Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-22

stands this account of beautiful Dorothy
Dene, who posed for many of the best
pictures of the late Sir Frederic Leigh
ton. The New York Journal says:
"A tall woman, beautifully formed,
with skin firm and smooth and of that
golden tinted white that Helmet de-
lights In, head Grecian enough to have
furnished inspiration for one of Praxi-
teles' Aphrodites, with golden hair violet
eyes-such woman is Dorothy Dene,
whom Frederick Leighton made famous
In many of his best known paintings.
'She was his favorite model. With
all her charms of her person, Dorothy
Dene is as simple as child, modest and
retiring. Her naturalness as much as
anything endeared her to the great ar
list, who was devoted to her for many
years.
"Rumor has woven a romance in his
life, in which his model figures 1t says
he loved her, but that circumstances
over which he had no control prevented
him from marrying her.
''She Is one of five sisters. They all live
In London, where they have a coZy little
apartment in South Kensington, the art
center of the British capital. 1t is one of
the most artistic fats in London, and ono
in which more beaux esprite. painters,
musicians and lterateurs gather when
she Is al home, two Sundays in each
month than in any other in the big city.
Miss Dene visited this country in the
winter of 1898 and was seen on the stage
here. Her theatrical venture was not a
brilliant success, but her beauty caused
quite sensation.
"She spoke of Sir Frederic Leighton
he had not then been made a peer-with
great tenderness. In an interview with
her at that time she said: Although Sir
Frederic is over 60 years old, he is the
youngest man I know, and l might add,
the kindest most generous
"She told of where the great artist
painted his wonderful Grecian pictures.
He believed in the beautiful, lived in the
beautiful, and many of his best cam
vases adorned the wall of the room in
which they were brought into existence.
No artistic dust was visible there; eY-
erything was neat she said, showing
an even mind, given to beautiful
thoughts and the portraying of them.
HE was the soul of good nature and
occupied in English society a position
somewhat like Chauncey M. Depew does
here as regards his after-dinner speak
ing. Whenever there was a big banquet
Frederic Leighton was always there,
and when he spoke he always had some
thing to say and something to which
everybody listened"
The S0th birthday of the Rt. Rev. Rich
ard II. Wilmer, bishop of Alabama. was
celebrated last Sunday with great eclat
in Mobile, and with every evidence of
the esteem, affection and admiration felt
for the venerable prelate by all classes
and denominations. The Mobile Register
of last Sunday contained beautiful edi-
torial tribute to Bishop Wilmer, from
which the following extract is taken:
THE S0th birthday of the Rt. Rev.
Richard Hooker Wilmer, the second
Protestant Episcopal bishop of the do
cese of Alabama, will be appropriately
celebrated in this city today. Bishop
Wi1uar WAS horn in Alexandria. Va.
March is, 1915. His father, Rev. William
II. Wilmer. ID. D., was a native of Mary
land and a distinguished clergyman In
Virginia. His mother was Marion Cox,
daughter of Major Cox a distinguished
soldier of the revolutionary war. Young
Wilmer was graduated at Yale in 1885;
In 1889 he was ordained deacon In the
Episcopal church by Bishop Moore. the
ordna ton ceremonies taking place In
the Monumental church, Richmond, Va,
on Easter Sunday. The next year, on
Easter In the same church. and by the
same bishop, he was ordained priest. He
was successfully rector of st. PauPsI
Goochland county, and st. Johns, Flu
wanna county, Virginia, 1840-43; st.
James. Wilmington, N c., and Grace
and Wickliffe church, Clarke county,
Virginia. He received the degree of doc
tor of divinity from William and Mary
college of Virginia. 1850 and that OF doc
tor of laws from the University of Ok
versity of Alabama I'm 1890. He was
chosen bishop of this diocese In the be-
ginning of the storm of civil war HIS
predecessor, Rt. Rev. N. III. Cobbs. dled
In January 1861. The annual convention
of the diocese met In Montgomery May
of that year, but falling to elect bishop
it was adjourned to meet at Selma,
Thursday, November 81, 1861 when the
Rev Richard Hooker Wilmer was unan-
Imously elected. He was consecrated In
st. Paurs church, Richmond, Va. March
g. 1862, by Rt. Revs. William Meade,
bishop of Virginia, stephen Elliott,
bishop of Georgia, and John Johns, as
sistant bishop of Virginia.
"The splendid testimonial of today's
ceremonies the loving congratulations
of flock that has grown under his
charge to one of the largest and MOST
powerful organizations in the common
wealth, show that in their estimation as
In the esteem and love of all men who
know him, regardless of scot or creed,
the sacred mitre was intrusted to ons
worthy to wear It, With loyalty to
God and to his creed a spirituality
that belongs to the true priest. WISDOM
that has made his church a giant. the
humility of little child. the piety that
allures to brighter worlds his work
has been we'll done, to God to his re-
iIgion and TO his fellow man. Though the
infirmities Of years press upon him, yet
he serenely awaits to respond 'adsum to
the call which will summon to Its re-
ward one whose earthly career has been
rounded out to fulness with love, charity
md faith"