The morning call., 1895-02-11
Grief Over the Loss Of His Wife and
No Success in Business.
YOUNG SELBY'S RANK AS AN ARTIST.
At the House of Mourning arrangement
for tho Funeral-Interment
Private.

in which Ralph Selby left this world for
the unknown hereafter was an awful shock
to his relatives and friends. Those who
are acquainted with the family expressed
the deepest sympathy for the sorrow
stricken mother and for the brothers and
sisters of the deceased.
The act which has brought so much sor-
row to those he left behind was undoubt-
edly the result of brooding over unsatisfied
ambition, belief that the fates were
against him and the loss of his wife four
years ago.
John R. Martin, secretary of the San
Francisco Art Association said yesterday:
"Yes, I knew Ralph Selby. He was a
pupil of the art school and took lessons in
drawing and painting at the time Virgil
Williams was teaching.
"He was an ambitious pupil and de-
veloped considerable talent. He was with
the association for several years. The he
went to Paris, France, to finish his educa-
ton as painter.
"I met him casually added Mr.. Martin,
'and we exchanged a few words about art.
He was very gentlemanly fellow, pleas
ant companion, and, so far as | know, was
well liked by all who knew him. saw
him few days ago. and then he appeared
in about the same condition that | had
noticed him for years.
tDespondent? l cannot say that he ap-
peared despondent, but | believe that he
was disappointed. He had an idea that
he ought to have been at the head of the
profession he had adopted; he thought he
ought to have occupied high plane than
he did in the art world. He was of the
opinion that with all the advantages he
had-those of social position, of means and
of a liberal education bestowed on him-he
should have stood far ahead of those who,
with no such advantages, have already
made their mark in art circles.
''Then he had other disappointment"
continued Mr.. Martin; "he bought ranch
in Santa Barbara and went into the cult
ure of olives; that did not come up to his
expectations, and then there was the fatal
illness of his wife, a woman he worshiped.
During her illness he was all devotion to
her. He watched by her bedside day and
night, wearing himself out, and came very
near being taken down himself. Her death,
heard, he took very much to heart.
mo, | do not know whether she spent
much of her time with him in his studio
at Menlo Park, but she was with him for
two years while he was studying in Paris.
His style of painting was principally land
scape with figures. While the paintings
were generally true to nature and the pose
of the figures was correct, there was one
fauIt-he did not know how to soften his
colors so as to produce that finish which is
so attractive to the eye.
He had several pictures at the exhibit
tons, the last one being about three years
ago. That was harvest scene near the
family home at Menlo. 1t represented
grain field, with two laborers in the fore
ground-one standing and the other in the
act of moving with a scythe. The picture
was well spoken of by artists generally,
but all found fault with the lack of finish /
have spoken Of
Mr.. Martin expressed sorrow at the man
ner of young Selby's taking off, and said
that he felt that disappointment at his in
ability to make a success OF his business
undertakings, disappointment in not rank
ing among the best artists and grief for his
wife, who was taken from him, were the
causes that moved him to end his life.
From another source it was ascertained
that at various times during several years
past Ralph Selby declared that since his
dear wife had been taken from him it
seemed as if he was a changed man, and
that the pomp and vanities of life did not
have the same attractions for him that they
had when she was alive. No man ever
thought more of his wife than he did of his.
To make her happy seemed to be the object
of his life. She appreciated all that he did
for her and by her kind and loving words
urged him on in his work of art. Had she
lived he no doubt would have overcome
the fault his brother artist noted, and with
the cheering words OF. her he loved so we'll
he would have reached tbs goal his ambi-
tion yearned for.
At the residence of Thomas II. Selby,
2119 Buchanan street, large black crepe
rosette and echarpe on the door mutely
gave notice that there was within a victim
laid low by death. All day long visitors
called and softly ascending the steps, as if
perforce that their footballs would disturb
the dead, they as softly touched the bell
pull. Their summon was answered by
young man, who admitted only the lnti-
mates of the family. Others were thanked
for their visit of coincidence and informed
that the mourners were with their dead,
and respectfully declined to receive friends
and acquaintance.
All that is mortal of young Selby was
placed in metallic casket covered with
cloth, which bears plate on which is en-
graved the name and age. The trimmings
OF the casket are silver, which appear in
prominence against the black cloth.
The body attired in its dress for the
grave rested on the narrow silken bed, the
face appearing quite natural. The casket
was placed in the parlor, and on it, near
the plate, was simple bunch of flowers,
laid there by loving hands that would have
done much could they have turned the
weapon that in a moment ended the life
of one who should have lived to cheer the
declining days of a mother whose vener
able head is now bowed down with sorrow
and whose heart is all but broken.
The funeral will take place tomorrow
forenoon from the residence on Buchanan
street and the interment will be private.
After services at the house the remains
will be taken to Mountain View Cemetery
in Oakland, where they will be laid at rest
in the family plot.