The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-18

that of a born ruler of men. modest though
he is, and even shy like the Empress. Even
in the ordinary conversation that accom-
panied our sittings or the family gatherings
where 1 painted l gained the knowledge
that the Car has a warm emotional ma
ture and a vigorous intellect, that beneath
his quiet exterior there is passion and en-
thusiasm. l think, also, that L realized
that this beautiful Empress of bushes and
downcast eyes, by her long residence in
England with her grandmother, Queen Vic
toria-she was. you know, a lonely and
motherless girl, being only six when Prln-
cess Alice died-has been given a greater
equality of feeling that would have been
possible, perhaps, had she lived more In
Germany.
Both the Gar and Czarina spoke fire.
quently of America and Americans, and al
ways in the most cordial way. He gave
for his chief reason for admiring our coun-
try the fact that lit did not bother about
what other nations think" and in speaking
OF the battle of Manila he referred TO Ad-
miral Dewey's victory as "a splendid
achievement"
Most of my work was done at Winter
Palace in St. Petersburg, but on several oc-
casions l was called to sittings at Tsarkoe
Seloe, the royal summer residence sixteen
miles outside of the capital. Overwhelming
as is its size. beautiful as are the cnaiets
scattered through it's forests, splendid as
are such rooms as the one foored with
ebony inlaid with mother-of-pearl, 1t was
none Of these that interested me most, put
the fact that here the Car and his bride
spent their honeymoon. Here practically
alone. they passed almost all of the hrst
winter, receiving absolutely no one except
ministers of state, and these. only wnen
upon important business, the Czarina dis
pensing much of the time even with the at
tendance of her lady in-waiting.
When / was about to leave Russia the
Empress cordially pressed me to return the
following year, and so l should have done
had l not had that ungovernable Impulse
TO go to South Africa and paint Cecil
Rhodes. the photographs of whose power
full head had an irresistible fascination for
me. and who turned out to be as a sitter,
oh. the worst of alli-like a Gagged lion In
nv studio. Yet his only unfavorable com
ment en- the portrait was the someWhat
pathetic query: Cant you make me look
a little KINDER
so welcome that / felt inexpressibly sad
at parting. More than that, 1t had been
delightful to find them imbued with sucn
a true appreciation Of art. Repeatedly they
showed me that they felt that artists are
few. and that great artists are geniuses;
This they nave been taught from blrtn, ano
their love for the beautiful is natural, sur
rounded as they have been from childhood
with great masterpieces. Then, too, IT is an
inspiration to be with them, for they &c
everything so we'll and with all their hearts
They seem to realize that if 1t is not worth
doing that way it is not worth doing al
all. and they Just don't.
Royalty is not formidable. 1t is very
human. 1t is. of course, above all, abso-
lutely we'll bred. and hence, is charming
and lovable in it's home life. 1t never dis,
appoints an artist in an appointment. Al
their off days, you may be sure. ike the
rest of us poor mortals-tired headachy
and all that: but there is never one worc
of complaint. far less any indication of neg
lecting the sitting. How different is TIL:
from the ordinary woman of society, witt
whom the slightest indisposition or fatigue
is sufficient excuse for a broken engage
ment. l really feel that the life OF mon
archs like those of Russia is one long, gen
erous and kindly self-sacriice; but it mus
sometimes be heart-breaking 10 live UP Il
the law of noblesse oblige-"