Newark post., 1911-10-04

in far away Italy little child was
born. His home was in village
nesting among the mountains OF
that sunny land. The houses OF
the little hamlet were built OF
stone, OF such a soft gray color
they could scarcely be seen against
the background OF green trees.
From the windows OF the houses
one could see vineyards OF purple
grapes.
The child's father was an artist,
who loved all things beautiful, and
his mother was a kind, sweet wo-
man, whose greatest care was to
make her little boy happy.
In Italy it is pleasant to be out
of-doors. The boy, whose name
was Raphael, loved to lie under
the trees and watch the beautiful
colors OF the sky-the deep blue
o: the midday, or the varied tints
OF the sunset. Sometimes a pro-
cession OF monks wound around
the mountain path. They were
often accompanied by a cardinal
who wore a richly colored robe.
The boy delighted in the beauti-
full colorings. Again he would see
troop OF soldiers pass by. Their
uniforms and flags made a pretty
picture which he never failed to
enjoy. The father noticed how
the son loved to dream, and was
pleased. He said, Some day, |
believe he will be great artist" !"
Raphael spent a great deal OF
time in his fathers studio, where
he was allowed to help by wash
ing palettes and brushes. After
his duties were done he watched
the artist at work.
While he was still little boy
the gentle mother died and only
three years later the death Of the
father left Raphael alone. The
comfortable home was closed and
the boy went to live with his un-
Gle.
One day he went.to visit an old
friend OF his fathers. A priest,
who was the brother o: his host,
came into the room. The boy
thought he seemed to act strange
ly and watched him closely. He
found the man was blind. Raph-
ael felt sorry for the afflicted
stranger. AS they were sitting at
supper the boy was the first to
finish. He drew his note book
from his pocket and began to
sketch, holding it under the table
all the while and thinking no one
would see him. The master oi
the house noticed the action and
came to see what he had made.
How surprised he was to find al
excellent likeness of the kind, pa.
tient face of his blind brother.
When his sixteenth birthday ar
rived, Raphael went to study with
one OF the greatest artists in Italy.
He worked so faithfully that in a
short time he had learned all the
master could teach him. Then a
longing seized him to go to Flor
ence, which was noted for its art
treasures. After staving there a
while he went to the larger city oi
Rome. Here there is a wonder
ful palace called the Vatican, which
is the home OF the Pope. When
Raphael was IS years old he re-
ceived an invitation to come tc
the Vatican and do some painting
on the palace walls.
His first work was the painting
OF irescoes. To make ;rescc
the artist paints on the wet plas.
ter, and the colors dry with the
plaster. The Pope was so pleased
with this that he engaged him tc
paint all the walls OF the palace
Some OF them were already decor.
ated with the work OF his former
master. They had been ordered
removed SO as to make room fol
Raphael's. But he loved his ole
master and did not want to grievt
him. SO persuaded the Pope to al
low those special ones to remain
One OF the most famous of these
paintings is the Madonna of thu
Chair. In this famous picture /;
beautiful mother is holding tn,
Christ child in her arms. The pic
ture is round and an old fable tell!
us it happened to be made tha
shape in this way:
In one of the beautiful valley!
Of Italy an old hermit lived. Be
sides his humble home a great oal
tree shed its mighty branches
shading the house from the hea