Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-01-27
THE HOME LIFE Of
FAMOUS SCULPTOR
How the Wonderful Rodin Works
AT His Art Even While He
Eats His Meals.
PERSONAL ECCENTRlClTlES.
Oflcn Keeps Particularly Cherished
Iit OF Carving Under His Pillow
While lie Sleeps.

Special Correspondence.
- ARTS, Jan. l7.--Rodin, probably
- the most famous OF living sculp-
tors. Is much talked about In Paris
social circles just now, not so
much on account OF any new achieve
ment In the world OF art. but for the
eccentrlcties OF his home life. Augusta
Rodn at home and the same man In
his studio are quite different personals
ties
Up 10 within the last month or two
very little indeed has been known OF
the sculptor's home life. The public,
and even his intimate friends, have
known Rodin principally at the studios
In Paris placed al his disposal by the
French government. His home life has
been kept n thing separate and apart
Through the influence Of an intimate
friend of the SCULPTOR however, tina
writer was recently privileged to visit
M. Rodin at mis- own home. He lives
Just on the outskirts OF the little VILE
age of Meudon, about half an hours
ride from Paris. His house--an unpre~
tGntious little red brick villa-stands
on the top of high hill which, In q
westerly direction, commands a fine
view of the surrounding country. I'M
mediately adjoining the home of Rodin,
and dwarhng it into insignitioance, "
his big new studio. For many years,
, before the studio came into existence,
the famous sculptor did great deal of
" DIRK at his Meudon home. He received
no visitors; paid no calls; but worked
incessantly-his sole companion being
| his wife.
A BROKEN HOME RULE.
Recently NJ. Rodin has broken
, through the splendid isolation that has
surrounded his home and invited sew
| eral friends TO partake Of his hospital
ity. They even met Nine. Rodin, and
one or two Of them were introduced to
her. This was considered a rare ex-
ceptlon to the rule hitherto pursued
by the artist.
II Is not jealousy on Robins part
only Indifference. His wife seems to
perform the function OF nursing him,
grd ronnlng his health In order
amer I'm which Nine, Rodn
ar the notice Of the friends OF
tOr was somewhat remarkable.
" years Nine. Rodin had been
. % ID about the household, cooking
40 meals and doing all the homework:
Tor oven now the great sculptor EN-
'ploys no servant In HIS home. Nine.
Rodln seemed no different from the or
binary old woman whom one sees at
tHohed to most French households.
There Is always marie" or a "Hor-
tense'--usually aged-ln every family.
One day. when some friends were
dining with Rodin. one Of them said IN
confidence.
Monsieur, why don't you get rid OF
that terrible old woman who prowls
about the place. What you need Is a
fresh young housekeeper. who would
make your life worth living"
Iiodin seemed TO enjoy the Joke Inn
mensely, and often told nfterward how
discounted HIS friend looked when the
sculptor explained that the terrible
old woman was none other than Nine.
Rodin herself.
And thus Mime. Rodin became known
az the artists wife-but she was never
introduced as such; never took part
In any OF the entertainments: always
waited on the table. did the cooking and
the house work. all as a matter of
course.
PROUD OF HUSBAND.
In Nine, Robins estimation there Is
no other person In the world but her
husband; his wants, his comforts, make
up her life, She seems 10 know IN
vague sort of way that In recent years
he has acquired much fame. and that
his personal wealth has augmented In
a way that enabled him to build studios
and supply his own homo with all
be can wish for. But II Is evident she
does not realize for n moment that she
might be called upon at any moment
to play the part OF great artists wife.
Some Very curious stories are In cir
culatlon concerning the manner Of life
lived by the Robins. Days and days
go by during which neither speaks n
word to the other, saving to mention
what Is wanted for the dinner. And
yet It Is quite evident that the very
best OF understandings exists between
the artist and his wife, Mime. Rodin
rises every morning about $50 and pre-
pares her husbands collector Rodln
IS very early riser. never beginning
his daily work later than o'clock He
dons a huge dressing gown made OF
flannel very thick In texture, which
madam has previously warmed for him.
Tho sculptor generally begins work
even while dressing, for he not lnfre-
gucntly carries TO his room the previous
night some piece OF modelling IN which
be may be Interested. As soon as he
f. dressed his breakfast Is placed on
The blo-Ae takes the usual French
coffee ana roll az this meal-and even
while dlsroslng OF this simple rcpast ha
works M his modelling lie has usually
on The table before him a cast OF what
be wishes 10 work nt-perhaps re-
duced model OF some antique piece OF
sculptur2-nud while drinking his coffee
and munching his roll R0din works, OBJ
livious Of the surrounding world. Mad
am attends uDou him, standing a few
feet away from his chair, dUtifully nlls
his cup or replenishes his plate. and
nevor % word Is spoken between the
couple,
Before his new studio was put w /,
was Robins custom 10 retire 20 a big
room on the ground floor OF his hSgs5
aud work there until II o'clock when
he had the regular breakfast which
Frrnohmen enjoy at this hour. Al this
meal. the same reticence was observed
as at the early meal, the sculptor place