The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-08-07
Is mo death has never had any
terrors, and In my pictures !
have endcayored to teach that;


q GAsssEESsNlfNho has not realized the trdth
OF the words or this master OF modern
y painters, as he has 5sto BOD be fore that In
p comparable dineation of the great kind
angel who crosses the threshold Of every
home, whom passionate love is rowerless
to restrain. but who, In the strength 3of
his wisdom. leads forth the human soul
& into the larger places Of eternity. The
q gentle angel: has called the grea test
!, painter OF the Victorian nge out Of time
2 into eternity.
tits difficult for some OF ,ls to realize B
that G.. r. Watts is no longer the leader
4 or idaalisuc art he vol Id over. ssignor.,'a
b as we who loved him always called him.
4 tho youngest spirit and the purest mind (
II that God ever Kept for eighty-seven years
M In this world, which he illumined by his
b art and upl fitted by his serene and dignl-
W fled III lie. S!s3 If ;siis5 g IS
The earliest days can re men1ber arc
* all interviewer With memories "A OF 81 his
great painter. I can still picture the
s sunny afternoons with him in@the old gar
den at Kcnslng ton, and l well remember
3 the Interest with which I used to sit
on his knee and plat his beard. while
3 he suffered with patience the torment Of
& my whm. d.
The quaint, gabled house has long since
& been pulled down, rows OF modern villas
I; stand on the site; but when the telegram
came yesterday that told me he was gone
4 q flood of mem cries poured into my mind
as I&recalledsth old home OF which he
81 ~ as the last survive
Little Holland House, as 1t was called,
4 was part OF the Holland House estate
t was rented by my uncle and aunt. MI
! and Mrs Prinsep. He had been fam ous
( in India as a member OF the old East
India Council, and she was noted for her
I beauty and the grace OF her hospitality.
81 AIr.&yYatts bcca mo an inmate of his home
y be fore&I was born 1t happened. be-
s3lieyc in this wise. Mr.. and Mrs. Prnseps
were dining with the great Lord Holland,
one8of the artists earliest irons. who
had given him his first rcmuneratiye COM
missions, and set him on the road a 20
q fame. Mr.. Watts sat next to my aunt at
Il dinner. He was Ill and depressed ! never
X a robust man., he was suffering acutely.
ID She was a woman OF Int nse sylnnath ny
with a. fine generous disp tion. 80 Come
to my house Tomorrow and let me nurse
q Syou,,,'a she said. Tho artist took her ats
e her word, drove to their house next day,
1 and remained a member Of their family
circle for thirty-nve years. "
81 Little Holland House was the centre OF
the best intellectual and literary society
OF that day Men and women Of all L
shades OF thought. OF all politics, Of all
creeds gathered there. II can still see the
green shaded lawns. with the figures:
which have become historical sitting un-s
4. der the trees. or playing croquet, WI ichA
was in those days a real ly$ serious con-
test, Il E rs 81, III. l5
Darwin and Sir james Pa get. JoWett. y
1 the Master Of Ballot; Manning, DR.. Brad
q ley, Dean OF jNestminster;2 ] ohm NJ llais.$
+ Dante, Gabrielle Rossettl, Burnc-Jones.
Sir Henry aylor, William M orris, Tenny-S
son and BROWNING. l.ecky, Fronde, Mrs.
Ii Norton and Mr.. Gadstone We're among
the many guests to be found IN tina hos
pitabls home, Conyentlonallty was ull-
Z known. I'll Is v.
The beautiful woman. andkher still more
beautiful sisters. who formed the centre
Of this delightful society. regardless &ofl
Il the passing fashions of their time, OF
crinolines and frisettes looked as though
they had stepped straight from an 1talT
ian fresco, although nothing hey wore
seemed grotesqua or Ina ppro prla te, i
q Was an atmosphere ~ comple te harmony
In thought III taste and In inte!lect
q Such were the surrounding Of the great
x painter whom In childhood Y loved ana ana
i In womanhood T reyerenced. n hing
could equal the simplicity OF his life and
4 tas tes. He rose With the sun and he
went to bed as the sun set, and therein
lay the secret OF that marvellous Vitality
Which Mr. Watts still possessed in adyan-l
ced old age, ITO b live! a. healthy life q
Is he used to say;S to have the body In
which your sou r wells In good working
order-that Is surely the first duty Of
tho religious man. II
86ls5 II have never been strong, have been
compelled to live wit great care. have
never drunk wine or smoked n Greater
things were done in the world before
fbaccos was discovered than have been
done since. The oil gazette Is the handmade
81 OF idleness.
@si5 IN late years. after his marriage with
Miss Fraser Tyler,, Mr. Watts lived chief
B " In his delightful house In the woods
OF Surrey. IT was the mast restful
place I have ever known,' said Cecil
Rhodes after a visit there, Everything
seemed at peace. The atmosphere of So