Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-06-13
BY MANXA RUDINA,
Famous New York Artists Model

Famous New York Artists Model
When an artists model knows that
an artists wife is jealous Of her with
out cause, what should she do?
went home from my first day
at one sculptor's studio with the
knowledge that his wife d1sapproyed1
Of me, and in my heart felt that
there was something more than dis
approval.
But there was no reason why I
should not go on with my engagement
to pose for him. We had another
busy and interesting day. My inter
est in the modelling was intense.
First I would pose with my face to
the artist; and he would work awhile,
then I would turn with my back
while he worked from that. From
time to time he would measure my
arm or leg with calipers to determine
how nearly he had come to the prop
er proportions in his clay model.
The luncheon hour went by I'M
noticed. But at 2 o'clock his wife
came into the studio. She was Dress
ed for outdoors, had on hat and coat,
and was buttoning her gloves.
When he saw her, the sculptor
held up his hands.
Martha, Martha, I have disap-
pointed you again." he said.
II am quite used to it by now" she
pointment alone, and tell our hostess
| that you preferred the studio to her
drawing rom" She looked both of us
over coldly and without waiting for
reply, left the studio. =
Neither of US said anything after
other and understood. For half an
hour after she left, the work went
badly; we were both uncomfortable.
But then we forgot and worked to-
gether as before.
At o'clock the studio door opened
without a warning knock and his wife
came in again. She smiled sweetly.
"My dear Albert" she said. ct have
| just returned, 1t was stupid af-
fair, and you would have been bored.
1t was as well that you did not co.
and she went up to him and kissed
him on the cheek.
He was much relieved.
II am so glad I did not lncon-
venience you, my DEAR" he said, and
waited for her to leave.
81 think I will watch the work"
she said: II will just sit over here
and not bother you at ALL"
"Of course, of course, If you wish, I"
he said, but I could see he was I'M
As for me, I did not like 1t at ALL
And the work did not go we'll. He
could not work under the eye Of his
wife. He kept putting on the clay
and taking it off; he would model and
then destroy his work.
His wife was not watching the
work; she was watching me. I saw
her looking me over from head to
feet, and my face flushed and my
body felt hot and cold, by turns. I
resented her staring at me as though
I were piece of marble statuary in
hall. I had engaged myself to pose
for the sculptor and not for his wife.
But he had been so kind to me and
was himself so uneasy that I would
not make scene by refusing to pose
longer.
He soon ended the situation him
self, saying:
1--WE have done enough for today.
1t has been a long, hard day for you
Manga, run along and get your
I was glad to do it: When I came
from the dressing room, his wife
said:
MY dear Miss Rudina, it is late
and you must stay and have dinner
with u.s." Her words were cordial,
but her voice was like a steel knife.
I was about to refuse, when I saw
feel badly if I refused, and SO I
bowed and accepted the invitation.
1t was a silent meal. She did most
of the talking. And when I went
nome L Was unhappy. w nat SnOulQ
do? I could see nothing to do ex-
| cept go on, giving her no just cause
for offense.
"I will not be prevented from car
rying on my work by the unjust sus-
picion of jealous wife, L said to
| myself. But 1 might better have done
so.
Anyone who has been under sus-
picion of a crime and has been
watched constantly for a time will
know what kind Of a week passed
in my life while I was posing for
the sculptor. For a week his wife
held me under constant surveillance
She came into the studio at all sorts
of odd times and with all sorts of
excuses. One day she sat all day
long and watched US, under pretense
of great interest in how the model
ing was progressing.
And she was always coming in
and out; always disturbing the work.
She would enter when I was I'M
dressing or else when was dress
ing for the pose.
Finally he told me there had been