The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-05-07

Ws-s@ para bly, an VINO
cared to come.
And Howard, young friend Of mine,
then about sixteen years of age, went
with me, at my request, now ana then,
but he went rather unwillingly. he
did not much care for this Venus of
Milo" he said; ''she might be the finest
of all the statues in the Louvre. but she
was much too tall, and he couldn't
see that she was really a handsome
voman."
Well, in those days, really hand
some women" wore Gainsborough hate;
so I asked him If he did not think such
q woman would look well with her arms
restored and slipped into modish
Gown. and her poor broken foot com
pIete once more and bien chausse, and
her queenly head in Ganesborough
hat.
BY such irreverence his eyes were
opened. and he saw; indeed, he began
to invent. saying: YES, or at the head
Of dinner table, dressed like Mime.
", she would be gracious; and her
new arms would be bare, beautifully
bare, more beautifully than Nine. KS"
And. afterward, he wanted TO 90 with
me TO the Louvre every morning.
That was the way the charm of the
nrnaless goddess found its way into his
mind Now, from the known, let US
reason bit about the unknown.
Almost half century ago boy of
the finest imaginable nature was re-
=,
pressions-impression that the art Of
his maturity has transformed into ex-
press images, to delight all people,
everywhere, who read English books
An enduring impression of music, for
one thing. because his father sang so
well, better than the professionals, far
better to the sons ear. An enduring
impression received little later of
the whole delightful world of art, that
one can never fully apprehend unless
one has begun himself to advance along
one of the avenues of art. Then, still
little later, an impression of the life
OF art students in the Quarter Latin at
Paris-this ali the more enduring be-
cause the experience included almost
the last scenes that he beheld with both
eyes. Then, and until to-day, renewed
day by day by constant and loving OBJ
servation OF the statue, an impression
of ideal womanhood drawn from the
same figure that Howard finally cared
for"
E-tOf course you viii know that it was
Air. George Du Maurier's father who
sang so divinely; that it was Mr.. Du
Maurier who, as a boy, would not be
turned aside from the study of art, and
who passed happy year in the Quar-
tier Latin, just before there came the
physical calamity which has not availed
to darken the useful years that fol-
lowed, but which, doubtless, intensi-
fed the brightness of the remembered
period before his loss. And recent
visitor at the house lin quiet little
street that leads from the open heath
down to the township of Hampstead"
Ito be more precise. it is New Grove
house has just been telling you. in the
pages Of n wen-known magazine, that
the house contains two models of the
Venus of Milo, and that Mr.. Du Maurier
speaks of his statue as Ibis great adj
miration."
How has the charm of the armless
Venus wrought in Mr.. Du Maurier's
mind?
l wonld not ask intrusively. If l
knew, l should not tell, unless for the
interest of the theme, and without per-
eonal Identification, as one might pub
lish the enlightenment of Howard"
with incidental mention of Mime.
N" But these things ''Trilby"-the
book itself-discloses. They are open
to everyone; a fabulous uncounted
public has been admitted freely to ex-
xmine and discreetly to conjecture.
open your copy OF "Trilbg7 a. page
S19, where Trilby is represented as
singing .'Au clair de Ia lune." Her
face is in a profile. and You nave the
feeling that YOU are looking up at her,
rs though from a seat in the stalls.
Now place statuette of the Venus of
Milo somewhat above the level of your
eyes and turn it until the face is in pro-
Gle
Can You have any further doubts as to
the original Trilby? Compare the drap-
cry As it falls away from the slightly
advanced knee. See how slightly tho
head has been turned towards the
right, and the chin thrown out 10 aid
the full production OF the voice. See
what led 10 the invention Of the
''Trilby gown" because Venus did not
rise from the wave for the sole purpose
of doing credit to the dressmalzers. and
she did have a high stomach. Now il
Is clear why Trilby's arms arc hidden
N this drawing. as well as in the two
others-that on page SS1 and that ON
page So.
1t would he rather fine to follow. in
al its details, the modcrnization OF
this heroic figure. this ideal Of tender
dignity, this impersonation Of woman
illness that not one man only. but each
member of company OF friends 3as
Taffy and the Laird and Little BIlee
and everyone elsel might all love. and
innocently love. a the same time. For
who should be excluded when supplica-
tons are to be brought TO the queen of
love herself? Ii would be rather well
a ~c-cz .QF@ F~urr,r--