The Yale expositor., 1902-05-16

You have seen the engraving OF the
monument created by David Dangers
20 the memory OF Marcos Botzaris.
and you know whether or not the
great sculptor was successful in his
determination that ne who fell at Mis-
solonghi should have monument
worthy OF his heroism and patriotism.
The story OF that monument. a sad
and pretty tale. Is little known-too
little known. We forget too easily.
There Is no longer BCtzar 8. there Is
no longer Mayrocordato. Misso-
longhi itself Is remembered but as
1 the place where Byron dieu. and even
then only when one says "Mlssoloaghl
-1S2i.' And that Is a long time ago.
The day David Dangers found the
inspiration he sought for his monu-
ment TO Botzlris. he was walking
among the tombs OF Pcre-la -Chaise.
/ He saw a young girl lying on a s ave-
stone. at full length. tracing with "A
colored chalk the name Marcos Bot
zaris" on the headstone OF the tomb.
She had just finished the last one OF
the letters on the otherwise blank
Shaft OF marble.
My child" David called 10 her. as
he approached. why do you write
that name upon that tomb? That
tomb has nothing 20 do with Bot
zaris.
II know Il. Monsieur" she replied.
~ simply came here for a walk. and
was thinking OF Marcos Dotzaris. Be-
sides. the monument has nothing TO
| do with him because Il IL not half
good enough for him. beautiful as IL
Ia in its simplicity"
why do you think II Is not good
enough for him." the sculptor asked.
"He was a Greek. Monsieur" she
said. simply.
She wept. David took note OF her.
She was about fourteen. just budding
into womannood. with the travail ~
the transition expressed In her every
! feature. every limb.
Here. he said 20 himself. was no,
only the subject for his composition.
but the model Cor his art as well. His
statue took shape In MS mind. This
! girl. he thought TO himself won rep
resent. copied In stone. 10 the most
casual observer the struggle for free
| dom. She would bend for him over
the tomb OF B.tzG Is 70 dra; the sec
OF that freedom from him and give
20 the world in eiligied marble he
story Botzaris fell too soon to finish.
| Dawning life. the reincarnation of
liberty. would take up the wC~k OF the
dead. in It's ever continuing effort 20
ID ~ A. a NaN
masterpiece.
Questioning the girl. he learned
4 nothing. Sc had nothing TO tell. she
! said Her name? She woulc not give
Il. Her residence? She shook her
head. She toid him nothins beyon
that she happened 20 be in PeTe-la-
| Chaise for walk.
David seated himself upon n ne'rhy
tomb and commenced 10 speak OF his
monument lie prefaced his remarks
with the question:
You are n Gre ek?"
] as Monsieur es." she sa d. oui-
Is raising her head.
/ AZ Lrst she listened 10 him incredu-
| lousy. When ne spoke OF her cou1-
try's war for freedom. and his own
ideal OF independence. a 3.e knd!e /
in her eyes. and he Tod her tears.
and listened, si'ondy cntranc d. sh W
ing only by her heey'ng young breast
and the flashing OF her eyes. the emo
ton his words occlsione" her.
At length he reached the point Of
his conversation. Would she pose for
him?
Il. Monsieur. I" she exclaimed. In
n p1roxysm OF cage ness and Joy as
she sprang TO her feet.
yes" she sa q. lie began 90 speak
OF paying her for the sittings she
should give him, but she would no,
y listen.
Il want no pay" she said. at lie
1 for HIM"
Come" she continued. us the
studio OF Monsieur near? Let US
start"
he was puzzled. lie did not know
what 20 make OF her. But 10 David
ID Anglers tho words patriot" and
patriotism" meant something almost
sacred. She had IN her. ne saw me-
thing Of the spirit OF Missolonghi. Il
was better so. Better for his work
better for MIN. better for her.
so be It." he said. at length.
Come"
He led her home with him at once
and the FIRST sitting was commenced
Silent. wrapped In her own q oughtS.
with the exact expression upon her
3 Il!
~ -. = y
~ - ~ 4