The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-23
WASHINGTON CHAT.
y THE sPECTAToR.


though she lives and does her work IN
France, her beautiful water colors are
too well known in this part Of the world
/ 10 need more than a passing auusion
/ TO recall them to the minds Of their
admirers. Miss Greatorex has chosen a
/ charming suburb Of Paris for her home,
the little village Of Moret. near Fentaine-
bleau, which is set In the most beautiful
environment that can be imagined, and is
one Of those lovely. quaint little towns
scattered throughout France, OF which
there is no counterpart in this New World
There. in charming chateau, surrounded
/ by gardens. she does her work and
dreams her dreams, for all painters
/ dream
/ Eliza GreatOrex was the pioneer among
American women TO so abroad 20 study
art. for, although she was Irish, born a
daughter Of Connaught. the greater part
Of her life was passed in America and
/ here her career and fame were made.
Ia fame that viii be enduring. No Ameri-
i can woman who has worked with a brush
I but reverences the name OF Eliza Grea-
torex, for she was the pathfinder and
made the way possible for those who
came after her. Her first master was Will
lam ". WitherspOOn. Of New York. a
+ landscape painter Of the last century. who
VIII be scarcely remembered save that
I he taught and perhaps inspired his most
noted pupil Mrs GreafOrex next studied
! under EdOuard Lambinst, Of Paris, and
subsequently, worked in Rome and
Munich taking Up IN the latter place
/ architectural drawing. Il must be re-
membered that this ambitious artist IN
I deFtOok these presentations before globe
trotting had become fad. and when the
/ means Of travel were far from luxurious.
but this did not deter her indomitsbIe
spirit. and she not only followed the
beaten tracks. but went all through pro-
vincisl England and ireland. UP and down
the Rhine in and out Of the wonderful
/ BavaTisn Highlands. and. when she re-
{ turned 10 America. made a journey 10
/ Colorado IN search OF material for her
brush
This last trip was undertaken in the
early 7gs. when Colorado was stiH IN
the rough. and the sketches she made
then. etcned and published. are among
the most interesting that we have OF that
marvellous country. Mrs Greatorex was
the Csuehter OF J. c. Pratt. a Wesleyan
minister Of Manor Hamilton, Connaught
/ Ireland. another % whose children was
TIE late A s Pratt. Of this city. hence
/ Miss Greatorex's klnship 20 Mrs. Dickins,
VINO was born Edith Pratt. Eliza Pratt
/ came 70 America when she was nineteen
years old and married Henry ". Great
Z orex. whose father was the organist OF
/ Westminster Abbey She had several
( children. the best known OF whom are
her daughters Eleanor and Kate. who in
/ heTited their n7onther's talent Like their
mother. the Greatorex sisters have been
/ pioneers IN various lines. II was they
who first brought 20 America the fat
broad way OF using water colors. and =
was they who first framed their pictures
with the broad gold mat. the use OF
( which has now become universal. Eliza
I GreatOrex was a wonderful woman TO
+ look On Her complexion had that bloom
which seems 20 be characteristic only Of
Irish women. Her eyes we're full OF ex-
( preston. and her face was the face %
one who had thought. worked. and ac-
/ C0mplished IN her work and memory
she has left rich legacy TO American
( artists. TO woman artists especially
{ Miss GreatoreX is so charming. so SYM
/ pathetic, so responsive that one fo-gsts
70 notice anything about her save her
! fine eyes. her mobile mouth. and the
white hair drawn back from 2 broad IN
I tenectual forehead that suggests her
mother. She Is simple. too. and very
direct in her manner, Ike all great souls,
and her speech is picturesque and point
ed. as one would expect in the child OF
an Irish mother and an English father
brought UP on French soil Happily, she
VIII remain at the Capital. where she has
already drawn an interesting circle about
her. for most OF the winter.
/ Speaking Of Admiral Dickins. his
friends both here and at all those places
in Europe and the Orient. in Australia,
too. for that matter-and why forget
Africa, where he is also knOwn-will be
glad TO learn that a stubborn illness
which has afflicted him for the past year
has finally yielded &c treatment. and tha;
ne IS now on the road to health It has
been difficult for those who have always
known him as the strongest and heal
thiest OF men, for the young officers who
served under him and whom he outdid
I IN feats OF strength and endurance 70
think OF him IN invalid slippers and gown,
but be has horne this Illness with the
same fortitude and courage with which
he has accepted other Ills. and through
all Of the weary DAYS Of his COnfine-
ment has still been captain Of the ship. -
It was Admiral Dickins who command
ed the Brooklyn. which formed part OF
the escort OF the Prince OF Wales when
he visited Australia for the purpose OF
being present for the opening Of parlIa-
/ ment. On this cruise the future King OF
Great Britain and the American naval
officer had abundant opportunity for hob
nObbing and before they separated had
begun TO know and understand each other
very well The admiral and al OF the
officers Of his ship were loud in theiI
praises Of the prince and his charming
cOnsort, and spoke with appreciation OF
his understanding Of American affairs.
His frank and cordial bearing and lack OF
| ostentatiOn and the gTaciousness OF his
princess are still remembered By those
who came into their orbit at that time
nor viii the officers Of the Brooklyn ever
forget the wonderful entertainment Of
feTed them by the Australians. Every
port they put into they were wined and
Toasted. and the sight of an American
blueiscket was an occasion for demon
strstion, for the Australians are always
sensible of the debt they owe TO America,
on whose Constitution their own has beer
founded
But TO return to Admiral Dickins. no
invalid could have a more pleasant envi-
lronment in which 10 pass his GONZALES
Icence than the admiraFs charming home
IN Nineteenth street the furnishings Of
which form chronicle OF his various voy-
ages from the time he was mfdshipmlte
until his retirement, but Of all the besuti-
fui things with which Admiral Dickins
has surrounded himself, his collection OF