The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-23
ENGLAND's IDhALIsT.
RusIxin, Art Critic, Social Economist
and Lover of Truth.

RusISin. Art Critic, Social Economist
and Lover of Truth.
Ruskin, the prose poet of England,
whose death in London on Saturday was
reported in our dispatches. was laid low
by an attack of influenza. OF him the st.
Louis Globe Democrat says:
Perhaps Ruskin's literary and artistic
works will not make him as close fire.
side companion to posierity as other writ
ers and artists of his day, but in the world
of bellies jettres his personality will shine
UNANIMOUSLY forth so long as esthetics and
purity claim inches of their own in the do
main of thought Yet the life story OF
no man can have quainter interest for
humanity than the romance that became
the great tragedy of Ruskins career
AS the works of Ruskn have made him
a leader In art and literature, so the story
of Ruskin has linked his personality with
a narrative that can never cease TO quick
en- the heart throbs of men and women as
long as love and sacriflc hold their places
in worldly traditions To-day, as he
passed from the scenes of human activity!
il was doubtful whether the achievements
of his mind had heralded him farther than
the triumphs of his heart, confined though
the latter were to his own domestic circle.
1t is a remarkable history, this story Of
Ruskin.
All the world has marveled at 1t, but
1t Is doubtful whether the truth was un-
derstood by any but three persons-him-
self the woman and the other man. De-
scribng Ruskin two years since current
magazine said
His marriage was the talk of the town
for an hour or so; his divorce a few years
later was nine days wonder. But the
taH hat
tegral parts OF his character. In his mar
riage there was no love on either side, but
his welded life was peaceful, friendly ana
kindly to the highest degree.
zone day Ruskin brought an artist into
his home to paint his wife's portrait. the
artist was John Everett Millais, ana De
fore the picture was finished he knew that
he loved his friends wife and that she re-
turned the passion. There are few men
who could take the view of the situation
that Ruskin took.
LAS soon as he understood the matter
thoroughly he determined TO make the
way clear for the contamination of his
friends happiness and that Of the woman
who had borne his name. A divorce was
quietly sought and obtained and, within
a few weeks, Ruskin stood by his former
wifes side in church and gave her to bis
friend"
perhaps the most curious part of this
curious tfdnSdtllDU was tUt lIltiIldGy lHdt
continued to exist between the two men.
Ruskin proved a staunch and useful friend
to the artist in his early days of struggle
and strife; and, later, when the fullest
measure Of success came to Sir John Mil
Iais. the famous critic, Ruskin was still
a welcome and a constant visitor at his
home"
Nevertheless, the shadow of Ruskin's
sacrifice deepened as time passed, and
that he felt with tragic seriousness the
incidents of the story was shown by his
subsequent retirement to sanitarium.
His mind was affected.
To many the whole affair seems simple.
1t was all a mistake, they think The
marriage of young and imperlously beau
tiful woman, whose buoyant spirits form
ed in Itself a song of happiness to a
man, so constantly engrossed in thought
that the ordinary indulgences of vigorous
manhood were things apart from him, and
artistic in his tncinations to the degree
of eccentrcity-this was the first chapter
of a tragedy. The heart pangs and loneli-
ness that followed for the woman these
analysts easily understand.
Then the appearance of tne handsome,
robust Millas-the sympat hies that easily
sprang up between two magnificent crea-
lures of the same mold and tendencies
the consequence that must inevitably fol-