New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-02

from a photograph I'm Harriet Hosmer
Letters and Memories.D
wears after they were written. Many
letters printed here might also be spared
All are indicative of d fine character, but
not all are interesting to the outside.
Few unmarried women of her genera
zion had so full life as had Miss Hos
mer. daughter Of a well-to-do Massa-
chusetts physician. AS a child she was
trained in all wholesome outdoor sports
by that judicious parent; high spirits
and sturdy physique were the outcome
Of her hours with horse and gun and oar.
Her schooldays in Lenox, where she was
the pet Of Fanny Kemble, were days Of
rayety and inspiration in all wise direc-
tons. When she determined to take UP
sculpture a way was quickly made for
ner TO study anatomy, then difficult
thing indeed for any woman TO do in
America. When she was twenty-five
her father took her to Rome and placed
her as a pupil under the guidance Of
John Gibson. That English sculptor was
kindness itself 10 her-as were, In fact,
then and ever after, all the fOreStjcrc in
The Eternal City. The Brownings, the
Thackerays. Fanny Kemble and her sis
ter, Mrs. sartoris, were among these
cary friends. In one Of Mrs. Browning's
letters there is an admiring reference 10
civ -bo mo n
IN the morning until night, las great
artist must and this with an absenca o.
Iretension and simplicity Of manners
which accord rather with the childish
dimples in her rosy cheeks than with her
broad forehead and high aims 10
both The poets "Hatty" became especial
" dear, and she gave many pleasant
simpses Of the pair TO her friends at
home These glimpses are largely mirth-
fal; the solemn and sentimental aspect
In which they have generally been made
10 appear was not for "Hatty." at least.
she describes Browning as deliShting in
puns, having the spirits Of a schoolboy
ard indulging in the liveliest mimicry in
order TO send his wife into gales OF
laughter AS for that lady herself, Miss
Hosmer declares that nobody pos
sessed a quicker sense Of the grotesque
or more keenly relished an absurdity."
Nothing does Ba so much good as a
good laugh" said the poet at the end OF a
ridiculous piece OF acting which had re-
dgced his wife to helplessness and
Dreaming tears of hilarity.
The young sculptor's personal qualities,
not less than her whole-souled devotion
20 her work, won the liking Of all who
met her She was frank, unaffected and
loyal and always I'm joyous mood. She
thought herself the happiest Of human
beings, and that conviction reacted on
others, making them happy in her pres
snce. The pretty little figure and the
quaint, elflike face, shaded by short,
dark locks, became familiar TO all the
royal and imperial celebrities visiting
Rome, and commissions poured in upon
Fer. She made q mischievous little statue
o. Puck, and replicas Of it were soon
Being scattered about the earth, II has
teen called, we are told, the f1VoTlte OF
~ modern statues. The clever English
fincess who sfterward became the En-
bess Frederick neatly put into words
me first impression the Puck gives the
spectator. "Oh, Miss Hosmer," she ex-
Gained, you have such talent for toes."
The first empress who came TO the
americans studio was that very old
'ady, the wife Of Gar Nicholas, the
sest-grandmother Of the present Car,
vas carried into the studio In sedan
0nalr' What picture she made."
wrote the sculptor "the little old LADY
with her white hair and her flashing
eyes and her must be- obeyed air, sitting
!" mat magnificent chair between the
s"o stalwart Cossacks who carried her.
- was this old Czarina who gave the
sculptor one Of the first Of her many
Neeorations-an enormous and gorgeous
'Ndf IN Russian diamonds. which no
saah woman could possibly wear. Miss
posmer in the co.'s made a statue Of
we beautiful heroine Of Gaeta. the Queen
" Naples, and this brought her the
',enoship Of the Queens equally beauti"
~ sister. the Empress OF Austria. Their
ve ci horses was bond between them
hatty" as well as the Empress, was
uoid and practised rider She used to
n story illustrative Of Elizabeths
er indifference to her own dazzling
S'ehness. The sculptor complained that
photograph Of the Empress with her
,Vfite horse, which the original gave
~. olo not do the rider justice oh
,oaa 'ihea Elizabeth. don't look at me,
~ horse"
brilliant Lady Marian Afford was
49,. VI sla losest of the English friends
b.,,' 'sT sarretins." "CapelIina, as tho
~. s9lpleT was fafuHarly called, n
49, enc Of her visits al Lady Ma
y. noae, Ashridge. that Hat" who
strange gift for findins things lost