The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1897-09-01
EASTERN TINE. DEP
]. NJ. SCHRYVER, g. p. A.
Baltimore, Md
q. B. DUNLAP, Ticket Agent.
Parkersburg, w. Vs
IN THE HIGHLANDS.

Where Millais Drew Inspiration for
Many of His Finest Pictures.
The late Sir John Millais was, as
everybody knows, exceedingly fond
of the Perthshire highlands, and
painted or drew inspiration for
many of his finest pictures there.
A contributor to the Dundee Adyer-
tiser, who has been following the
artists footsteps in that charming
region, tells that the first picture
he painted in Perthshire was The
Fringe of the Moor" The painter
was then living at st. Mary's Tower.
The scene of the picture was on the
hill behind Kennacoil, bold gray
rock which rises abruptly on the
north side of Strath braan, imme-
diately over the Rambling bridge.
There the painter directed his hut
to be erected, a substantial wooden
structure with large skylight in
the roof open to the west. Millais'
big pictures usually occupied six
weeks to a day or two. He always
came during the first week of Oc-
tober, and went away about the
middle of November.
HIS was Vi COQES0 BuS OI
year that the autumn tints were in
their glory, and the painter grudged
to lose an hour, SO evanescent were
their hues. This was probably one
of the reasons why he painted on
Sunday, fact which rather scan
dalized the Scottish countrywide.
Once the man who was carrying his
painting paraphernalia ventured to
demonstrate with him. DO We not
think it's sinful, Mr.. Millais, for me
to carry yer picture and things on
the Sabbath day?" The artist
laughed and assured him promptly
that whatever guilt attached to the
act he would take on his own Shout
ders. ''Over the Hills and Far
Away" was painted ON the moor
above the deserted hamlet of Tom
garrow, an old weaving village. The
spot where his hut was pitched COM
manded magnificent view of the
Vale of Atholl, with the Tay wind
ing through its fertile haughs. 1t
was magnificent panorama of dark
wood and golden cornfeld, with the
Grampians wrapped in mist tower
ing on the skyline.
The writer of the article tells g
little anecdote which illustrates the
painters quick eye for effects. Mil
lais was stopping at Erigmore when
he painted 'tOver the Hills and Far
Away" and he used to walk uI
daily through Birnam Glen. The
attendant was there before him
with the picture, and one morning
when the artist arrived he
told him how he had seen rat
swimming across the pool. Mil
lais was most eager to see the
same sight, and was sorry he
had missed it. Next time the pic
ture was seen there was the rat
among the rushes. 'tAnd you
wouldn't believe the difference il
made" added the delighted OBJ.
server. It gave touch of solitari-
ness which nothing else could have
done. Millais had no thought fol
anything but his art while he was
painting. 81 work harder than any
plowman, he would say sometimes
He read a little, but wrote man,
letters, and smoked necessarily. Il
fact, it was said more than once b.
those who knew Millais in the High
lands that they believed the begin
ming of his throat trouble was du,
to his heavy smoking. He was To-
ever pulling at the short black pipe
IN. Y. Post