The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-10-13

. IRMINGHAM is so essentially
 young that relics are not gener- 0 ally to be found; the family tree'' s the oldest possession of the very best Families. and as for the surroundings in which these best families live, they as . $eneral rule represent the best that Is be had-and the best Is usually the ion to this however. is the position of honor given the old family portraits. They are to be found usually in the i fhosen position on the wall of the most 1ignified apartment of the home; the best 'ght is given them and the difference of he family singles out such an article Sven though the old spinning wheel or the garret. There is nothing more harming as a study than these old por- raits, and it is surprising how many hay be noted by a close observer during days visiting. This is counting the mes on display. It sometimes happens bat for one reason or another, awaiting Foper framing or house architecture suit
 
 way. but you may be sure fine examples e to be found here in large numbers Id some are very rare.
 Not long since the painting of once lnous beauty, the work of an artist hose fame will live forever. was brought the notice of little party examining collection of objects dart The pictured eauty's pathetic history was known to he members of the group. beginning -sxf- L vith her unhappy, unlovely old age. One uoted that serious little poem of Riley's which relates the story of the painter vho smiled as he worked all unconscious his surroundings, but knowing only | Is stheme-enfeaturing a fair girls face, nd ending thus. "So wrought he, wit ess that behind him leaned a woman vith old features, dim and sere. and lamored eyes that felt the brimming ear, and with voice like some sad in- trument, that signing said. I'm dead here; love me here" It is wonderful ow very near and real and alive the ainter may make his subject; how these ainted people usually have their own lace in the affections of the family; how ou love grandmother as she is today. but ou also love the girl in the library who grandmother as she used to be.
 sss
 This does not aim to be a complete Saper on .'Old Masters" or even the less- colorists; there are undoubtedly too hany excellent local examples to mention single morning. It merely calls att ention to the existence of some fine types f early portraiture. and makes passing hention of the history surrounding one or wo.
 One of the most extraordinary oil paint hgs in the south is in the possession of fir. and Mrs. Everhard Meade and hangs n the walls of their Mountain Terrace esidence. The tints are almost as life Ike as when the brush of that master of olor, Sir Joshua Reynolds, applied them. The subject is youth of 15 years, young cverhard, later Gen. Everhard Meade member of Light Horse Harry's" troop the Revolutionary war. According to ustom this portrait Is inherited by the on in the Meade family who is given he name of the gallant soldier The his- bry connected with it relates that when he general was a boy just 15. he and his rother, David. went to England to visit he family of their mother. who was Susanna Edwards. daughter of Sir Rich nd Edwards. During this visit the por- Fait of Everhard was painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds and David sat for a ortrait by Hudson. The latter has since een lost The prospective owner of the ortrait at present in the possession of Gr. and Mrs. Everhard Meade is their ttle son, Everhard. Mrs. Meade was rmerly Miss Jamie McLester. Her mar oge to Mir. Meade was celebrated not Any years ago in a quaint old English hurch at the conclusion of the brides s oar of travel abroad.