The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1909-02-18
ROOSEVELT
In Rural Setting as Seen
BY a Cantonian In
His Dream
HOUSE FULL OF ART

Mrs. Marguerite A. Essig, Can
ton artist whose woIR has been nigh
ly praised by friends who have ex-
amined it, gives credit to her hus-
band, o. A. Essig, for furnishing the
inspiration as well as the title for
what she considers her masterpiece
in oil.
A" Farmers Dream of Teddy" it
is called and 1t shows the president
in a rural scene of most varied COM
position. 1t is founded on an actual
dream, Mr.. and Mrs. Essig say. Mr..
Essig is not farmer now, but was
in his younger days and hence feels
justified in using the appelation in
connection with the picture. He was
much interested in the weekend
jaunts of the president to the little
farm in Virginia and later in his
hunting trip among the canebrakes
of Louisiana, and one night about the
time Of the latter, after reading until
late of Roosevelt's adventures, fell into
a doze when there came to him in
a vision the scene that his wife since
reproduced on canvas. So vividly
was the scene Impressed upon his
mind that upon awakening next morn
ing he was able to sketch it upon
a scrap of paper. With this sketch
Mrs. Essig went to work.
The canvas is of modern size, prob,
ably 20 by 80 inches in dimensions.
The foreground is cornfield in the
fall of the year with the corn in
shock. Mountains form the far
background and the middle back.
ground is composed of trees and
shrubbery, the foliage in the rich
hues of autumn. A small body OF
water here and there shows between
the trees To theleft is little log
cabin, such as may be found on many
southern farm. Nearby stands a
shorse, a saddle at his side. Birds
are fitting above the trees and hunt.
ing dogs with noses to the ground
are trailing through the underground
while here and there a rabbit is seen.
In this setting, half of his body con-
cealed by the shock of corn that has
been laid open for husking is the
familiar face and figure of the pres,
ident, holding aloft in his hand a
great red ear of corn, always ac-
counted the emblem of good luck
by the corn shucker. OFF to the side
and seeming to come upon the scene
as one looks at the pastoral picture
is huge black bear, while not far
away is the gun and game bag of the
strenuous executive.
The canvas is rich in coloring, the
perspective is excellent and the
whole effect most pleasing to the eye
Mrs. Essig has secured a copy
right on the canvas as we'll as on
chrome or lithographic reproductions
The picture was awarded prizes al
several county fairs last fall Mrs
Essig says she has been offered a
pretty fair sum for 1t but she con.
siders it worth more than has yet
been offered.
The humble little home at 215
East Williams street, is literally jam
med with works of art and the tools
and materials of the artist. Fifteen
years ago Mrs. Essig first took uI
painting as pastime or amuse
ment, working then only in black and
white. Since she has made it a pro
fession and does something in al
most every branch of the art. She
has some beautiful specimens in
china, while on the walls of the lit
tie rooms or stored away in boxes
and drawers are scores of studies in
water color, pastel and crayon. Some
in still life, others with domestic
animals for their central figures and
quite a few portraits. The faces OF
the latter for the most part are
creates OF the artists fancy, al
though a few are from lire.