New-York tribune., 1903-01-25

is the season fOr artists Tnooels. Inc
quarters OF Montmartre and Montparnasse
swarm with them. Women models, who pose
IN the studies OF Bouguereau. Gerome, Rodin,
C7ervex. Gandara Boutet de Monvel. Boldini,
Dubois and other prominent painters sculpt-
ors present & highly interesting feature Of
Partisan life. and a woman writer, Mime. Marie
Ianarcerie has just completed some instructive
studies Of the conditions and struggles Of a
calling by means OF which over three thousand
women and girls in France earn their livelihood
Nine Marie Laparcerie has devoted several
weeks TO psychological Investigations of women
models She has visited them at their homes,
she has taken meals with them. and she has ac-
con1panied them 10 art academies and studios.
With Nine Marie Laparcerie's permission L
give summary Of q few intimate gimpses
into the true lives Of the young women who
have genuine claims to the sympathy of all
lovers OF art and who are little understood in
Paris and abroad
It was o'clock on a cold, windy December
evening that Nine. Laparcerie entered a narrow,
dark street on the heights of Montmartre-
A little girl with a nlilkcan emerged from a
doorway
Tell me where No : is. please mademoi-
eelez"
Straight ahead; then just around the corner,
and then the first door to your left.
On the fifth hoor.' says the concierge.
There is no gas in the stairway above the third
story So cropping about in the dark, Nine.
Iaparcerie knocked at a door, which is opened
sbv q tall girl with soft pleasing voice.
Mile. Theresa?"
Yes am Mile. Theresa; what DO you want?"
Mime. Laparcerie handed Mile. Theresa few
lines Of introduction from well known artist.
and explained that she wished to gather some
notions Of the everyday existence Of Partisan
models
"Au right" replied Mile. Theresa, with a
bright smile but If you had come five minutes
later YOU would not have found me"
Yen were about TO 90 out for your work."
No. / was going to my Restaurant
"oh. let me accompany you, and We can dine
together"
WHY not? Come along" exclaimed the merry
aittIe model.
Nine Laparcerie thus narrates the subsequent
conversation, which with true Partisan vivacity
gives q graphic picture Of her Investigations
The light was extinguished, the door Of the
erartnnent locked and a start made for the
restaurant
Don't you ever take your meals at home!
Not at this time Of the year; 1 am far too
fnlsv I posed this morning and also this after
noon"
How long do your poses last?"
Two. three. and sometimes four and, once IN
q while five hours.
are YOU ilalO De the IOul VI - III A-~'
BY the pose-usually five francs.
Then You have gained to-day 10 francs GS2)?"
YES but l cannot count upon gaining 10
francs every day. The dull season is long, and
then for a month there is no work at
all; but by putting something aside one can get
along fairly well, provided no sickness inter-
3eres"
Tell me how you MANAGE"
Well you have seen my room It is small
but clean My clothes cost very little and
often get presents Of dresses linen from
well TO do artists. AT my little restaurant L
spend about 10 cents for each meal, and, as
you VIII see ore eats fairly well there
We came TO q small eating house with few
fresh vegetables displayed in the window and
entered a low room with few wooden tables
and with sanded floor
Here We arer' said my companion, lets
have some soup TO get US warm sat at a
little table facing the model
VIII you take a quarter or haif?"
OF what?"
Why Of wine, of course"
1t doesn't matter TO me; order what you
like" The model then called the waiter and
ordered. Two soups and two quarters
Tel me something about how you came to be
a model?"
J arrived IN Paris when eighteen years old
with diploma from my native town in Alsace
very III paid situation, and saw that there was
30 future before me as a governess and in three
months sought for something better. one
morning 1 read in a newspaper an advertise
Tcent demanding models for Greek costumes l
went 10 the address indicated, and gave up my
place as governess. After four sittings, the
FAINTER who employed me wanted me to pose
FOR the ensemble or the nude. / refused TO 90
mis-. and as soon as the poses for the Greek
costumes were finished he paid me and sent me
away. I was then on the streets of Paris with
only few francs in my pocket hesitated
lo2g time before deciding 10 become a profes-
s.rnal model for the ensemble but want and
hunger forced me 20 come a rapid decision,
aid I sought the first opportunity for posing
that was open 10 me"
tine9"
Yes indeed il was and / cried"
But the artists after all. pay scarcely any
attention 10 your personality"
oh, there is a great difference among the art
l'1s in this respect Some OF them regard us
Atrely II we were plaster canvas. But
~ The Paris artists altogether. and especially
Ice American artists they treat nicely, ana
} respectfully and you cannot realize nov
& -aJly We appreciate it,
The little model here became thoughtful. but
suddenly asked: What shall we eat after the
soup? Suppose try a half portion Of roast
oeef- and eome string beans with it? Yes; that