The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-18
Banker Do Cordova Brings Miss
+, Billings Out Of tho West.
GREAT TALENT As AN ARTIST.
Her Sksiehss Praised BY Eminent Art Critics.
VIII Be Gwen Advantages Of a
Thorough Education.

New York, Jan. 1s--After seven years
of correspondence Alfred De Cordova. a
banker az No. 80 Broad street, living at
Sherrys has taken under his care a
western girl who he thinks has the max
ing OF an artist OF first quality
Her name is Miss Georgiana Billings
She comes from q ranch at Creig, Mont,
and at present she is a student at the
Art League, I'm New York Her tuition
is being paid for by Mr.. DE Cordova. who
will see that nothing stands in the way OF
. thorough education.
The story OF how the New York banker
and the daughter of a ranchmsn hap
years ago, when the girl was poring
over the pages of a magazine in her Mon
tana home.
At that time she saw a sketch OF Mr..
DE Cordova in connection with an ar
ticle on carrier pigeons. AS she had long
ed for some of these birds on the ranch,
she decided tnen and there to make her
wisn know to the New Yorker
She had no money with which TO buy
any: nevertheless she had collection or
white mice, and she wondered whether
she could make trade
So she sent her first letter. in which
she expressed herself AS opposed To ask
ing for birds for nothing, and hoping that
an exchange could he made with the
white mice.
After receiving this note, Mr.. DE Cordo-
va declined the offer of white mice, but
sent the pigeons as a gift. He naturally
received another letter i'm reply. and a
= l.. tl...
Once or twice the girl inclosed pen
sketches, which she had made at home
and which. Mr.. De Cordova thought,
showed indica tions OF talent
At all events he took occasion TO pass
them among his friends, and I'm that way
got many words OF commendation for his
Montana girl
Then Mr. Gorfova, who had taken-a
fancy TO the young Westerner, induced
her husband to write 10 Mr.. and Mrs.
Billings for the purpose OF seeing wheth-
er the daughter might not be brought
East so that she might continue her
studies with pen and pencil under the
best of tuition.
Both father and mother gave their per-
mission. and as a result Miss Billings,
who had never dreamed of such good for
tune, stepped off train In New York
city a few weeks ago and was welcomed
by the banker and his wife.
Notwithstanding the fact that she Is yet
In her teens, Miss Billings has done some
remarkable work
Harry Watrous. 10 whom I showed
some OF her sketches" said Mr.. Cordova
70 a reporter, says that the girl has far
more than ordinary ability-that she is
q genius Frederick Remington also says
that her pen and ink work is wonderful,
which leads me to think that / may have
discovered an artist of ability.
''fn addition to her drawing continued
Mr. Cordova, "she has done considerable
work Az a writer of poetry. and has had
verse printed In prominent magazines
She dedicated one poem to us. Her pic
lures are principally those OF animals
which she has been associated with on
the ranch / have two horses heads
which she drew hung in my banking Of
flee"
Miss Billings for the present Is living
with friends of Mr.. Cordova.
TO PREVENT TaE GRIP