The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-16
AREvELAT,oN INA POSTER.

when they had responded TO the glory OF
some primeval sunset. The cabmen and
omnibus drivers caught glimpses Of that
pale witehery at every corner, went
about 4 TRANSPORTED London, with seri-
GUS. joyous faces.
THE remarkable poster said the Orb
CT Light, which has created so great
a sensation il London today has, from q
distance, the appearance Of marble pill
aster, with poryphry- colored capital and
base On nearer approach we fad on the
| capital, in artistic letters OF j darker hue.
Browning Revival and on the base,
Phiiippa Fetherston as the Queen If a
Balcony
The wonder of the poster lies in what
1 have roughly designated as the pilas-
ter. On the surface of this, rich and
smooth as marble, our famous actress is
drawn, leaning out over golden bal
cOny-a dream of exquisite desisn-the
pale red-gold hair of the actress, the blue
Of her eyes. which have the mysterious
intensity of Watts Dweller in the Inner
most and some suggested mystery Of
peoples in the marble floor of the bal
coRy; these are the only indications Of
cOlor-the sky, intense with yon first
trembling star And the queen that looks
out on you IS rot painted n color, but
in some strange medium between marble
and soul.
''rhe artist has given US more than an
exquisite picture: he has given Us more
than supreme allegory; he has given rs
power of understanding TO realize the
marvellous genius of Phillippa Fether-
ston"
When Phiilippa Fetherston herself came
suddenly face 70 face with the poster, IL
affected her with a shock almost Of hor
ror. 1t was as if some Utmost self some
PARKWAY white thing, had been brought
into fierce day for the world TO stare at
But presently she forgot everything II
delight ar the imagination OF the cOncep-
ton.
A little group Of children who rad stood
speIl-bourd, fascinated by the length of
time that the tall, pale Lady looked at The
/ picture dispersed as she got into her car
rage and drove away. She put down at
the office of the advertisement contrac-
tors. but was inform ed there that no
| copies Of the poster were obtainablc The
artist had refused TO allow any to be
placed on the market, though, 10 doubt,
| the demand for them would be great, and
| large prices obtainable-
But, doubtless" said Philippe, he
would allow me TO have copy; it would
/ be an-an inspiration to me-
Would you care to go 20 his work
shop?" said :he clerk; cit is not far from
here. 1 think it is your best chance
His Workshop" murmured Philppa
to herself as she drove away" Blooms
bury-is It possible that the supreme art
ist IS poor. unsuccessful? But if so. why
refuse TO sell copies to collectors II
would be rather terrible to see this man
who has read me through and through
like q book-this unknown stranger who
mas had his fingers on the very pulse Of
my soul
At any rate. she must know.
Philippa examined the board at the
door: Fifth foor-Mr. Josh Whitley"
With some trepidation she began to go up
the stone stairs. She reached the top at
last. There was the implanted door with
the name, Mr.. Josh Whitley upon IT.
she hesitated-knocked. An answer came
and she went in.
She distinguished a herculean form
standing before an upright easel. Boards
stood round the unpapered walls, stacks
Of paper lay on the focr. one rickety
chafr-a board on trestles-that was the
only furniture.
Mr.. Josh Whitley was smoking a pipe
Seeing that his visitor was lady ne put
1t into his pocket and opened the window
at the top Then he brought forward the
chair. Philippa sat down. The atmos-
phere gradually cleared.
He was in his shirt sleeves, and had on
2 large apron, such as house painters
wear. His face was massively built, ana
furrowed with lines. 1t was Illuminated
at every corner by an extraordinary
alertness. She did not find anything to
say. but she was glad that she had come.
He stood looking at her. Neither Of
them felt any constraint. TIE great pos
ter that made the link between them
was pinned on the wall facing her. Pres
emily her eyes turned in its direction,
and he spoke:
You have come to see about this?''
She nodded How did you known she
asked slowly.
Know what?"
AN thst you have made that poster
say"
7 have studied you closely" he re-
piled, for years
You have seen me on the stage, you
! have seen me acting" she faltered: but
/ here you have painted my real self, not
my actress-self."
I OWNED it," he said, from the first.
in all your impersonations it was you,
and you only, that ! saw. Tides Of divers
emotions flowed through your acting
tides whose source was the universal
heart Of 1hings-but al caught and werc
colored by the peculiar tint Of your indi-
vidualty.
Let me show you this portfolio OF
drawings. They would have made my
fortune long ago had I allowed them TO
be published. They are ali you-yOu,
/ Philippa FetherstOn-as yoI mace the
great poems and tragedies Of the stage
I shine through your flesh and blood
This was the first time 7 saw you
! Miranda-years ago now I was begin
ming 10 lose faith and hope. yOu gave ne
the key that opens the gardens OF Beauty
and of Truth.
See here-Agnes, in Ibsen's Brand
To think that there should sul be sin
and seIfshness in the world after that
performance! See here-the Lady u I-y-
I ons, Galatea. See here-Judet, Desie-
mona
1T is terrible" said Phillips. quite
pale: lit is the very soul laid bare
Il felt Il 50; these were too sacred for
the world TO see. swore that during our
ives the portfolio should never bc open
81 except by u1yself-that I woGld never
show the pictures TO any one Uuiess-
should the impossible happen. 10 you.
There are things so beautiful. 50 init
mate. that II is sacriiege for any but
vsorshipers 70 see them. You have felt
this. have you not? 7 have not wrong
fully withheld from the wore these. my
secret songs OF thanksgiving
Il have felt IL FL litcratBre-ves often
said Fhlippa. y am glad that these
these wonderful pictures were not posted
IN Ike streets. I hardly urierrtand WIZ
YOU have made ar exception Of In a
Balcony
The public VIII see in this poster
ssid the painter not Philippa blt the
queen-the queen who IS weary - q weird
If shadows and hunge-lllg Cor human
love They VIII discrss Browning. ard
fhirk Norbert 4 poor fellow Tor choosing
I Constance Eow should they gless tnat
THIS May be merely q medium - rcveia-
ton for yonr latest mood
Phuippa vas profoundly moved lie
had read her Nirh absolute correctness
T -n--rr "a. ~ rr-.rrzrr Ter.f She -.Fn