The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-09-17

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and the nude flesh is noticeably pittcd as
though the attrition from the rains Of
centuries had eaten into lie splendid
muscles. In short, the original Venus to-
day is sadly deficient In the matter of
complexion, though her serene beauty
is but little marred by this.
A person with her grand muscles, cX-
quistcly undulating bust and 4ueenly
head might well give the ha-ha TO cos
mctlcs and face powder and sill be little
the worse for It.
This comparatively insignificant blemish
in the statue is mentioned because those
who see the copies Of the figure do not
have their attention called to the minor
defects. The smaller the copy The more
imperceptible the surface mutlations,
which in a figure two feet high would
not be noticed at all.
In every home whore the people Ike
to be considered artistic, one may find
some sort OF imitation of This precious
survivor of classic Grecan sculpture. AS
have said, the offspring of the Venus
of Milo are as the sands of the sea.
Bogus Vcnuses In the 1imlnucnds are
made from every conceivable material.
/ haven doubt that Boston babies cut
their teeth on gutta pcrchl or Indian
rubber limitations and assuredly they
ought to delight in so doing
Up at our house we have n Venus made
in imitation of old ivory, though why
any woman so gloriously plump should
be reproduced In anything even vaguely
suggestive of hone Is more than can see.
Still, she Is IL dream OF 10 ,eliness au,l
the Queen Bee, who generally likes TO
have an explanation when ! admire 9th
or women. allows ME to adore my goddcHs
as much as please And do adore he.
even as Pygmalion adored mis- ivory
Galatca. Nay more, grow poetic ana re-
call the words the real goddess address,
cd to Pygmalion's beloved.
20 maiden, in mine image made!
o grace that shouldst endure.
While temples fall, and empires fade,
Immediately pure:
Exchange this endless life Of art
For beauty that must die.
And" blossom with beating heart
Into mortality.
Change silent lips forever fair,
TO lips that have their day.
oh, perfect arms, grow soft with life.
Wax warm, ere cold ye wane;
Wake, woman's heart, from peace to
strife,
TO love, to joy, to pain!'
But here, again, experience a shock
for once more / am rudely reminded of
tho fact that my Venus has no perfect
arms" to grow soft with life" They
are gone gone, gone--and their passing
ls a mystery OF the centuries that have
become irrcvoca bic. No man can guess
their fate. A thousand times, when idly
dreaming of things impractical, ] have
sought In my imagination to replace the
missing limbs and 70 pose them as they
were before vandal hands did their sncrc-
iglous work But all IN vain. The Venus
or Milo Is the one woman on earth who
can keep her secret. 1t cannot be wrcsted
from her
Nor is my enjoyment Of this gem OF art
allowed TO proceed without other limita-
lions even more larrassng. The Queen
Bee for Instance, though tolerant Of my
weakness. has little sympathy for ny
half-drapcd idol. II the truth must be
told the good woman isn't bothered with
the artistic temperament except Insofar
as that temperament pertains to tho Icing
on pound cake or the crispncss of a
Pie crust.
you may rave over that battered up
old thing all you want says she, ''but
for my part I've got the courage to say
she isn't decent. If she Is as beautiful
as YOU pretend to think, It seems TO-
me she'd show to equal advantage with
more clothes on
Nor is my sentitvc Imagination let off
merely with the. scornfu expressions fall
ing from the lips Of this discerning help
meet The statue, IN soo,h, has brought
me into absolute contempt with the coll
ored race,
When our cook heard what the thing
cost, she actually had TO struggle TO
Keen from Dncnly DrOClaimng me an