New Britain herald., 1914-11-24

] Pale faces, wjde-Set brown eyes, sturdy bodies, an alert intelli- ] gence-these are the characteristics which distinguish American children from English in the eyes of Miss Elinor M. Barnard, the English paint CT of children of the aristocracy. She is now making portraits of wealthy New York children, and she finds their difference in type from the do- cile little apple-cheeked English child interesting. II expected to find American chill dren frightfully spoiled and rude, but among the fourteen children I have painted here only two were illbred. They appear much more intelligent than our English children. English Children Dull. II don't like to think American children really have better minds-it probably lies in the fact that they have more opportunity to develop them. English children are rather dull little things, what with their nurses and under-nurses and the rigid discipline of the nursery. That is their whole world-the >nursery-and they know little of what lies outside it's walls.
 English children are prettier than American children she continued, Their coloring is beautiful and their features are more delicately cast. but they are not nearly so well set-up and strongly built as American chill dren.
 Marvel at Americans Pallor.
 Most children here appear so TO- bust and full of spirits. That Is why I wonder at the lack of color in their faces. It seems a distinctly American characteristic, this universal pallor rather like it, myself, but it seems queer, when I walk along the street, to see many children with colorless cheeks. You have such wonderful air here, too. It is really unaccount- able''
 Miss Barnard prefers to paint chill dren because of the freshness and warmth of their beauty
 Water color is the ideal medium for child portraiture.' she declared, That intangible. fresh blown loveli- ness of childhood can be caught and held in this form of painting There is such a wealth of delicate coloring in child features: that is why I prefer them to old faces. And I like also their natural, simple attitudes. Chil- dren never pose for me. I sit in an obscure corner of the nursery, quietly watching the child as he plays or is amused by the nurse. He regards me as a piece of furniture and becomes unconscious of my presence. Sudden ly l catch him in some adorably characteristic attitude and sketch him so. When the picture is finished the mother will see her child just as he appears a dozen times a day"
 Paints Princess Mary For Queen.
 Queen Mary has in her boudoir a water color portrait of the princess painted by Miss Barnard last spring.
 II found Princess Mary very sweet, simple girl, said Miss Barnard. "She is very gracious and we'll hammered, but quite childish for her age. She is clever, of course, but only in a little girl sort of way. Her French teacher was present while I painted her por- trait, and she recited her lesson just as any other schoolgirl would.
 "Princess Will Make a Good Wife
 That's All.''
 Princess Mary is much taller and better built than the Phince of Wales, but she is not pretty girl She is simple and sweet, and will make some man good wife-that's all.''
 Among the aristocratic English chil- Gren painted by Miss Barnard were the three children of the Earl of Ian caster, whose wife was formerly New York girl, and David Astor, son of Mrs. Waldorf Astor. One of her most successful portraits is that of Miss