The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-28
MILLAlS-RUSkIN ROMANCE.
Only One of the Parties to the Re-
marE1abIe Episode Now Living.
Baltimore American.

Baltimore American.
The death of Lady Millais again calls to
light one of the most remarkable romances
of modern times. The plaintively piquant-
almost babyish-face of Lady Millais is
familiar to all who recall the countenance
of the woman in her late husbands prize
winning picture 1.-THE Huguenot Lovers
Lady Millais was never prominent in either
the social or artistic life of England, ex-
cept for her association with two of Eng
lands most noteworthy men, but with her
passing is taken away the central figure in
the most remarkable romance of modern
times-a romance that would have been cell
ebrated, in a less practical age, along with
that of Petrarch and Laura, or of Dante
and Beatrice, or that even of the good
monk Abelard and Heloise.
About the middle of the century John
Ruskin, already the foremost art critic of
Great Britain if not of the world, met
Euphemia Chalmers Gray, the pretty
daughter of a country curate. He was not
a man to love a woman simply because she
was a woman, but the beautiful face of
Miss Gray appealed to the artistic sensi-
binties, and, in his way, he fell in love
with her. Ruskn was wealthy; he had
already written books that had been lauded
on every side, and mad become known as the
leading authority Oh art matters IN ali Eng
lana. 30 IL may well be DeneVed tnat ms
Oner OF marriage to the Unknown daughter
OF a provincial Llel g. man was Il temptaIlOn
not 10 be thrust aslue. In due time hu-
phemla Gray became Mrs. Jonn husKIn,
ana tnen went TO I'VE IN LohuOn, where
kuskin forthwith sunk himself in STUDY,
ana left his young wlIe to entertain herself
rs best she might.
About this time the paintings Of John
Mlilals, young man, whose canvases
began
Widespread attention, CHIEFLY because OF the
favorable notice gwen them by Ruskln.
A1IlittiS was taken up by society, ana, being
a handsome tel.Uw, possessed OF a charming
personality, he soon became pet in the
most exclusive drawing rooms of London.
but he never allowed mis- social success to
interfere with his work, and, day by day,
he painted himself in,O greater fame-al-
ways with the nelp OF Jonn RuSkin's criti-
CiSm, given to HIM privately and through
the pubic press: SO 1t came about that ere
long Jonn MiilaiS was commissioned by his
friend to paint portrait OF Mrs. RuSkln-
ana thereby began the romance.
Jack MIlials was normal red-blooded
young fellow, a man OF the world, and
favorlte of society. Mrs. Ruskin was a
Sumably, had never felt any genuine af-
lection tor the man she had married, and
who, 1t is fair TO assume, felt herself neg
lected ever since her marriage Tor books
ana pictures and architecture ana all the
otner things that had ever made up the SUD-
stance or ner husbands happiness These
two young people, OF like tastes and tenn
peraments, were thrown mucn together.
The sittngS took place at Ruskins home,
ana day by day John Millais and his taIr
subject saw each otner AS the weeks
passed the sittlngs grew unduly prolonged.
Probably without either OF them realizing
it the admiration each felt for the oLner at
their first meeting rlpened gradually into
love that could have put one ending.
And, meanwhile. John Ruskin, the dream
er, sat in his study, mOIdlng artistic meta
phors and building up a code to govern the
art lovers of all lands. He knew nothing
about the tragedy that was rlpenlng IN the
next room; nothing OF how his friend
Milais was painting his heart into the
canvas before him, inspired every minute
by eyes that conveyed to the artist love
unSpoken and unutterable. He rocked moth
ing, either|.ln the midst of his books and
his pictures of the pathoS of those two
hearts. inextricably bound up in one an
other, yet torn with the conflict OF love
against friendship and Wifely fidelity.
One day. hand in hand, humbly and hon
orabIy, there walked into Ruskin's library
his friend and his wife. They kneeled be-
fore him, and in a brave yet broken voice
John Miilais told of the love that had grown
in his heart for the woman that had knelt
beside HIM; and then she told her story,
while the husband listened, amazed but
quiet When they had finished the sad con-
fession the dreamer closed his book and
babe the imploring couple arise. Then, in
his noblenesS, he gave them TO each other,
relnqulSnlng all claim upon the woman VINO
bore his name, and blessing them because
they had been honest with him.
Steps were taken at once, with Ruskln $
aid to remove every obstacle to the inn
mediate marriage of his wife and Millais.
Divorce is diftiuclt of procurement in Eng
land, except for causes which must leave
faint the name of one of the persons
concerned, and, as there was no Justihca-
ton for scandal in the case, Ruskin and
his wife were for while put to great
stress to find some way to free them from
their bonds. Even the Queen was APP
pea ed to. but. it is believed. she refused to
interfere even to suggest any way out
of the dilemma, and so eventually 1t was
decided that the best and easiest way, all
things considered, was for Mrs. Ruskin TO
live temporarily under the roof of Mil
lais's house-as this, however pure life
she lived, was all that was necessary 10 pc
shown in order to procure the necessary
relief from the courts. In due season the
divorce was granted. and the next day-thlS
was in 1S55-John Millais led the woman OF
his choice to the altar, her former husband
giving her away and standing by as the
principal witness
his wife home and, seemingly inspired all
the more by her presence, began to paint
pictures which raised him TO sun greater
prominence and which were still praised,
when praise due, by John Ruskln
And having lost the only woman he ever
loved by this absurd freak of fate poor
Ruskin also sought his home, and. once
more locking himself in his study, became
a recluse so far as society went, Venlur-
ing out only to make expensive Journeys
pate his fortune in prodlgal g1ftS 10 ar
lists and poor kinsmen, or in additions 70
his beloved museum dl oHShieiu, WHiNA'
next to his books, will be his most enduring
monument
OF the three actors of this nineteenth-cen-
tury romance Ruskin is alive. Millais
lived to be knighted and to be made the
president of England's greatest art institu-
tion. and alasl to have the charge made
against him that over all his later canvases
vas the trail of the serpent of commerce
an accusation which he tacitly admitted.
He died in August of last year, and now
Lady Mllais has followed him.
Seven years ago John Ruskin became in
sane. it is said. from brooding over the loss
of the one woman he had ever loved.
THE NEXT OHIO SENATOR.