The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-02-04

any NONeoi othtitd int dDEOuu. anu
went TO Florence. Italy.
i rented rooms OF a widow and her
daughter, OF the name OF Micele. They
occupied the top floor OF building on
the river Arno. used front room
for studio and rear room for bed
room The mother was middle aged
woman. the daughter about twenty
five. Their ancestors had been well
on. but their estate bad melted away.
and Sonora Micele and her daughter
got on with difficulty. Blanca. the
daughter, was an artist but ar indif
ferent one.
Nevertheless there was something
remarkable about Blanca Miccie. She
was neither pretty nor homely. The
eyes OF the Italians are handsome, but
senorina Micele's eyes were more than
handsome: they were. 30 10 speak,
compelling. That Is. when she looked
out OF them at me felt strange
force compelling me 10 do her bidding
Not that there was apparent exercise
OF will. She was gentleness itself. The
power she exercised was rather per-
suasive than forceful.
Not long after l arrived in Florence
fell Ill and did not leave my bed for
weeks, Sonora Micele and her daugh-
ter both nursed me. "'~9~..----
A portion OF the time I was I'm either
stupot or delirium, I don't know
which. AT such times | was very
weak and on coming TO myself usually
felt rs II had been doing exhaustive
work. though | had been In my bed
all the while. where II would not have
been possible for me 70 DO any work
even IL I had been mentally capable.
My illness occurred during the win.
ter. and when the spring came on and
the weather began TO warm up Sonora
Micele used 10 put me In an easy chair
and wheel me out on TO one OF those
little balconies common I'm Florence
houses; We were on the Arn9 EN-
banEment Ithe Lung Arno, they call II
there, in sight or the green hills that
surround the city. Indeed, from my
balcony | could see some six or seven
miles distant the heights on which
Fiosole, the original Florentine settle
ment. was made. During three more
months / spent much OF the day on
this balcony In fancy painting pictures
or the scenes spread out before me.
nna ~ Ihnqa xuuu tho npdpIatfpu nj IN In
beyond the city's edge and the heights
OF FiosOe beyond the plain. There Is
n big clock tower at FioSole which IL
seemed TO me would make an attrac-
tive feature In my imaginary picture.
and | spent hours working IL In. An
other view dreamed OF was the Arno.
directly beneath me. winding under
it's arched bridges toward the south,
and other nearer and consequently
greener hills There is something In
the atmosphere OF Italy TO intensity
the color OF landscape. and on such
days | delighted in the imaginative
painting | could not do In reality.
But | always noticed that such days
instead ~ giving me strength drew
upon what | had
Fortunately recovered before the
hot weather set In and after convalesc-
ing In the lnVigorating climate OF the
Swiss Alps went TO Paris, where re-
NAMED some time
SuollIng one day down one OF the
Partisan boulevards. ! stepped into a
picture shop. The dealer. fancying to
make customer OF me- advanced and
questioned me as to what | was look
ing for. IL occurred 10 me 10 ask for
one OF my own pictures. not that ex
pected 90 6Dd one. but that TO ask for
the work OF any special artist would
make IL appear that l was not looking
at his wares with no intention OF buy
ing.
Have you anything OF Adrian
Gllesf" l asked.
Giles, the American
Yes"
Certainly. | have n very remark
able piece OF his work Come this
way"
He led me 10 one OF his display
rooms and up 60 a picture that had
evidently been hung with considera-
bic care. The subject was certainly
familiar to me. for II was the plain !
had overlooked at Florence with the
hills and Flosole in the distance And
as stood looking at Il recognized
not only the identical scene had
painted In my day dreams. but my In.
divIdual style Quickly bending TO the
lower left hand corner. cap was put
upon my astonishment by seeing my
own name.
l caught with both hands at the rail
that extended around the room TO
guard the pictures Here was a view
had no remembrance Of presenting
but which ] must have painted. II
was some time before I recovered sur
ncIent equanimity TO further examine
the painting. but when did so saw
az once that for the FIRST time In my
life I had portrayed scene exactly