The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-12-29
IOWA WOMAN PAINTS
GREAT IOWA PICTURE

lOWH WUWAW THIWIS
GREAT IOWA PICTURE
From the Des Moines Register and Leader
"A good deal OF attention has been atA
tracted by a painting by Mrs. Ella Hills
Hafnes. formerly OF Rock Valley, la,
| entitled America" which, aside fr1-n
| it's intrinsic artistic value enjoys tho
distinction OF being the largest canvas
ever furnished to an American artist,
and Is credited by art critics OF st.
Louis, where the picture was first ex-
| hiDited. with being the only painting
In which all three, the heavenly, earth
| ly and the iAiernal spheres are rep
| resented
The picture is painted on q canvas
I llx7 feet and the characters are near
| lie size and connoisseurs admit them
| to be portrayed with rare blending OF
| colors and ELECTS. The motif is purely
symbolical on historical basis, allie
Sorizing America, the nation, it's his
| tory, characteristics and ideals. Amer
lea herself Is personiiied as a strong,
beautiful young girl.
| The picture Is said to have been Is
years In conception and was fin
ished In st. Louis. 1t has been exhib-
TIED IN various parts or the country,
but it is the wish of the artist, herself
|
| Iowa, and it is her ambition to have
1t become The property OF an Iowa So
I ciety, club or historical organization.
| MRS Haines herself is a member of
the Iowa Relief corps as suffragist.
She at present resides at i29 Height
ST., San francisco.
Writing Of the painting, Mrs. Ade-
laioe Ballard, formerly OF Hull, Sioux
| county, Iowa. who was prominent in
Iowa suffrage circles for many years
and who now resides at Chica, Cal,
| writes ION a recent visit TO San
francisco. attending the state suffrage
convention, / met Mrs. Haines, whom
formerly knew in Rock Valley, Sioux
| county, Iowa, and at West Union, the
day before friend had taken me to
see a wonderful picture at the Bull.
letin office. l admired 1t greatly, reac
the artists name, but never for an in.
slant associated 1t with the Mrs:
Haines 1 knew. Judge my surprise
when upon meeting her. she told me OF
We had not met before for Is years.
l really thought truth was stranger
than fiction In this case.
Her great ambition Is to have this,
the first picture OF America painted by
Il staunch American, in the hands OF
a society. club or organization OF
Iowa"
The canvas is 7x11 feet. A forma.
description Of the painting is given as
follows:
America, how great the name!
A loving beacon light aflame:
Labor crowned oppression bound,
| Opportunities all around.
This strong, beautiful young girl rep
resents America. She Is poised on the
earth clothed in beautiful lavender
robe, lit up in high lights from the
soft melting cream yellow Of the sky
Her garments, In graceful folds, are
whipped around her feet by the wind
She is crowned with the dainty lilies
Of the valley, representing innocence
and purity.
In her right hand she holds ribbon
reins with which she Is directing q
train OF eagles. which represent the
guiding statesmen of our land. These
eagles are all carrying garlands, with
the exception Of one. A dove has also
crept into. the line working in unison
and harmony and helps in carrying the
garland. 1t represents love anc
thoughtfulness on Americans par
toward all conditions Of distress. as II
pestilence, war or famine.
Under Americas outstretched arm
that guides the birds is an artistic lit
tie home scene. The curtains are
twined with garlands, continuing {
cord of strength through this portion
OF the picture, twining the earth ant
: America. This little home room il
roughed with a bow Of mistletoe. sym
! bolic of the pleasures of the home.
} little cupid sits in it's branches drop
ping the scarlet berries into the flu
: rug below. Parisienne pillow, gold fish
music, jardiniere and flowers ref1ecte,
In the mirror, draping which garnisl
the columns. are the furnishing of thi
, little home room. +,
, In her left hand America holds
wreath with which to crown all thos
who aspire to high ideals, as litera
/ ture, art or science. This is represent
ed by another maiden who has climbe'
to the stars in her success and is paint
. ing in q star. at the same time gazinl
, ! off in the distance to spy out othe
worlds to conquer. Heavenly cupid
frolic In her scarf carried high by tn
winds. ~'r
+. Between America and this maidel
cluster the faces OF our martyred pres
] idents. Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley
q These uphold and WITTY the constitu
coin and Garfield. Mckinley is direct
> ing the arrow OF q cherub, rising a
3 the life Of the constitution, on "Anar
r chy." q serpent coiled around Satar
Q the father of sins. And above thi
. serpent rears another striking at Amer
l lea through WIVES WiACh hACdtCh III
{ homes Of America.
: Above these heroes ia the spiritus
: face Of Washington with solicitor
y | anxiety for the loved martyred presi
: dents and the welfare of the cour
a try.
On a marble pedestal beneath tn
;, presidents lie blood-red roses signif
!, cant of their life's blood.
: Next to the home st the right {
America comes the port and trafh
!: the Maine leaving our shores for Cubs
q O sail boat, skiff. tug and mail steame
rounding America out into histories
production from Washington to tt
At the very extreme left in the stal
lit sky a little Egyptian priestess
!, | burning a censor and points to II
y country of promises and also to tt
10 bright star situated back Of America
n head. A little choristei attends Il
If martyred trio.
Does An Actor Need Brains?
t When at the Comedy theater, writ,
y. Hawtrey, the actor, In the Strand,
a. once received an application from