The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-14
SOME ARTISTS MODELS
A Few of the Reasons They Give
for Wanting to Pose.
Artists Who Employ Them Seldom
Contradict Their Fabulous Tales
of Lost Wenith-Many Models Claim
to lie che original Gibson Girl.

| ''Models?"
The magazine illustrator was in rhilo-
| sophcal mood. He had just finished a
wash drawing and was now smoking his
| pipe in great content, ready to break a
! lance with anyone who might enter the
arena of discussion. says the New York
Sun" But the other members of the gang
| didn't care to exert themselves and the
only outsider present didn't dare.
! Models" repeated the illustrator mus
| ingiy, TO the mind of the average man
an artists model appears as a young
woman of exquisite beauty. wonderfully
gowned, who earns anywhere from $40 TO
SSo day. Models we see them may
| be divided into three classes the Illus
| traitor counted on his fingers with the
stem OF his pipe-"models. fake models,
and models that are no models at ALL"
| Models from choice, from need and
from fad, proposed the miniature paint
| er.
! I'VE all know said the gang.
| But DON'T interposed tffe stranger
THE three classes are equally funny,
| each one in its own way" the illustrator
| resumed. THE difference between them
/ is this: The real models are men and
women who earn a livelihood by hard,
earnest work, and who do their utmost
to assist US artists. The fake models are
mostly vaudeville artists, chorus girls,
and cheap actors who want to tide over
a period of enforced inactivity In the
| same class l would include a number of
| half-starved individuals who think that
! posing offers good way of earning a
| certain number of dollars day, and the
dollars are what their thought is concen-
| trated on
You will please note that these two
classes work, one willingly and interest
| eddy, the other unwiilingIy. indifferently,
| in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES stroke of-six
1 way; but they work. Those whom place
| in the third class-the most numerous ore
don't work at all, except by mistake.
And it is the artist who employs them
who Is guilty of the mistake.
They are wonderfully interesting set
| of people if you regard them from any
other point OF view than the artists.
| Heaven only knows where they come
| from. but our stairways are being worn
| out by them. An overwhelming ma ority
or those who run around to the studios
seem TO belong to that class. Why. If
you want to employ real mojel-a good,
Woodworking model-you must write in
advance and make date. They have gen.
orally arrangements with several artists
to pose one, two, or three days q week
for them, and temporary patrons will
have to take what they can get of the
time left over by the regular customers"
How many real models do you think
there are in this city, asked the stranger
Not twenty" the sculptor broke in
hotly. They are scarcer than gold coins
| in artistic pockets"
II think there must be fifty of them
atleast, yentured the weekly illustrator"
Let's compromise in order to get at
the truth: proposed the magazine Illus
traitor, relightins his pipe. There are GER
tainly not less than ten and certainly not
more than a hundred real models in this
city, who make profession of 1t and try
to put little of their soul into the work.
For, remember, my friend, that dead
model is little better than a lay figure.
But coming back to that remarkable class
of models who are no models, Hine-tenths
of them are women who are nearer to
their second than to their first childhood.
and all of q EN- think they must give an
excuse for Offering to pose"
when one of them opens my door
they rarely hnock-she stops on the
threshold and tries to blush. while she
tears hole in my Oriental rug with the
pcimt of her umbrella.
e hea ". MI Blackanwhite, she lisps
at last, 1 have not always had to pose
No. maybe | answer pleasantly; we
have all enjoyed few happy days of in
fanthood. although it was long ago.
That's not exactly what L meant she
retorts with a kIttenish laugh-oh, they
been in better circumstances she goes on
Only last week sold my two automo-
biles-''
"What!' The expression on the
strangers face indicated firm belief that
some one was trying to string him.
'on my word.' replied the illustrator
IhiS particular conversation occurred
right here only week ago, and that
woman was not at all unusual with re-
gard to magnificent sweeps of fmagina-
ton. Ask the gang"
front. studio man added: THE average
lost fortune of the models, who come
around here is about 100000
why. man." continued the illustrator
''one of these women told me only yester-
day that she had occupied villa at New
port up to a few weeks ago, moving in the
- ~l,a# 81.
was offering to work as model for 50
day.
ri always have my dresses made by
Mrs. Vanastorbilt's tailor. another woman
said recently. I have just had three made
that cost me little less than $500
"A third one wanted to pose just to
at st. Augustine. Fla. at a sl0-a-day no.
tel. There are mighty few of them who
have not been robbed of a large fortune
by an absconding trustee or executor.
Some are European countesses and
princesses and peeresses. Others descend
from George Washington. Hamilton, the
visited last week by two alleged nieces of
President Mckinley, an alleged cousin of
William Jennings Bryan, three alleged fe-
male relatives of Richard Croker. and
and seven women who pretended to be re-
lated to at least one member each of the
Presidents Cabinet. And what artists
they have posed fori
Believe me or no. the original Gibson
girl calls here not less than once a day,
and she looks different every time 1 hap
pen to know the original Gibson girl my
self-the genuine one-a fine Irish girl with
a stunning figure. She posed for him for
years during the period when he was ris-
ing into fame, and she even had to follow
him to Paris. Now she is married 10 q
wealthy broker. She is getting along in
years and putting on flesh, and she Tecog-
nizes her old artist friends not with a sa-
lutte. but with a wink, when she meets
them on the avenue.
ont of five models who cross my TIRES
hold without previous invitations. three at =
least posed for the Diana on the tower of
the Madison Square Garden. There is none
Of them who has not posed at some time
or another, as she says. for St Gaudens.
Ward. and the other big
men.
4 just came from Zorn." said one OF
them the other day. lie is going back to
Europe so that he doesn't need me any
longer. Otherwise l wouldn't be around
here
why. Zorn was out West at the time.
She had never seen him even, but she had
heard his name mentioned in some studio
and had understood tnat he was big
man
do you ever call their bluns?" asked
the stranger.
"Neveri What's the use?
Il have known female models who mar
"ied happily and well and Yet could NOT
he life out of their husbands until they
we're permitted TO resume posing, avoiding
he altogether after that. of course |
hink it is the joyful. congenial, free at
nosphere of the studios that has become
necessity to them. Just as a stirnuIant
axes hold of others or as they say thar
he stage dust. when once Inhaled leaves
oreNer behind a mysterious longing
NictOrin's bridesmaid.