The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1914-09-11
A Case Of
Mingl ID Faculties
By EDWARD /. FORSITHE

ing as best | could illustrating for
magazines. When l reached middle
life a legacy enabled me to go abroad
with the view to try TO make a paint
er Of myself. | realized that | was
beginning too late in life to hope for
much success. One should learn to
handle a brush when the muscles are
Young and flexible.
| studied awhile in Paris. but my
fears were realized. In my concep-
tons l felt every confidence. but when
| attempted to put them on canvas l
failed. determined to return home
by way Of Italy. where | proposed to
regale myself among the works Of art
| would find there. Having spent some
time in Florence and Rome. I went on
down to Naples. where | intended to
take passage for America.
| found here in the most beautiful
bay in the world q temptation to make
one more trial with my brush. While
| was at work l fell Ill. My room
was with a widow in a house that
overlooked the bay. During my sick
ness l would get out of bed and. seat
ing myself in an easy chair. wrapped
In rugs. sit gazing out through an open
window upon the scene before me.
What is especially fixed in my mind
is the varying views which seemed to
he passing before me like a panorama.
At n time the water in the bay would
be a deep, her q light green. Again
It would be a deep or a pale blue.
There were times when there were
streaks Of silver in 1t. At n time
the island Of Ischia, to, the northward,
was bathed in purple then Capri. di-
rectly before under the influence OF
the setting sun, would be tinged with
scarlet hues.
My landlady had a son. Emilio, about
fourteen years old. in whom | was In
terested, because he showed a consid-
cradle inherent artistic taste. His con-
ceptions We're Of littleso or no value, but
his ability to execute them was consid-
cradle.
"Ah. my boy" l sdd to him, "f !
could return to your age and devote
myself to art l could put the beauti-
full things / am capable Of seeing on
canvas for the admiration Of the world.
These pictures the bay affords are
commonplace to you. II they were to
YOU what they are to me you would
be esteemed a great painter"
While he made no reply to this.
noticed that it made a great impress
sion upon him. said it before | was
taken i'll. and afterward. when / was
suffering. he came in often to see me.
not to talk, but merely to be with me.
I remember especially his doing this
when | sat in my easy chair before the
window absorbing the different views
the bay afforded me.
As soon as | recoveredsI sailed for
America and did not revisit Italy for
eight wears. On my RETURN | found in
the National gallery in Naples several
\ paintings OF the bay of Naples that
! brought me a strange sensation. They
represented the bay under different
conditions that had impressed me dur
ing my illness. AS no human face Is
exactly reproduced in another, so none
Of these views could be exactly du-
plicated on different days. What es-
p~eciallv impressed me was that there
were five of these views. each one or
which | had seen in nature itself. |
looked for the name of the artist on
the painting, but it was not there.
Accosting one of the gallery officials.
| led him to the, picture, and asked
about the artist.
Those pictures" he said. were
painted by a mere boy. 1t was sup
posed that he would become one OF the
famous artists of the world. but b e pro
duced only these works. which were al
executed about the same time"
why is there no name on thelu?'
Because the boy who paintedathen
would not consent to put his Iam'
there
why not?'
Il have understood that he hsd sOnl'
childish within that he was not rentitleN
~ any credit for their merit"
"Do You know his Nance"
Yes. 1t is Emilio Murelli."'
Emilio MurelliE"
Yes. signor. Why are you so sur
prised?'
Eight years g | knew an Emilio
Murelli," | replied when l had collect
ed my faculties, "a boy who had con
siderable ability to execute. but no
the true artistic individuality. He wa,
n worker. not a dreamer. | cannot
understand how he could have produc
ed these pictures"
The official shrugged his shoulders
as the Italians do when they ar,
stumped, and left me.
tried to find Emilio. who was nov
a man, and failed. More years hav,
passed since then, during which Ilhav,
taken a deep interest In those Subtl
J conditions which on rare occasions in
dictate a mlngling Of two din1ereD
souls. ! have put upon the incidest
have related an Interpretation Of m.
own. though | confess it Is a mere SUI
gestion. l consider it possible thai
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