Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-20
,DEsERET EVENING NEWS: THURSDAY, JANUARY co. 1895

midst of his books and his pictures. OF
the pathos of those two hearts. mex
tricably bound up IN one another. yet
torn with the conflict Of love against
friendship and 'wlfely fidelity.
One day. hand in hand. humbly and
honorably, there walked into RuslSin's
library his friend and his wife They
knelt before him. and in a brave yet
broken voice John Milluis told of the
love that had grown In his henrt for
the woman who krelt beside him and
then she told her story. while the hus-
bands listened. amazed hut 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, relinquished all claim
upon the woman who bore his name,
and blessing them because they had
been honest with him.
Steps were taken at once, with Rus
kin's aid, to remove every obstacle TO
the Immediate marriage of his wife and
Millais. Divorce Is difficult of procure
ment in England, except for causes
which must leave a faint on the name
Of one of the persons concerned; and,
as there was no justification for scan
dal in this case, Rusltin and his wife
were for while put to great stress to
find some way to free them from their
bonds. Even the queen was appealed
Interfere or even to suggest any way
out of the dilemma. and so eventually
1t was decided that the best and easiest
way, NIL things considered, wns for
Mrs. Ruslsin to live temporarily under
the roof OF Millais's house--ns this.
however pure n life she lived was all
that was necessary to be shown in or
der to procure the necessary relief
from the courts. In due scason the di-
vorce was granted. and the next day
this was in 1s55--John Millais led the
woman Of his choice TO the altar-the
| former husband giving her away ana
| standing by as the principal witness.
The strange ceremony ended Millais
| took his wife home, and seemingly in
| splred all the more by her presence.
| began to paint pictures which raised
| him to stlll greater prominence, and
which were still praised, when praise
was due. by John Ruskin. And, hav-
| ing lost the only woman he ever loved
| by this absurd freak of fate. poor RUS
kin also sought his home. and. once
/ more locking himself In his study, be-
| came n recluse so far as society went
venturing out only to make expensive
| journeys to Italy and other art Meccas.
or TO dlssipate his fortune in prodigal
| gifts TO artists and poor kinsmen, or
| in additions to his beloved museum at
Sheflield-which. next to his books.
will be his most enduring monument.
OF the three actors In this nineteenth
| century romance. Ruskin Is alive.
Millais lived to he knighted and to be
made the president of Englands great
est art institution. and. alas! to have
the charge made against him that over
| all his later canvases was the trail of
the serpent of commerce-an accusa-
ton which he tacitly admitted He
died In August OF last year, and now
Lady Millais has followed him.
Seven years ago John Ruskin be-
came insane, 1t is said, from brooding
over the loss of the one woman he had
| ever loved.