Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-02-25
ARTIST 70 YEARS OLD.
u. u. Miller, n Native Of Vermont
Had Romantic Marriage.

II. u. Miller, Native Of Vermont
Had Romantic Marriage.
Claremont, y. r.. Feb. 2i--Every one
here knows Roderck Edward Miller. the
aged artist, with his white hair and
beard, but few know of the romance OF
his life
AS one sits in the studio and viows
tho score or more Of oil paintings ex-
ecuted by Mr. Miller. IT seems fitting
that tho romance Of his life should
have been brought about by the work
~ his brush. 1t was. however. not the
finished nrt Of the landscape painter, but
a crude painting of monster field Sign
that paved tho way for the most interest
ing chapter in the life of this man
Mr. Miller was living in Springfield, Vt,
and had tried his hand In students way
of painting when he was asked by
business house TO furnish huge sign.
IN one corner Of which ne painted an
Indians head.
At that time Miss Mary y. Holden.
one Of the most charming women Of her
county, frequently drove by the sign
and was much impressed with the In
dams head As she saw It day after
day shc bccal1e interested In tho one
who had painted It, although she Ind
no idea who he vas One day while out
riding with friend tho sigr, WINS passed
ana she conhdcd that she was In love
with the man who painted II and was
anxious to know who he was and to
meet him
NET At a rIUSK1NCi BEE.
II Voc In tho fall % the year. when
corn huskinss were in vogue. and It fell
to tho YOUNG woman's lot n 10 invited to
enc Of these functions The party was
= merry one, and there were many
young men there whom she did not
know. As tho evening passed IT was evil
dent that her attentions had been cen
tered in one OF tho young fellows who
| eeemcd favorte. He was Roderck
Miller. she was told and her friend
whispered in her ear THAT is the artist
Who painted tie Indians head"
Miss Holden then endeavored to make
| hereof even more attractive than usual.
Ii seemed that tho young artist must
have been under tho same spell. for his
attentions were undsputably hers, and
I, was thus that tho two Young people
were brought together. In the following
spring. MAY. ISL. there was a wedding.
and the contracting parties were Miss
Mary l.. Holden and Hoderck f. Miller,
tho artist
| Mr. Miller was born at Saxtons River,
Vt. Fcruary D. 1870. ana was the son OF
EDWARD and Lucy Bisnor Miller The
father was of Scotch descent and the
mother OF tho Pennsylvania Germans.
In 1874 he painted n panorama Of the
Mexican war which was never COM
pioted. although it vas exhibited.
STUDIED IN GERMANY.
Twelve wears after his maria ge
| Mr.. Miller went to New York, where
he entered the National Academy OF
Design. He studied at the Cooper
Institute until 1865, and continued ir
New York untU 1868. when he return
ed his native town.
He afterward spent two years in
Germany. and upon his return painted
NAM scenic curtains for the theatres
of New York city.
To-day Mr.. Miller long past hi.
prime, still keeps at work. although
he cannot accomplish as much as for
merry. for ne is able to work only {
short time before his strength anC
oyesight require a rest
Monday he will celebrate his 7et,
birthday anniversary. The heroine o
the romance of the Indians head ha
passed away and grief has adde'
greatly to the inhrmities of his age
Mr.. Niiller's studio Is & an oil
wooden building on Trinity street. I
is reached by a narrow fiat OF stair
ana on the walls are hung rumerou
paintings.
knock Mt the door brings tn
aged man. his white hair and bear
framed by monster brimmed fel
hat worn on one side OF tho head
a pleasant greeting always make
sAe visitor feel at home, and 1t Is
delight of Artist Miller to show hi
canVases.
MADE \ PIPE ORGAN.
ones attention Is drawn FOR the tim'
from the paintings on the walls by
series Of wooden spouts, square ant
round. rising from seeming large table
tbs is a pipe organ. every part OF which
Mr. Miller made himself There ar
many other curlos. zoo. such as electro
motors ard dynamos.
Mr.. Niller's dress while painting Is
'ong frock worn over his suit, and o.
his head Is a Turkish cap with iars
lat f,~t In