The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-01

why she has earned the sobriquet OF the
Laughing model" Her profile is decided
~ Greek, her eyes deep hazel her teeth
hrm, even, and white as snow. her mouth
picture of grace itself. A pretty face,
Il IS framed with q mass of Titan hair,
but its details are almost swallowed up
In the sunny smile which lights it up and
makes IL radiant.
Ia the presence Of the charming model,
so bright, so vlvacious and so Intellectual,
one almost hesltates to ask her how she
became the bicycle model, and is sur
prised when she doesn't have the slightest
objection TO talking.
Before ! became the bicycle model"
she said. ''the painters used me only for
my neck, or hair, or shoulders. For this
l was used by Carol BeckWtth at his stu
do in the Sherwood; by Amelia Kussner,
the miniature painter. who has gone across
10 paint Duchess Consuelo; by Robert
Reid IN his Carnegie studio, and host Of
others. NJ. Chase, at the Shinnecock, hts
summer studio also posed me for my
hands, and then my feet were needed by
John La Fargo and Thomas Ducey, who
also has HIS studio IN the Carnegie build
ing. st. Gaudens used me both for hands
and feet, and so did VIII Low"
when bicycling became such craze"
went on Miss Dunbar, the artists natur-
ally began 10 consider It's connection with
art. IT WAS Gibson who conceived the idea
OF the bicycle model. One day he asked me
II I had divided skirt That set me to
thinking. Before / called at his studio
academy. taken the necessary first lessons
and bought tho divided skirt and the re-
mainder Of the costume. 1t was a jaunty
suit, and must say II looked well. Glib
SON was delighted. and begun a picture
at once. But he had a terrible time with
the bicycle. II wouldn't stand, and had
some awkward falls.
"Then Du BoiAe Knight began his work
with me as the bicycle model. He con-
ceived the idea Of making the bicycle inn
movable so / could maintain the proper
pose. Five nails were driven into the stu
do floor. and from as many different di-
rectlons ropes which led from them TO the
bicycle held the machine upright, with
two boards In addition to make the sup
port even more sure. That made II easy
for me- All the artists fix their wheels
in the same way now, so that l can pose
on them days at a time without fear of a
fall.
but bicycle posing is very much more
difficult than other work. The perfect ar
fist has finished his work Sometimes
when the work Is done, my limbs are so
numb that fall in dismounting from the
wheel.
When asked to describe the poses she
took in detail, the bicycle model answer
ed, They are so varied never could do
that. Sometimes ] stand inactive by the
machine, again bold lightly to the han-
die bars; sometimes / rest both elbows on
tho saddle as though In reverie; sometimes
1 am seated on the wheel In correct rid
ing or cOasting position.
And then, too, there arc many times
when I must pause as the naughty girl
with on foot thrown over the handle bars
and a cigarette between my lips" Artists
must have al the conditions as nearly
correct as possible, so sometimes 1 am
placed near a window, where they may get
the effect Of the wind blowing through
my sleeves
How about blooners?" the bicvcla
model was asked. of course, you are a
strong advocate for then?" For the first
time the smile lifted from the face and
the Laughing model" was no longer true
to her title.
"Bloomers! never" said she positively.
Il have always refused TO pose in thems
I always slau. You see. my ideas OF the
new woman are, perhaps, peculiar. I
spend too much of my time among men
OF brains to imagine they like rnascu-
fne woman. Boomers are masculine, i'm
modest, and worse than all, they are
ungrGceful. The first bicycle picture for
which ] posed FOR Gibson was used in
Barper's Magazine, and from there was
copied into the French magazines L
II yet. 1t is a strictly taaior-mads dress.
a perfect hanging black satin skirt, a
tight-fitting jaunty waist, with perfect
shoes and gloves in keeping. Sometimes
a blazer is added. with 4 hat CT various
styles"
Outside OF the studios Miss Dunbar is
an expert wheolwoman. II have to be-
said she, in order to be graceful and
natural as well in the studios. Certain
muscles have to be developed IN the limbs.
wrists, neck and fagsTs 50 tiaat poses
may be maEsaRed asskgsS uz1ee exer-