The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-21

likeness that Miss Donald-Smith asked mo II
she might send 1t to the Royal Academy. as II 1t
got In 1t would do her n great deal of good.
~ could hardly be so churlish as to refuse her
request. The portrait was therefore sent to the
Academy and-rejected. Miss Donald.Smith
took the rejection very much to heart, and l
felt extremely sorry for her. She was, indeed.
30 much disappointed and troubled about 1t that,
by way of consolation, l told her that II she
could find any gallery that would accept the
picture for exhibition for a short time / would
make no objection. Lefevre was tried, but re-
fused, on the ground that I was not represented
with a pen in my hand and several folios Of
manuscript by my side, with some vague idea
in his mind. / suppose, that every cobbler
should be shown sticking TO his last.
at is necessary to say that ! have nothing to
do with any financial arrangement which may
have been made between Messrs. Graves and
Miss Donald-Smith, and that / am totally igno-
rant of tho terms that may exist between
them. The shillinRs paid at the door Of Messrs.
Graves's Galleries do not go into my pocket;
none Of the money subscribed by those who wish
copies of tho engraving Of the picture is shared
with me-; in fact. / should never condescend to
mako financial profit out Of my own portrait
after the fashion Of certain 'aristocratic' ladies
and professional stage favorites.
Il gain nothing at all out Of the transaction
but the privilege of being insulted by any little
paragraphist who earns is. Cd. or Is. Cd. by his
copy for, AZ / said. the lower grades OF the
press. All my personal share in tho matter Is
that / allow the picture, which is my property.
to be exhibited In order to benefit the artist who
painted it; and that l have also permitted $50
copies Of 1t to DO engraved for tho same reason,
and that for the trouble and time taken up in
signing the artists proofs Of such engraving. I
am to be presented with two dozen copies OF the
same for myself.
-Four thousand invitations were sent out for
the private viewi' shrieks ono little journalist.
Roallyi l was not aware Of 1t. I did not send
them. lido not know 1000 people, thank God.
though 1 am glad. of course. 10 think that 80
many know me-"
Then Miss Corelli explains in equal detail
about the other portrait. and says she really did
try to get 1t withdrawn from Grafton Gallery,
but the directors Of the Society Of Portrait
Painters very naturally declined to allow 1t to
be removed from the walls. where 1t has proved
such an attraction to some. and such q bono Of
contention to certain estimable females who
write for society Journals. and who evidently
hoped. prayed, and expected to find me q repul-
sive-looking object, and were cruelty disap-
pointed. That their disappointment should find
vent in acrimonious paragraphs is no doubt
QuilOh dtuEdi.
And this is her final appeal:
81 have now stated plainly the entire cir
cumstances. and 1 trust l have proved to
the satisfaction of the few intelligent and
reasonable beings to whom l care to appeal
that / have less desire to Advertise myself
than the cheap paragraphists who make
copy out of the circulation Of falsehoods
concerning me. 1 find I am very seriously to
blanc for having permitted the public to see
for themselves that 1 am not exactly tho type
of 'strong-minded female the press has 30
persistently made me out to be, and i believe ]
! have given fresh cause for offence all round for
being presentable enough to have my portrait
painted at all. 1t is very sad! and I would be
sorry II I could. But I cannot, and my only
wish in the matter is to set things clear before
tho public, who are, however. by this time SO
accustomed to the puerile and ridiculous atti
tude assumed toward me by the lesser journal
lists that they are probably able to read be-
tween the lines sufficiently to know that my
accusers' yell of 'self.advertisement! only
means disappointment at their own continued
and likely-to-be.continuous condition Of literary
and personal obscurity."
Who. after that, will dare accuse Miss Corell
Of sel-advertisementi II. r. G.