The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-29
KING EDWARDS SISTER.
sIGNoR CoRsI, THE PRINCESS
LOUIsE,s FAvoRITE MODEL.

|
| Her Highness-She Works Hard,
Then Rests and smokes-Can I'm
bend on occasions-Funny story of
"A property Baby"
New York, Sept. 27.-Among the most
interesting characters that have for
some time arrived in New York from
abroad is Signor Antonio Corsi, for
seventeen years the favorite. not only
of such distinguished painters as Sar-
| gent, Abbey, Leighton, Alma Tadema
and others. but also of the Princess
Louise, now Duchess of Argyle, and
her cousin, the Countess Feodore
Gleichen.
! OF all these celebrated personages
Signor Corsi has many interesting
things to relate, and in particular of
! his royal patron, of whose kindness and
| generosity he speaks in grateful terms.
| For the last two years and a half, y
| says Signor Corsi, Il have been posing
for the figure of the Christ in the
| Princess Louise's most ambitious work
in sculpture. the subject being life
size representation of the crucifixion.
Generally once or sometimes twice a
week during that period received an
sington Palace"
1.-THE studios of the Princess, for
| there are two, one for sculpture and
the other for painting, possess a strict
ly workshop atmosphere. There are
no costly draperies, old armor or easy
l'chairs; but only the necessary tools
and other paraphernalia of a real ar
list"
LAS a rule Princess Louise works
for three or four hours at a time with
| deep earnestness, only pausing occa-
sionally to light a cigarette during a
short rest. When, however, she con-
siders her work for the day over. she
casts her tools and her seriousness
aside together, and ordering tea to be
served, seems pleased to spend half
an hour in conversing upon any topic
of general interest For the informa-
ton of those who may imagine that
royal personages are so hedged in by
etiquette and ceremonial that they are
not we'll informed of all that is going
, on l may say that such is by no
, means the case; and not only this, but
that to those whom they are pleased
to accord a certain degree of famil-
! iarity and whom they can trust, rhey
appear to be very like the majority of
people of good breeding and education.
OF this / had many Illustrations not
only with the Princess Louise, but
with other members of the British roy.
al family"
To illustrate this Mr.. Corsi then re-
lates the following personal incident
which took place at the recent opening
of the bazaar at Albert Hall in aid of
wounded soldiers by the Princess
Louise.
II had been to the palace to leave
some costumes" continues Mr.. Corsi.
land noticing a great crowd outside
the Albert Hall, 1 crossed over to see
what was going on. With some diff
Guilty managed to get near the main
entrance just at the moment that the
Princess was leaving the building to
enter her carriage. She had barely
seated herself, when, CHANGING to turn
her head, she noticed me standing
close by, hat in hand. Then not a lit
tie to my surprise, and certainly to
that of the bustanders. she called out:
Hello, Corsi! w t are you doing
there?"
royal highness.' I replied, Just like
the rest of the crowd -
Oh she returned. We'll, remem-
Der tomorrow. Be sure you remember
Tomorrow
'I bowed as the carriage drove slow
ly away, but not before she had turn
ed twice to emphasize her command.
what the people about me thought at
my being addressed so Familiarity by
royal parsonage I don't know, but
from their amazed countenances, in
which was mingled even an expression
of awe, I fancy they must have set
me down as foreign prince at least.
Indeed, two reporters pounced on me
at once"
" She seems to know you very we'll,
said one, whipping out pad"
" Very 1 replied tersely. Then as
they commenced to ply me with ques-
tons I turned on my heel and walked
away. Next day when l related the
incident to the Princess she commend
ed me for my prudence in not talking
to those inquisitive' people,"
In connection with the Princess art
work, Mr.. Corsi tells an amusing story
of an assistant model and a property
baby. She was anxios to paint a pic
ture of a soldier about to take leave
of his wife and child on going out to
the Boer war. Mr. Corsi was to pose
for the soldier, and the Princess COM
missioned him to find overnight a re-
spectacle woman with a baby for the
other two characters, as she wished
to commence the picture early next
day. 1t was then late Sunday afternoon
so he had little time to carry out her
command BY diligent search he man.