Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-12-24
TWO TALENTED SISTERS.

There live in Cambridge, at 101 Walden
Street, two very talented sisters, the
Misses Maxim. Their real calling is
music, Miss May Maxim being an ex-
tremely fine piano player, and devoting
herself during the winter months to
teaching on that instrument, while her
sister, Miss Martha Maxim, plays the
violin with much skill.
There are few of us who make use Of
our moments of recreation to produce
anything really worth while, but these
two young women, during the summer
months, spend their time in the creation
of the beautiful. The results of this
time SO well spent are on exhibition and
sale at their home, every afternoon, ex-
cept Wednesday and Friday, from now
until Christmas.
All around the walls are hung water
color and oil paintings, the work of Miss
May Maxim, mostly sketches of natural
scenery around this part of the country,
although there are several fruit and
flower pieces. BY far the most pleas
ing picture is called the "Pride of the
Forest" and depicts lane, currying
away for an indefinite distance, bordered
by tall, stately white birches, painted
from nature near Wollaston. Other
landscapes bring to ones mind scenes
about Chestnut Hill reservoir, Waver-
ley and the marine views of Annisquam,
Boston harbor and the Maine coast. In
all this variety of scene and subject, Miss
Maxim gives an individuality to each
picture, brings out the perspective and
reproduces natures harmony of color.
There is also an exhibition of photo
graphs of foreign travel, taken by Miss
Martha Maxim, which, because OF her
artistic nature, are works of art, from
the point of view of effectiveness and
grouping. One picture, 1.-The Sheep
fold" we have heard commented upon,
as quite excelling any amateurs work
ever known. Her pictures of Irish life
are very typical, chosen with view to
bring out the national characteristics.
Another line OF her work is shown in
her collection of butterflies and bugs,
which she has mounted with effective
ness. Another member of this talented
family should not be overlooked. On
the wall is poem illustrated in water
color, framed and mounted, the compo-
sition of brother, W. w. Maxim.
Probably no home in Cambridge has
more interesting collection of antique
furniture, which is also on exhibition,
than has this home of the Maxims. One
of these articles is an old 'chest of
drawers" the chest being mounted over
two drawers. Another is an old chair,
cut out by hand in l7SS. The most
valuable piece of furniture is a genuine
Louis XIV sofa, an heirloom of the
family, which came from the palace at
Versailles. The lines of the gold frame
are graceful and the original red satin
brocade still covers the back of the
sofa. 1t is rare indeed that such a speci-
men of the art of the period of Louis XIV
finds it's way to America, and the owners
of this one have been offered by col
lectors, large sums for it, but it is too
princely seat to give up.
Whoever may go to this home, this
month, will be received with quiet
dignity and gentle courtesy by these
two sisters, quite in keeping with the
works of art and the stately furniture
Cambridge (Mass.) Chronicle, Dec. Z,
1901.