Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-20
ROMANCE OF THE CENTURY.
Strange Story Of Ruskin-Millais Affair Told in
Detail.


New York Commercial Advertiser:
Lady AIillais. who died yesterday, was
the widow of Sir John Millais, former
president of the Royal Academy, and
her plaintively piquant--almost baby.
ish--face Is familiar to all who recall
the countenance of the woman In her
late husbands prize winning picture,
THE Huguenot Lovers" Lady Millais
was never prominent in either the So
cial or artistic life of England, except
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 ro-
nance of modern times--a romance
that would have been celebrated, 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 Helose,
About the middle of the century
John Ruskin, already the foremost art
critic of Great Britain II not of the
world, met Euphemia Chalmers Gray,
the pretty daughter of country
curate. He was not q man to love a
woman simply because she was wo-
man, but the beautiful face of Miss
Gray appealed TO his artistic sensibili-
ties. and. in his way, he fell in love
with her. RuslIin was wealthy: he
had already written books that had
been lauded on every side, and had be-
on art matters in all England. SO IL
may well be believed that his offer of
marriage to the unknown daughter of
provincial clergyman was a tempta-
ton not to be thrust aside. In due
time Euphemia Gray became Mrs.
Ruskin. and they went to live in Lon
don. where Ruskin forthwith sunk
himself In study, and left his young
Wife to entertain herself as best she
might. ~.
About this time the paintings of John
Millais, a young man, whose canvases
showed excellent promise, began TO at
tract widespread attention, chiefly be-
cause of the favorable notice given
them by RuslSin. Millais was taken
up by society, and being handsome
fellow possessed of a charming person.
ality. he soon became pet In the most
exclusive drawing rooms OF London.
hut he never allowed his social success
to interfere with his work and day by
day he painted himself into greater
fame-always with the help OF John
Ruslsin's criticism. given to him. pri-
vately and through the public press. SO
lais was commissioned by his friend to
paint portrait of Mrs. Ruskin--and
| thereby began the romance.
Jack" Millais was normal. red
blooded young fellow, a man of the
world. and favorite Of society. Mrs.
| ihushiu WIS IL DedutiIui WoHlhH, iAiS"
| worldly, who, presumably. had never
felt any genius affection for the man
she married. and who. II Ia fair to as
sumo. felt herself neglected ever sincs
her marriage for books and pictures
and architecture, and all the other
things that had ever made up the sub
stance of her husbands happiness.
These two young people Of like tastes
| and temperaments were thrown much
together. The slttings took place at
Ruskin's home. and day by day John
Mlllais and his fair subject saw each
other. AS the weeks passed the sit
tings grew unduly prolonged. Prob
ably without either of them realizing
1t, the admiration each felt for the
other at their first meeting ripened
gradually into a love that could have
but one ending.
And. meanwhile. John RuslSln, the
dreamer. sat in his study. molding ar
tlstic metaphors, and building up q
code to govern the art lovers OF al
lands. He knew nothing about the
tragedy that was ripening In the next
room; nothing Of how his friend Nil
lais was painting his heart into tbs
canvas before him. inspired ever,
minute by eyes that conveyed TO the
artist love unspoken and unuttter-
able. He rocked nothing, either In the