The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1910-12-15
The Artistic Crouch.

lying IN times OF distress Inan TO
discover some dear friends condi- 1
ton is worse than our own not ac-
tually worse than our own, bnt say,
exaggerated until it appears to be
almost as bad. We are not, when
afflicted with dyspepsia, ungratefu]
to hear that a comrade is stricken
with gout; and this is not because
we are selfish in any way, but rather
to the contrary, because we are ex-
ceedingly generous, and unenvious.
It is in such spirit of magnanimity
we read, tn at Madam De Stael,
whom we have hitherto conceived
of, as seventeenth century Juno,
was really, a very unprepossessing
parsonage, possessed, as our in
former states, of rough, irregular
features, and a variegated COM
plexion, passing from deep crimson
at the tip of the nose to kind of
pale seagreen about the ears" And
she was, by his accounts, sensitive
in regard to her looks" Which is
a very unusual thing with female,
or male. There is not the least
doubt but that the artistic gentle
man who sketched this portrait of
a highly intelligent. woman, was
very precise as to details, and care
full not to overlook any of those
little peculiarities, which are so USE
full, and sometimes SO necessary to
the fullest development Of the Carl
caturist's art. Nobody can be more
painstaking than man, in such mat
ters as those-except perhaps a
woman.
/ Our kindly portrayer of facial
characteristics is a trif1e more gen.
erous in his description of Mary,
Queen of Scots, of whom he says,
she was without any particular
abilities; her hair was the color OF
dried orange peel, streaked with sill
yer at the temples; Ger forehead was
broad and low; she was cross-eyed
|
her mouth, was large and mobile
and herr nose equiline. Yet, in spite
of all, he says, she was fascinat-
!, ing" A statement which, if his
description is fair one, seems to
us paradoxical. How cross eyeo
lady, with red or yellow hair, streak
ed with silver, a large mouth, ano
no particular ability, could be fasci
mating, we are unable to determine
It is possible for such an one to b.
, pleasing, even attractive, but neve
fascinating. Our artist, or rathe
the artist we are here speaking OF
did, apparently, find some thing
attractive in some women, as. 70
> instance, in Queen Elizabeth, o
whom he says, She had red nos
and was ashamrd of it, and Cath
crime of Russia, whom he declares
WAS never handsome. SO to speak
and late in life she showed sign
of dissipation" which is very re
2 markable, for age generally enhance
physical beauty, and increasin
: years bring with them correspond
ing freshness and vigor.
= But it lis when he deals with tn
:, male species, our genial delineat6
hines lustrously. DR.. Johnso
seems to have irritated his artist
- susceptibilities more than any othe
of whom he says: He was exceed
ingly unattractive; his complexio
! was a mixture of red, and violet, {
takes an artist to mix colors), dee
? " SCARED with scrofula, which hs
= also affected his eyes, and gave hi
= an expression of intense dullnes
= He was irritable and passionate al
~ altogether a very difficult man
: please" Poor Samuel Boswor
- thought better of him than that,
= also did Reynolds, Burke, Swi1