The Advocate and news., 1899-03-22

Mere AIDE , Millet's model for the
"Angelus," hi for the first time had her
fine features eproduCed in the plastic
art. She has been painted, sketched, pho
tographed and posed for painters and
students, but it remained for Mr.. Brooks,
Of Boston, to complete a half llfe-slzed
bust of the famous model in wax. It has
been cast in plaster, and is soon to be re-
produced in bronze and marble.
This will probably be Adele's last ap-
pearanCe among the artists. She has long
since given up posing, and 1t was not an
easy task for the sculptor to get her to
pose. Though poor and almost In want,
the old woman was sensitive about haV-
ing her pained, careworn and wrinkled
features reproduced. She knew that por-
traits which will immortalIze her, taken
in all her strength, vigor, health and
beauty, had been sent out to the world
years ago, and on the laurels which they
have brought her she was contented to
rest. Besides, she is now too feeble to
pose, for though only SO years of age,
Mere Adele is q confirmed invalid and
unable to move from her easy chair with
out assistance. And 1t was until Mr.
Brooks had assured her that she would
not have to hold pose while he worked
that she consented to let him bring his
wax and build the little bust.
"Ah, M Brooks" she said over and
over again, "this will be my last posing.
I'm too old, too old, for this business
now. 1t was all right when was a girl
and young and strong and pretty, so they
said; it's younG woman that the artist
wants. not worn and worked out old
woman like me- My day is gone; It's
upward Of thirty-flye years since the
good M. Millet first painted me and many
things have happened since then"
In her simple-mindedness Mere Adele
is unconscious that her beauty now,
though another type, is far beyond what
it was when she was Mlllet's favorite
model. The very beauty for which Mlllet
chose her has become intensified by her
life Of struggle, poverty and care The
face Is more tender, more enduring,
sweeter In expression and bespeaks a life
OF honest toll, supported by undying
faith.
She was born within stones throw of
the little thatched cottage where she now
lives. Her earliest remembrances are of
her life in the fields, helping her father
to gather potatoes and turnips. At the
age Of Is she was taken into the house
OF Nine Millet as domestic. She took
almost entire charge OF the painters chill
dren, and in her spare moments posed.
The story goes that while she was one
day assisting her father in the fields,
Millet watched her from his studio win
dow and made several sketches Of her in
his sketch book. Just as he was about to
cave the window he saw the farmer and
laughter bow their heads In prayer as the
Angelus bell pealed from the little Bar
DizOn church tower. It was then he con-
,eived the idea for the painting which
made his reputation, and which incident
lily made that Of his model.
Francois Millet is the only remaining
MEMBER Of the family of the ilhstrious
PAINTER. He lives in his fathers house,
Ind follows closely in his fathers foot
iteps. Adele has posed for many Of his
pictures, and has known him man and |
Joy.
II Is nice to know that the feeble wo-
nan is well looked after In her old age
md infrmity by an American girl, who I
has lately become the wife of Francois
dillet. Mrs. Francois Millet was Miss |
iced, Of New York. She makes frequent |
lists to Adele's cottage and adds many |
omforts to the little home. Chicago
record