Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-02

/ he will cast it. The effort, will end, how
ever, 1t Is said, with an ode to Herr d.
/! Bornier, Rostand's predecessor in the
/ academy, and in this ode will be found
| the only poetic feature Of the production
There viii soon be offered to public
| view at the second annual exhibition OF
the Carnegie Art Galleries in Pittsburg
/ J. a. Mcneil Whist1srs picture of the
| Failing Rocket" This picture first be
| came famous because of "a libel sui!
| brought by the painter against John Rus
| kin. for the writer's criticism OF the Pro
| duction. Ruskin in an article on the
Modern School, wrote Of the Failing
| Rocket" II have seen and heard much
Of cockney impudence before now, but
| never expected to hear coxcomb ash
200 guineas for flinging q pot OF pain
! in the public's face
In the libel suit which followed this
| article Ruskin called in some famous
| critics as witnesses OF these, Tom Tay.
| lor. editor Of Punch declared that MI
| VVhistler's pictures came only one steI
nearer pictures than d delicately tinted
! wallpaper" w. P. Firth. who said it was
toss-up whether he became an artist
| or an auc,ioneer, said the picture was
| not worth 200 guineas, and Edward
! Burne-Jones testified that the work could
| be painted in half a day.
| The suit was won by Whistler, and his
| critic was made to pay one farthing dam
| ages. The picture has since that time
| been famous and is now worth much NOR.
| than the 200 guineas originally paid for
! it. AS for it's composition. it Is nothing
moro than urid sky for back
| ground. and naring against this, a splash
w, oily oh, opY <n Ia
| Its painter testified that it represented
| q life time of thought.
The whole history of the, case Is gfver.
| in Whistlers Gentle Art of Making Enc
miles, a very characteristic book, which
opens with the unique dedication.
ITO the rare few, who. early in life
rid themselves Of the friendships Of the
many, these pathetic papers are IN
scribed."
| Among the several young writers whom.
death has claimed in the last few years
not one had developed so large a fulfil
ment Of early promise as Frank Norris
who died in San Francisco last week
When Mr.. Norriss first book, ''N1c
! league" appeared. Jeanette T.. Glider.
who is a most careful critic, and an ap|
one, her approval of 1.-THE Descendant
! it will be remembered being the forerun-
| ner Of the chorus Of praise which, after.
| wards greeted Miss Glasgow's work, hail
| ed the young author a S the American Bal
zac. The lighter stories which Norris
wrote to ease his spirit after the depres-
! sion OF "McTeague." were not unusual
yet they showed a sure vein of hurnor and
| won him many friends. But in 1.-THE
| Octopus his next work, his genius mac
| for the first time begun to blossom to Its
| fullest flower. The scope Of this work is
! rem: kable. The story is not an over
cumbersome one and yet In q sense, It's
! thought it we'll nigh all embracing I.
| expands to the open sky and to the vast
| amplitures Of the unbounded West, yet
| narrows it's thought to the small mean.
| ness Of human greed and cruelty. I:
! works with the best art Of the realist.
with sordid and blatant exactions, yet
raises its fancy to ideal dreams of sweet
ness and light. It is practical, intense
ugly. tragic. allegorical, human, realistic
and poetic, all in one, and In a long ar
ray Of contemporary novels, holds the
memory after many Of the others have
| passed into that LIMBO Of forgotten things
which is their fitting place Of rest.
THE Octopus" was the first story in q
triology Of tales which was to set forth
1.-The epic Of the wheat from planting tt
its conversion into bread. "The Pit,"stIlt
second story in the series, is now running
in The Saturday Evening Post. prior to
its appearance in book form. It is su.
posed that the author died without having
written the completing novel which was
to have detailed the relief, through ship
load of American wheat, Of the distress
OF q famine stricken village in Europe.
ANNE PENDLETON