, and used to accompany
my father when hunting so rs to get the
tails for my painting. At first all my
work was done with the pen. When l
secured my first box of water colors |
worked as late at night as could and
UIltn bJ6ub VuO It5b VI ttNttAc
picturing what would do. "
AS the boy grew to manhood no be-
came moro assertive Of his art and per-
sisted in painting landscape and por
traits in spite of tho grumbling of mem
bers of the meeting. He lived then in
Warren county, O., and attended quar-
terly meeting at Waynesville. He was
chosen clerk of the meeting ut one time,
which led to the protest against his
work rising to the surface He would
have been disowned had not Thomas
Evans, father of the we'll known ofiIn11-
lers of this city, used his influence to
prevent it.
Marcus Mote lived IN Lebanon, o. i,
for many years and personally knew the
great Tom Corwin, whose portrait he
painted for tho state of Ohio. 1t hangs
in tho statehouse at Columbus, marked
"By an unknown artist. " In speaking
of this painting the artist said:
my daughter happened to BIO in Co
lumbus and went to the statehouse. Sho
discovered the inscription. Corwin came
to mo ono day when he was at homo
down at Washington seemed to think
that nobody in Ohio could do anything,
and that he had refused to sit for por-
trait for an artist there for that reason.
He wanted tho work done at home. He
sat for the portrait o number of times,
and became we'll acquainted with him.
"He had daughter, Eva, who was
IL 10 nd
mother, he was very ambitious for her.
There was young man then teaching
in Warren county who was poor in pock-
OF, but had strong will, a clean
heart and first class ability. He was
modest, however, and his ability was
not known. He showed Eva Corwin so
much attention that her father finally
forbade her seeing the Young man, and
the gi2S was seriously affected by the
breaking up of the friendship. She was
kept cloANly at homo in her fathers
suburban Nsidence, and her friends no.
ticed that her health was beginning to
be affected. She had friend named
Jennie Hardy, since Drake, who had the
confidence Of Eva's parents, and one
day met Jennie and asked her to bring
Eva to my studio ON the next day at l
o'clock sharp.
"What forf' she asked.
"'Never thee mind, said, but do
as 1 tell thee. Now, want thee to
promise me that thee will. Will thee?
"She said she would. Pretty soon |
met the young man and said that l
wanted him to como to my studio ON
the next day within two or three min
utes after O'Clock sharp.
"'What for?' he asked.
"'Never thee mind, said. Now, l
want thee to give mo thy hand, prom
Using that thee will be there just as l
said.
"He gave mo his hand Tho next day
at 1 there was knock at my door, and
there were Jennie and Eva. jennie left
Eva with me. AS closed the door she
said:
"'What docs this meanP'
az want to see thee. said. Take
a chair.
ut was only minute or two that
there was another knock, and opened
the door, The young man was there,
and I brought him in. saying to Eva,
This Is George r. Sage. Now you are
my prisoners for one hour. want thee
and George to be together for awhile.
At the end of tho hour will call for
you and let You out. Now that was the
way in which those two young people
planned to get married. George r. Sage
Justified my faith in his high character
He is now judge on the federal bench
In Cincinnati. indianapolis Journal.
Bathing In the Sea.
Those who suffer from irritation OF
the skin, or skin diseases, should not
bathe in the sea, and it is better for
them not to have sea air, but to go to
some inland holiday resort, and little
children especially, when suffering from
eczema, shonld not be allowed sea bath
ing.
A Gallant Inquiry.
She-I was in Cleveland for week
once and didn't see single attractive
thing during the whole time.
y nNrtl III