The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1907-08-10
STELLA's ART LESSON


There a buzz of pleased excitement in the
ontcalm summer cottage when it was learned that
the artist, Gerald Lee, was to be the famys guest
for a month. Years before Gerald Lee and Mr.
Montcalm had been schoomates. The friendship
of these youthful days never waned though the two
met rarely.
at seems almost too good to be true" Stella
cried with the enthusiasm of fifteen. evil he be
well, sociable and like folks papa or will he look
at and notice only beautiful things?"
Mr. Montcam laughed.
"Geralds work has never spoiled him. He says
that this is not to be entire holiday; he will
make sketches that he can utilize in his win
ters work"
There are so many beautiful views here" Stel-
las mother looked up from her embroidery to say.
"Gerald's speciality is faces" 1t was Mr. Mont
calm's mother who spoke. Il have watched his ca
reer closely. and he has surpassed even my hopes
for him. Every face [ have seen from his pencil
seems to tell a story"
Just before bedtime that evening, Stella went
into her grandmother's room.
mo light grandma"
81 am watching the moon rise. Come sit down
here in the windowseat. See! The moon is just
peeping from behind those black-green pines and
silvering the water of the bay"
ut is a picture for an artist" Stella said.
Grandma? 2"
"What is it?"
do you suppose such a thing could be as that
Mr. Lee would want to paint my face? Now. grand
ma, I not in vain, but-well everybody says
that I am pretty"
Everybody, Stella!"
"Of course not my own folks: that would not
sound well. Honest, now, grandma. do you not
think my face is pretty as some that Mr.. Lee uses
in his magazine Illustrations? z"
81 think you have regular features, fair COM
pexion and the Montcalm sunny blue eyes. As to
whether Gerald's trained gaze will see any of the
inner beauty that is the artists ideal in your face
] cannot say"
Stella said no more. When she was alone in her
own ROOM she looked long and searchngly at the
rosy, dimped face that was reflected in the mirror
her dressing table.
IF he really does! It will make me. perfectly
happy"
Gerald Lee arrived two days later He was a
tall, muscular man, with ringing laugh and Sc
rene happy face. He soon became the life of the
party.
At first Stella was shy and little i'll at ease in
the artists presence. Mr.. Lee saw that, so he set
about winning the girls friendship.
That month meant much to Stella 1t not
until years aferward that she fully understood how
much it enriched her life
The artist taught her to note and compare not
only colors but their varying, changing tnts. Her
eye was trained to discern the sweep and freedom
Of the distant hills outline the graceful proper
tons Of the forest trees and she learned to appre
ciate and enjoy the ioveliness of the far-reachng
bay.
NeraldS stay at the cottage was drawing 10 a
close, when, early one morning, he and Stella went
for a row. As they were gliding over the smooth
water, the artist said:
Stella do you think your grandmother would
let me make sketch Of her facel 1t is just what
/ want for a new book that l am to illustrate"
For a moment Stella watched the silver drops
drip from her oars. Then she-asked:
"Why do you want to sketch grandma's face,
Uncle Geraldn'
1T is such beautiful one Upon it one sees
the impress of long life of unselfsh devotion to
others. It's expression is one of rare loneliness;
your grandmother has done Gods viii not only
trustingly but also gladly"
But I supposed that artists took for their mod
els things that were-well, pretty"
"a true artist seeks to lead others TO see tie
mental and moral gifts that are beautys best ex-
preston True life is beauty sincerity, service. Ella
ton, and to express these things is the artists ideal
find these things in your grandmother's face, and
10 me it is beautiful rather than pretty"
"Oh I seei" Stella cried, softly. 81 sure