The Washington herald., 1909-05-02


az the time OF Washington's inaugura-
ton He published so many Biographies
that he has been called the father OF
American geography.
Studied in London.
1T IS rather interesting 10 think that
while my greet-grandfather was devoted
to facts. aad had studied his theology
under Dr. Jonathan Edwards. son Of tire
original Edwards. and was q man OF
persistence and energy and not az AL al
imaginative man, and while his wife was
q Finley and represented the sturdiest
kind Of New England character this
couple net only gave 70 their talented
son the artistic temperament, but also
made al kinds Of sacrifices IN order that
I ne might study painting under one Of the
/ best artists in Boston, and afterward sent
him 70 Londen to study. IN the year IslI-
! I have always been greatly interested II
my grandfarher's history. I have a scrap
I book Of letters written by him
/ Here Mrs Perry produced a collection
/ Of old letters. Fancy this one. written
! in 1SIe," she exclaimed. "On the eve OF
his graduation from Yale, Just ninety
nine years ago. It says 7 an now re-
leased from college and an attending TO
painting As 10 my choice Of a pro
1 fession, still think I was made for a
painter. and would be obliged to you 10
make such arrangements with Nr. All
ston for my studying with him as you
shall think expedient should desire 20
study with him during the winter. and
as ne expects to return 10 England in
the spring 1 should admire 70 Be able 70
I go there with him. But OF this we wiz
/ talk when ve meet AZ bOrua
Il Ike TO fancy him IN London and
meeting all the great artists. Is he did
Benjamin West was at the height OF his
fame then Listen 20 this letter:
7 called upon 3Ir- West, at his home
in Newman street, one morning As I
entered the studio. a half length portrait
Of George III stood before ne on a
easel. and MT. West was sitting with his
back toward me, copying from Il upon
canvas Ny name having been men
toned 70 him. he did not turn. but point
ing with the pencil he held in his hand
10 The portrait from which he was copy
ing. ne said:
@'''Do you see that picture. slr.
Morseg'
Yes. sir" I said Z perceive II IS
the portrait Of the King
King sat for Him.
well" said M West. the King
was sitting u ne for that portrait when
the box COZ tanning the American Decla-
ration OF Independence was handed 10
him
Indeed" I answered. "and what
appeared 20 be the emotiohs Of tne King?
What did he say2s'
His reply vas characteristic Of the
goodness Of his heart" said Mr. West
IL they can be happier under the govern
nent they have chosen than under mine,
he said. 7 shall be happy
When Grandfather Morse came back
70 America he was about twenty-four
years Old, and he thought his fortune vas
ma5ey bit Re had terrible struggles.
This country wasn't strong for art in
those days As he had the inventors
ambition al that time he invented some
kind Of al engine TO be used BY FIRE de-
partuents. But II was not a success he
wasted e year upon il. and in one OF
these letters be tells how the neighbors
al gathered 10 see II tested, and the
verdict was that Morse would better
stick 20 his brush and leave machinery
alone So he went back 70 his easel and
made living al portrait work
Told OF Old Letters.
7 have followed him through his art
struggles as vel. as I can in his letters
He painted ffty-three portraits in
Charleston. :. C, in ISIS. N 1Sz1. ne was
busy II Washington. working IN room
IN the Capitol. painting an immense car
vas Il by II feet, representing the mem
bers OF the House OF Representatives.
There were eighty portraits, but the pic
tire was not . success. Z was finally
sold 10 al Eaglishmaa. who took K over
10 London. But Il was brought back
again. and one time. n the year 1Sz7 Il
vas found nailed TO partition IN the
third story OF a downtown building IN
New York. al covered with dust Then
Daniel Huntingdon bought Z.
From q studio n Broadway, opposite
Trinity churehyard. he wrote that there
were many artists il New York AID that
all were poor and complaining. Money,
he said. was the chief end OF man. and
also that New York was given Up wholly
10 commerce Il was Just at the tine
when he was at his lowest DEPTHS that
he had e commission from the city %
paint Gen. Lafayette He wrote from
Washington. where he went 70 accom-
plish the work: The general is agree
able He introduced me to his son, say
Ing, This Is 8fr. Morse, the painter. he
has come to Washington 20 take TIE
topography Of ny face
Painted Gen. Lafayette.
Gen LOfayette was giving him tbs
last sitting for the picture when ths news
OF the death CT Grs1dmother Morse was
conveyed to him Then Uncle Finley
was a month old The family have al
ways regarded this event as the crisis
In my gran6father's life. This was In
the year 1875 But for that he might
never have been the inventor OF the teIe-
graph. Who can tel? During her lie
he was lover. enthuiaSt. artist and idesi-
iSt Her death was such a blow 70 him
that he gave way 10 feelings Of despond-
ency thai were nearly his undoing. But
the following year. IN company with
others, he founded the National Academy
OF Design and was elected its first pres5-
dent He gave much of his time 10 K.
doubtless Cor the reason that he was II
no mood for his work At the sane
time be became interested IN experiments
IN electricity Although he went 10 E1-
rope again 10 study art, his Inspiration
was gone, and art was not the same
II wss on his return voyage that be con-
ceived the idea Of the telegraph instru-
ment Before he became an inventor
there vas stu a time when he was pro-
fessOr OF litera1UTe OF the arts OF design
in the New York University He painted
some IN later life. but his commercial
interests did not harmOuize well With art,
and so the latter became merely an avo-
cation His life was replete with interest.
and Isnever tire Of studying il. especially
those early years long before he was
ever heard Of. but when his character
was forming he IS q kind OF living
parsonage 70 ne"
Mrs. Susan Morse Perry IS an enthus-
iastic lover OF art q collector OF antiques.