The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-12

powerful of this world cultivate such
talent given them, In spite OF the
ruler of a5U,oco.oo0 OF men. Queen
Victoria Of England found time TO
paint beautiful water colors. Her &C.
burg cousin. King Carlos of Portugal,
whose life was cut short In such Il
tragican manner. was painter with life
and soul, and his cunvascs were ad-
inircd on the exhibitions even by those
who did not know that the hand that
painted them LAID aside royal sccp-
tire for the brush whenever lie was at
leisure TO do 40.
Empc. or William is fond of drawing,
and Is not ABOVE composing occasional
ly Il lied" like tho too famous ode
to AcGir," which is often played and
sung. The uncle Of his. mother. Duke
Ernest ii. OF SaXe-Coburg, had com
posed an opera which he had perform.
cd anonymously at his court theatre.
and knew no bcttcr, change from the
humdrum of government affairs than
to act on the stage.
The unfortunate Emperor MaXimilian
of Mexico was poet, and the collcc-
ton Of his lyric verses and ballads
tcstihcs AT one time to his zcai ana
the Legitimacy Of. his efforts.
The lady who was once .Archducness
Louise OF Tuscany. and who might to-
day he Queen of SaNony, had not rate
made her plain Signoru Toscll. has
published a volume or poems, which
proves besides less praiscworthy
things, that rhymes and rythm have
continually huunted her fair head.
IT from the level of the throne VIC
step down one step into high society.
the number of amateur artists OF all
Kinds that we find is almost bound :
less. Count Bcust. who in his mem
Austro- Hungarian Compromise. wrote
excellent madrigals in French and
composed dances that arc not without
considerable charm rnc dowager
III nj
statues. and a monument of Joan oil
Arc from her chiscl ornaments the
principal square in large French
provincial town.
In Paris society ladies' have for
years had an annual Salon." in the
catalogue of which you find all tho
names of the Almanach dc Gothu and
In the rooms OF which You arc I'M.
at the Salon" of the real professional
artists. Dukes, marquises and counts
father delighted III front of the works
Of their wives.
All tic liberal careers also have
their Salon." Judges and lawyers,
doctors. actors and Journalists cNhi-
| bit with paternai JOY and tenderness
the fruits of their love of art and
the number of their paintings, de-
signs, ctchings and sculptures show
| with how much zeal all these busy, in
tellcctural people sacrifice at the altar
of tho Muses.. Evidently all these
| amateurs in poetry, music and art con-
slider their artistic occupations. outside
OF their legitimate career, the magic
| blue flower which Eliminates and per-
fumes the prose OF their official or pro-
fessonal lives, And If a soft voice
whispers to them In tho Utmost of their
souls the "Anch'lou son pittore" e. too,
am II paintcr). and II they secrotcly
nourish the sweet Illusion that the
world has lost !. great poet, musician.
! or artist in them. it harms neither
| themselves nor others. On the con-
trary, it gives their lives certain
| ideal, IL teaches them TO apprccia to
| intellectual values, 1t keeps alive
within them yelled and somcwha t
| sad desire. which makes them more
| human, moro -broad-mindcd. In one
word, a small talent. or a half talent,
| is a blessing when you cultivate 1t for
! its own sake and for your own pleas
urc.
But ig an evil fairy wants to change
! the gracious gilt of her sisters into a
curse, She adds ito IT another zift--