Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-07-10

""uV" Vueiug-rOOm anu Stuu1O. sat
urday afternoon IL looked forward to
as the great occasion of the week.
Then the compositions are brought to
the classroom and the teaclier passcs
from one easel to another giving his
criticism to the pupils, who crowd
about him. clambering upon chairs and
stools to secure points Of vantage from
which to view the pictures. This Il
called the Saturday classe dies esquIss.
es. Words Of praise are few on these
occasions. and the criticism Ia chiefly
devoted to pointing out the defects Of
the compositions.
1.-THE competition for the monthly
prizes and medals II intense-nOt no
much for their intrinsic value ns for
the honor which they carry with them.
Although the students usually work
from . o'clock In the morning tin 8
O'clock In the afternoon, with an hours
rest at midday. they all contrive to
see the sights of Paris, anu to see much
Of the Quarter Latin. OF course. MI
visit the Louvre and the Luxembourg
Gardens, but to me the famous cafes
Of the Quarter were among the most
interesting and attractive places In the
city. The music at the Cafe Rouge.
which is much frequented by the best
artists Of Paris, is furnished by the
prize pupils Of the conservatory, and
Is Of the highest quality. 1t In almost
an ideal place in which to study Pari.
sian character.
But the cafe In which the students
take chief delight and indulge their
Widest antics is the HarcOurt, In
Boulevard 1t. Michaels. 1t Is su, round.
cd 10y lnrge schools and academies Of
almost every kind. and many riot has
been started from its tables. While
the phase Of life which IL to be seen
here mt night is well calculated to dis.
turb an American Of quiet and puri.
tanicnl tastes and training. II is devoid
Of the repulsive features which are
characteristic Of gay life in other cit.
les. There II brightness, cheer and
color everywhere.
"Tle Quarter Latin has It's own quiet
social side which is thoroughly enjoy.
able. Nearly all the men live very
mOtlestly. and many Of them do their
own cooking. A visit to the atelier Of
IN acquaintance and a dinner prepar.
cd by the host before the eyes Of his
guests IL rs coxy and delightful an af.
fair as can he imagined. Scores OF
pleasant acquaintance are formed In
this manner, and much help Is given
the younger students by association
with those who are well advanced.
While this bohemian existence has Its
dra wbacks ana Inconvenience. Il ID
not regarded as hardship. In any
other city It would probably be 30 con.
slderetl-but not In Paris! There It has
the real touch Of romance.
NO lesson to be learned there In, II
seems to me, Of greater value and i'm.
rOrtant to the young American artist
than the necessity Of taking time to
dream over the work In hand. The
| American tendency In to rush hard mt
everything. Over there one learns to
let artistic plans ripen ana mature eas.
lily and with much dellberatiOn. This
brings the freedom which comes only
from a sense Of lelsure-n feeling
which Ii very necessary to good art.
"Onc Of the things In which I was
pleasantly surprised was the amount
Of attention devoted by the grea,
teachers to the Individual students.
Their instruction In personal TO de.
gree which seemed remarkable. The
Academic Julian Is probably the most
important school Of its kind In Paris
This Ii evidenced by the fact that PrIx
de Rome winners have Of late been nl
most exclusively Julian men,"
In the Academy Mr.. Leyendecker Ill
vltled two 1OO-fanc prizes with III,
younger brother. Frank y. Leycpdeck
or, and also won two prizes Of 10 franc,
for excellence In composition. His
portrait Of his brother In now In the
SalOn. 1t II probable that Mr.. Leyen
decker will soon open a studio In Chi
cagO and resume his illustrative work
He cOnfeses that his stay In Paris ant
his color studies there have served Il
strengthen his interest In poster ant
decorative art, and that he will M
doubt do considerable In this field
wherein he has already achieved III
enviable success.