Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-11-03
ART IN GAY PARIS.
GIRL STUDENT EXPLAINS WHY
SHE LIKES THE LIFE.
Eho People Are Moro Cortiial--There's
More Rcd Blood In 1t All-Delecleuse's
Atel'cr and Nine. Eticnne's Little
CoHec lousc-Criticism DAY. B

l like it on earth as we'll as l do in
heaven?" mo, of course don't. I've
been homesick ever since l left Paris.
The League is a very nice place in its
way, but how any one can love the
League in its present embellished con-
dition is beyond me- But why
don't you like it?" persisted one of the
girls, who had never been to Paris,
says the New York Commercial Adver-
tiser. The first speaker thought
moment. well, in the first place"
she said. there is all the difference
between home and a hotel-between
our little studios in the Latin quarter
and one of your caravansaries of art
school here. The studious there have
so much character. You love them for
the weather-beaten look. An art
school can be just as good a school
In sp1ck and span new building, but
I'm philistine enough to like pictur-
esqueness. Take Carlaroni's on Mon
day morning. Go through a narrow
passage and you come into a little
courtyard all surrounded by studios.
You go down steps and get to one of
them and up another flight of outdoor
steps for another, and in behind is a
whole labyrinth of staircases and
studios. There are forlorn and bat
tered casts Of gods and goddesses lying
around the yard. And standing out
from their furnished whitenesses are
the Italian models, in their bright
clothes, and dark-eyed, handsome men
and boys and women, with their gay
shawls, waiting around for a pose"
And I suppose you thrill at the
thought OF walking where Trilby's
sacred feet had trod?" shifted one of
the girls. '"Trilby was before my
day." answered the other, dryly. Then
she went on: tits the intense personal
interest one takes in everything that
makes it so pleasant. You love or
hate the Massacre, and there are bitter
factions among the girls and warm
friendships. It's childish, if you like,
to care for such things. But there's
so much more red blood in it all. It's
gayer, too. remember at Dele
cleuse's harp and two violins used to
come every Thursday. Almost the
whole school turned out into the little
gravelly courtyard and danced. TO
wind up with the musicians played a
cachucha. and certain little Ameri-
can girl danced a Spanish dance she
had picked up heaven knows where.
That always ended the performance.
Nobody who ever worked in the Aca-
demie Delecleuse can forget Dellie.
Some of the sniffy girls fresh from the
League didn't like it there, I believe.
But we Americans loved him. I've
never known any one half so good.
And Nine. Etienne in her little house
built into the wall where we got our
rolls and coffee! When I returned
after two years felt rather shy about
going back there. I was afraid no one
would remember me. But Nine. Ell
enne threw her hands in the air.
ITEMS! ITEMS! Mademoiselle Marie
has returned. It is M. Delecleuse who
will be glad to see you and Mini. En-
brasse made1noiselle, Mini, ct va voir
81 MOAS1Cul uehAO 0IVAAC4s "AOA 2
have you been all this time, Mademoi-
selle Marie?" And then followed de-
tails. How Mini had had her first
communion, and how the kitten had
died. and the new ones were black and
white, and which of the old girls were
back; and then appeared M. Delecleuse
himself and welcomed me heartily. 1t
was like the return of the prodigal.
It's no wonder love it there. They
are so kind, all the people. and they
have so much personality. None of
us can forget Nine. Etienne or M. Fol
net. the color merchant, or Antonio
at Carlaroni's. Good-natured Antonio,
81 dirty and so dishonest and obliging
as the day was long! Another mark
ed difference is criticism day. It's
rather a day of wrath in both coun-
tries. In French studio when the
master comes into the room you can
hear a pin drop. Absolute silence ex-
cent for the master, who expresses his
oninion in no measured terms The
masters at the League are severe
enough" said one of the other girls.
"Oh, yes, but when I first got back l
used to pray that some one would
storm at me or swear little. It's
so much more bracing. The difference
lis this: After bad criticism here one
feels that there is no more use in life.
There, no matter what has been said
one feels that if one worked very hard
some day one might amount to some
thing. The red tape bothers one so
after the freedom Of a Paris studio.
When you go in at the League there
are row of terrifying officials and you
have to fill out blanks and present
drawings and tell your name and all
YOUR addresses and where you've
worked and where you want to work
/ was surprised that / was not asked
for certificate Of birth or a marriage
certificate or something" We'll, how
do YOU do it over there?" asked the
other girls. ooh, you go to the school
and say, Monsieur. desire to work in
your school, and the man in charge
Of the school says: Certainly. madem-