Evening star., 1898-03-12
(To be continued.)
MILLAIS AS A STUDENT
IN Apt and Popular
Youth.

Youth.
Fellow Student of Millais' contrib
utes some personal "reminiscences of that
arust TO the London Daily News Referring
10 student days when Millais was fifteen
or sixteen years of age, this writer saws:
he ana another youth named Rowan
were both remarkable for their skill in
drawing and diligent application to their
stuuies' poth We're In the antique school,
ana their fellow students We're strongly
impressed with a conscious assurance of
their genius, and it was felt that they
would surely rank among the winners of
the splendid prizes and popularity that be-
come the Inheritance of great artists. As
Tar as l could see there was no enyious
feeling in the school, but an eager sym-
pathy with them in their work. "Johnnie
Mlllals, as he was then called the fair
naired, ksen-eyed, fresh, bright, clean-look-
ing boy, was the favorite. but in ability it
was difficult to decide that either could
Calm superiority. Rowan, who was d
trlhe older than Miliais, took his seat op-
posite the latter on the horseshoe-s shaped
rails and benches provided for the stu
dents. While thus facing each other, Mil
lalS one day took up a piece of gray paper
and made sketch of his rival; it was
dashed off in the brief space of a few min
utes, and 1t was an admirable likeness
1t was passed from hand to hand among
and then returned to Milais, who looked
at 1t for few moments, smiled and care
lessiy threw 1t on the floor, where it was
eagerly pounced upon and promptly Sc
cured by one of his neighbors. 1t may be
that the sketch is treasured up in some old
portfolio yet it would be interesting if its
existence could be ascertained That he
could thus dash off an excellent likeness
with such smart precision and exactitude
on the spur of the moment, shows the
truth OF the observation that he was "a
born portrait painter"
Millais, as l have said, had an untiring
delight in his work. l told him on one oc-
casion that with his command over and
enjoyment of his art he must surely be
one Of the happiest men in the world.
Yes, he replied, lit is a delightful occu-
patton. i don't know of any other so
p.easurahle, but hang it, it isn't all pleas
ure. l am constantly worried by letters
from strangers making all sorts of unrea-
sonable requests, and 1 almost dread the
ound of the postman's knock" He was
once talking to me of the students of our
day in the academy, and said he had sought
to find out what had become of those who
seemed to have failed. and he found that
many of them had broken down from i'll
health. "A man should be as strong as
horse to be artist. and thank God" he
said, Il am as strong as a horse" Talking
of portraits. he said, 1T is as easy to me
now to paint portrait as to play game
of whist
At the time 1 am mostly speaking of Mil
lais was in splendid health. and was brim-
ming over with good nature and high
spirits, his eye sparkled with keen vitality
and sensbility of expression; his generous
ardor and eXuberant joyousness of manner
made him delightful companion and
none who had seen him could easily forget
his fine head and noble presence. Few
artists. think, were ever SO beloved as he
by their contemporaries.