Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-10-26
A NOVICE.

Don't move! Stay as you are one mo-
ment. What a wonderful effect! I never
saw such hair. Only look" and Miss
Smith, a superannuated art student,
clutched Miss Politics. arm, and they both
stared at Natalie.
1T is one of those haunting, spiritual
things one will always remember" said
Miss Pottle, in a hushed voice.
Natalie stood motionless. The light
shone down on her red hair. Her pretty
face was in luminous shadow. Her blue
eyes turned on the speakers with a star
tied gaze, half conscious. half pleased. She
was immensely hattered to be noticed in
this way, and also rather embarrassed.
The two women stared at her with half
closed eyes, murmuring fattering excla-
nations in that pigeon French much af-
fected in the American-English studios.
'tTiens IN nOuveau," said one of the
French girls, pushing aside the two rap
turous ones. "Viens done la YOlr, Henri
ette!n'
'.Ah ali, des beaux yeuxI'
But, my child, your eyes are green!
How came they SOP
She looks like Mile. X"
''Oh, far p%rettier. Her hair, look at it.
It is superb
Natalie was happy at all this notice.
At last she was in a real art school. NO
Rue de Berri Julien for her, a school
filed with dilettantes, she thought, scorn-
fully, where a maid was in attendance.
Besides the Rue de Berri school was IN
such a tireSOme. conventional quarter.
This was 4 real art school i'll the real
Latin quarter. The room was big and
bare, the walls covered with the paint
Fcrapings of generations OF art students,
caricatureS and framed crayOn drawings.
Racks of studies were on the wall and a
miscellaneous lot of painting aprons hung
from pegs.
Groups of disheveled women sat around,
talking in loud voices. A dark-headed
Italian model, with superb torso and
arms, sat by the great stove, his hands
clasped above his head, gazing absently
around the room. Natalie took IN all
this detail with satisfaction. She seemed
to herself like a heroine in a romance.
She had always seemed like that. but
now she was living what she had only
dreamed before.
She worked with the enthusiasm of a
beginner. She covered up her pretty
gown with q huge apron, took a piece of
soft charcoal n drew great lines down
her paper, which she rubbed out furious
" with her thumb She began six new
drawings in Il morning, sat in the rests
with her head sunk in her hands in de-
spair always near the door, where she
would be sure to attract attention). She
experienced wild moments of exa ltatiOn
when it seemed but the matter of a
month or two before she would be as
famous as-as-dear Marie Bashkirtseff.
She diligently read Marie Bashkirtsef
(uneEpurgated) and compared herself to
the portrait. There was no doubt about
it; she looked like her. Also, Natalie
kept q journal somewhat after the fol-
lowing:
January 3-Despair. My work is ter
rih1nf NJ D-10:c n orooIr In11oI - =
You can scarcely expect me to take
such work seriously, mademoiselle," he
said in harsh tones. Shall l ever forget
his scornful look! Oh, let me die.
January S-AIy work has been so
strenuous | have manqued the force to
write. | hate the Massacre. She does
good work. Why can I not do good
work? | hate her. | hate her!
January 10-I cannot work in this ar
tifcial atmosphere. My mother is mad
dening me. My work. my art, has been
interrupted three times this week. and SO
needlessly. Dressmakers, calls, the
theater. all the unnecessary fripperies of
life. Oh, for solitude, for poverty, for
the chance to carry out my work I'M
hampered!
The girls at the school watched Natalie
with interest. Her red hat had made
her conspicuous at once. She had a GER
tain crude vigor in her drawing. Besides
she came to school in a cab and rather
late.
You viii never do anything" said
Miss Pottle. sadly. You cannot serve
God and Mammon. Going out SIS you
do, devoting only a few incidental mo-
ments to work when pleasure pals upon
you. And with your talent
Natalie sat. her head in her hands,
gazing gloomily on the ground.
Where were you yesterday after
noon" pursued Miss Pottle, pitilessly.
h was tall and gaunt and frightfully
untidy. Also, her work was very bad.
Her face was thin and had a certain
fragile, intermittent beauty. She was
the most dangerous of all the different
types III the art school, the sincere po-
SeuSe.
Natalie looked upon her from the first
as an ideal, enduring poverty, putting