Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-01-25
JOHN RUSKIN'S N

While the works Of John Ruskin, the
days since, will live long in the history of
modern art, the self-sacrifcing charac-
ter of the man, in giving his wife to Mil
lais, will never fade from the literature
of the hearth and home. Millais, who
afterward became one of the most
famous of painters. was a graceful and
attractive young man employed by
Ruskin to paint the portrait of his wife.
While engaged in the work he fell madly
in love with the beautiful woman, and
his feelings We're ~reciprocated.
But Mrs. Ruskin was an honorable wo-
man and a faithful wife. and Millais was
a gentleman to the manor born. Each
~endeavored to disguise a self-evident
affection from the other, but finally Mil
1ais is said to have painted two lovers
In the act of parting. He did not intend
TO make them represent himself and the
wife of Ruskin, but somehow he uncon-
sciously wov into the pathos of the
grief-stricken faces the tell-tale express
sions Of each. When the picture was
completed, the future great artist of
England showed it to Mrs. Ruskin. Their
eyes met; then, clasped in each others
arms, with their tears mingling in the
pathos Of a hopeless love, they bade each
other farewell.
Ruskin saw the picture and under
stood. With a magnanimity seldom
equaled in the history Of any human life,
he called his beloved wife to his side, as
certained her feelings toward Millais, and
then agreed to a separation which made
it possible for the young lovers to wed.
1t is said that no family in England
was more devoted han Millais n his
beautiful wife so Economically secured.
Their devotion to ach other was the
theme of social circles and the admira-
ton Of hosts of friends. Finally Millais
died of a dangerous disease. During his
last illness his devoted wife was forbid
den to press a kiss upon the lips she
loved SO well. But when the physician
retired from the room she embraced the
dying man with all the ardor of her soul,
contracting the disease from which she
subsequently died. So runs the romantic
story, recalled by the death of Ruskin in
the S1st year of his age.
II all men were Ruskins, willing to sur
render domestic bliss and the yearnings
of the heart, that the object Of affection
might honorably reap a greater harvest
of happiness with another, there would
be fewer scandals. and the popular gun
plays of modern times would cease to add
fresh tragedies to the history of discon-
tented lives.
Few men, however, are built on the
Ruskin plan. 1t required marvellous
power for self-sacriice to do what Rus
kin did, yet he acted the wiser part. In
the nature of things. the love which his
wife bore the young painter would have
made his W life miserable, even though
no scandal ever touched the sacred pre-
cincts of his home. He doubtless recog-
n1zed the mistake made in bringing the
TWO together, but the best way to correct
1t was to surrender to the inevitable and
present his wife with the greatest gift
which his noble affections could bestow
upon her-her liberty.
Ruskin's experience did not seem "a
cripple his usefulness or shorten his life.
and ne died honored by the world and
revered by his countrymen. Had he cor
fected the mistake Of introducing an
ardent young lover to his wife, as most
men do-with a deadly weapon-his use
Iuiness would ave ended with the deed,
and his name would have been forgotten
in the infamy of his act.