New-York tribune., 1908-10-31

( t4F
from his collections. Svo, PIP. xvi, 500
Charles Scribners Sons
The pleasant life of the artist, pleasant even
though it may be touched from time to time by
hardship is delicately reflected in these pages
Mr.. Low was young man when he entered the
studio of Carous Duran in the early 7Os, and
as time went on in Paris he kept the blessed
spirit Of youth. His anecdotes of that time
amusing, but what engages the reader even
more is the key in which he relates them. He
brings back the lightheartedness and the high
resolution Of his pupilage, making us share in
an atmosphere which, if not significant OF ad-
venture. has about it, at ali events, something
Of romance One cannot be young and enthusi-
astic in Paris, bent upon making career. with
out getting from life d kind of golden JOY. The
reader or Mr.. Lows book must feel how good it
IS TO be an artist. how the experiences and
friendships to be found in the studios have d
charm peculiarly their own. This painter has
known all manner OF good fellows. men of low
able traits and sometimes brilliant gifts. He
knew J. F MiIIet, he knew Stevenson, he was
intimate with st. Gaudens. OF these and of
divers others he gives Us delightful Impressions
His narrative opens with vivid picture of his
surroundings in the Paris of thirty-odd years
ago. He and his companions led "A simple life.
working hard, and giving vent to their vivacfty
in practical jokes Here is a tale Of that boy
ish period
one Of my old comrades must still remember
that @" one occasion after spasmodc attempt
. = modeiling in clay in the dfclicr Duran. there
bucket OF clay stained water, One morning. as
one OF the men had gone into the anteroom for
sponge. and. seated on a nigh stool before the
door announced loudly his intention Of letting
opened. and ne flung the sponge. But il not
the comrade; il was our master. brave in a blue
velvet coat and yellow SILK shirt which ne then ar
fected- The aim was true, and for "A horrid mo-
Then the master withdrew, closing the door after
him. and another TINE or suspense followed. no
one speaking. and the unwilling culprit seeking
his easel in sheer despair. Then the door re-
aid Of our friend who had remainea in the ante
room appeared and by few sensible words
an assurance that the unlucky sponge was in
feadea Tor % feI@" TdbdSn} our m master upon
pride Won or M ssG ssss 5d taaf s aay by
measure of respect for him.
Mr. Low recalls other episodes equally droll.
hut the great merit Of his book is that through
al the pranks and casual encounters il also ex-
hibits the seriousness of the authors purpose
the whole hearted deI otion with which he and
his friends gave themselves TO a high ideal Of
work He formed himself as an artist very
thoughtfuIly, as may see from the report Of
Millets advice TO him and his reflections
thereon. The book. in fact. throws much light
on the problems or an American artist studying
in France. and the mode by which little by lit
tie, he develops his talent for good or iii.
1t is not alone with painting. however. that
MIR. Low is concerned in this volume Indeed
the salient figure among the friends he de-
scribes is a writer, Stevenson. For him the
author shows something like hero Worship He
writes Of him not as critic but as a loyal COM
Iade. We do not wonder. He came very close
to the romancer, and their relations were al
ways sweet and sunny. Even the bitterest i'll
ness did not quench Stevenson's debonair bu
NOR. From Saranac he writes as follows.
Sir since y. yesterday. a period az nearly,
eighteen hours. the Wretched man who no,. a =
dresses YOU has smoked. The same lan,ytt, -
has elapsed since -le high-bred ffoTeI ~
bourne has Broken Tobacco. The fsmI1s 1as
passed through all the usual stages tissue DapaT
from between visiting cards and 'baccv from ~ =
bottom Of pockets having been consumed; but nos,
sir. the last ope has Waltzed into space ana
neither Osbourne myself longer blink The
conviction that
Hall is over.
Farewell
When memorial notices are written. this viii
Ee a shreVd eut ~ the States under Those banner
. perish. Well ! s7n done with the passions
II mortality-FareWelI, But if 4 tin Of MarRarifa
prejudice to another tin in the general packet