Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-08-09
Courting
An Artist
A Practical Man Chooses a
a Practical Method
Of Wooing
By GERTRUDE STORM

A grill call her a girl, though she
was twenty-seven years old-sat before
an easel in the Pitt gallery in Flor
ence, Italy, copying one of Titian's por
traits. Though she was tastefully
dressed, her clothes had been made
over from time to time, and patches
were evident. Her face indicated that
ideallty which must be part Of the
true artist. Notwithstanding her shah
by genteel appearance she was comedy
with dark eyes, fair skin and hair be.
tween a chestnut and red, which, un'
der the sunlight coming in through q
window, gave 1t the exact tint Of the
locks belonging to the woman whose
portrait she was copying. But she
was not thinking Of herself or her ap.
pearance. She was simply trying to
earn a little money by making a copy
of a famous picture, a copy that has
little value except In the name to
which It is appended.
On the other side of the gallery stood
a gentleman whose appearance was
the opposite of that Of the woman.
He had nothing Of that ldeallty she
possessed. but he had an appearance
of prosperity contrasting with her
shabblness. He stood looking at her
face, from which the sunlight was
slowly passing, and something told
him that there sat the woman he
wanted to be the complement Of his
own life. After having gazed upon
her for some time he crossed the room
and stood behind her, looking at her
half finished work He had never seen
her before; he had not heard her
speak, yet he knew that she was an
American. Possibly part of his ability
to divine this was that he was an
American himself.
Il beg your pardon" he said to the
girl. "Would you be offended at bit
Of criticism on your workT
ION the contrary, / would be very
grateful"
"Well. then, instead of doing what
you are capable of doing You are do
Ing that which you are not fitted
to do"
'Please explain"
Judging from your cast OF counte.
nance fancy you have an artistic tenn
permanent On that build my theory
that you originate for yourself. do
not believe there was ever n good origi.
nator who was a good copyist."
go on. I am interested"
II speak from experience. am my.
self incapable Of origination, and | am
incapable Of copying. But possess
faculty that lies between the two.
can initiate You see the difference be
tween initiating and copyingr'
II think do"
well, to return to you. You are not
copying that picture. You are con-
stantly led away from 1t by your owD
conceptions. The result is failure"
The girl threw down her brush.
Have you any Of your own work In
FlorenceT asked the critic.
Lots OF it."
MAY see itT
II would be only too glad OF your
criticism upon It."
She gave him the number Of house
overlooking the river Arno with her
name. Margaret Hathorn, and he hand
ed her his card bearing that OF John
Cahoon, making an appointment TO call
next AFTERNOON.
he cllmDed I'VE nights OF stairs 10
ma Miss Hathorn ana was ushered
INTO her studio' parior' bedroom ana
kltchen IN one Inc woman OF whoh
she rented the room sat sewing by
window' MISE hathorh piaceu an ease'
In convenient Ight ana put one PIC
ture after another upon IT,
You are what supposed SAID Ca.
noon, an artlst, ana you are what i
uspected--yourseli, not announcer your
natural held III all your own.
Iheh why canhot l sell my PIC
turesT i
he Snlleo. 1T TOOK me NUMBER Oh
years 10 gain an experience 10 ehaDie
me 10 answer that question 10 my own
satislacuon. ! cannot answer II more
intelhgiDiy than ny giving you Driel
Synopsis OF my own artisuc career
poor Doy' loVed art ana wished 10 pe
an ARTIST. MY lrienos all told me my
Work was ednlraDie' Dut IN tme !
ROUND out tnat IL was worthless 10
Keep from starving tired copying ana
"A picture dealer whom 1 knew de-