The evening times., 1897-04-01
MISS BRADLEY NOW A MODEL
Story Of a Washington Society Girl
Who Poses.
Once an Invalid, But Physical Train
ing Brought Grace and Beauty.
Daughter of an Army Officer.

Miss Kate Mickles Bradley, daughter
Of the late Col. George w Bradley, U
s. A, has become a professional model,
vocation has come about in the most
natural way and makes pretty story
A few months ago Miss Bradley and
her mother returned to their home on
Fifteenth street after eight years alb
senoe in the West. At the time of her
departure Miss Bradley was an almost
helpless invalid, but during her sojourn
West she seemed to have been touched
by a fairy's wand and transformed into
a perfection of physical vigor and grace.
She takes to herself all credit for the
change and claims that if other girls
would go and do like wise there need be
no such thing in a woman S existence as an
awkward figure or pose.
Her course included lessons from the first
ballet master in Chicago, supplemented by
daily drill In physical gymnastics that ha s
made her flesh as elastic and her muscles as
flexible as blade of Damascus steel
Miss Bradley movesin Washingtons Is most
exclusive Army and social circles and her
unique and beautiful song pantomines, ;
in which she illustrated melodies by means
of gestures have been the feature of many
entertainments given blythe smart setduring
the season just closed.
While giving these prose poems she wore
an aesthetic gown, with Greek effects,
the bodice low and arms bare, and her
dark hair caught in a classic knot 1t the
back of her shapely head.
~
present on one of these occasions, when
he was SO impressed with the beauty of
ner work that he gave her a letter of in
PRODUCTION to Mr.. Jerome Uhl, and another
to Mr. Richard Brooke. Mr. Brooke, in turn,
sent her with letter TO the A Art League,
where she was immediately accepted, and
began her experience as a model by posing
for the head and shoulders before the por-
trait class of the league. The enga cement
lasted two weeks. She then posed for Mr..
Uhl's painting, "A Morning CALI which
was intended for the Cosmos exhibition,
but was reported by the jury on selection
as being two large.
Yes; l consider myself professional
model declared Miss Bradley when talk
ing the matter over; though | only intend
to continue in 1t until / can establish
myself substantially in my special work,
which is physical culture
At enjoy being a model, and nothing
pleases me more than when an artist tells
Inc he needs me again find it honorable
work, and as there is no great competition
1 see no reason why 1 should not be
always busy. Lean understand how people
are shocked at the idea of posing in the
z II
as a draped figure, as / do. / have been
treated with the most kindly courtesy by
the artists, and the work is not tiresome
to me, though have heard it complained
of by others. Three hours is the length
of a pose, and at the end OF each half
hour OF this time five minutes is allowed
for rest l use my little vacations in
chatting or walking around the studio TO
look at the pictures, and always to take
a look at the artists progress in my
picture 1t is tolerably. easy to resume
the required pose. but if L fail 70 catch
the right angle the artist quickly directs
me into position. Sometimes while posing
am allowed TO talk and the tine passes
very cheerfully, discussing such tnpersonal
topics as music, literature and art
The professional price paid by the art
schools for models is Z . ceats for a pose of
three hours, but artists usually pay their
models better. A model makes more money
for standing than for sitting. l don 'tknow
about the prices for the nude. You would
be surprised. though, if you knew how
many respectable-Iookiug and acting young
women there are even in this city who
pose for the altogether | met one in
studio yesterday. and she seemed very
ladylike and nice
II am now posing for Mr.. Uhl. | wear
a Greek robe and am reclining on grassy
bank by a lake. He will use another model
for the head. / am also to be Mr.. McDon-
AIDS model for his allegorical conception
of Grief, and the a Art League has asked me
to sit for them again. So you see | am
not idle"
The Bradley home, No 1872 Fifteenth
street, is exquisitely artistic in it's appoint
ments, and numbers among its attractions
small but complete conservatory, Mrs.
Bradley being as devoted To her flowers AS
her gifted young daughter is To her art.