The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-10-03
GIRL SUCCEEDS IN SPITE OF
 DIFFICULTIES
With Arms and Legs Gone She Continues Career in
 Art.
Without hands or arms or legs Miss Biffen succeeded.

Miss Bifen succeeded.
 She painted with her mouth, What is Possible may be done: what is Impossible must be done.'' It vas the ringing Nfe-motto of Rev Dr. Neale, founder of the Sisterhood of St. Margaret in the English Church. Only two devoted women had re aponded to his call for the needy vtl- lase life of England. The Sister hood has grown Into an immense Community, with branches through out Europe and the United States. What is Possible may be done; what Is Impossible must be done,'' So must have determined the brave gtrl In Liverpool, Sarah Bifen, To- day, Oct, 3, on1memorates her death in 1850 in Liverpool, Sarah Eff fen's motto might have been that of Cecil In "Cnder Two Flags-"Acoeuf valiant rien dimpossible,'' (To a va liant heart nothing is fnpossible), She seems the epitonne of courage, the acme of iron determine tion> Born without arms, hands or legs, she faced Life, and realizing a great taI- ent locked up in her burning heart, She was born at East Quantoxheau, near BridgewateT, Somerset, Eng 4TlilN sA4A tS 4N I1RE parents were or humble stock Sarah was only B in cies tall, She felt the stir within her that only the artist knows, that surmounts poverty, rejection, the baft- ling locked gate, the loud, long laugh Sarah Blfen felt she MUST do it She did,
 It was one day when ponderIng alone the HOW to do it--not yiving 4yA hn~ -N,., T, It, @ light broke in upon her, T have 8 mouthi'' she exclaimed, ''it was not only made to receive food, and to speak. My teeth can hold a brush, ,' At that time she was only 12 years old, Hiding the secret of her art ambitious in her heart-for they would have been laughed at by the townspeople, and frowned down by practical paren ents-She began instant 1y to practice with the mouth,-how to manipulate scissors with her Inouth-and a needle. These essays proved so successful that Sarah Bifen sent a boy of the village to purchase colorS, palette, easel, canvas and brushes-the artists tools. Against the enonstrances of her parents she had herself placed in a high chair on a level with the easel. and he. 1OO4S bSS&Ne uSTp Sne DeS3u- 4ne first little sketches were so success fuI that Sarah Bifen wrote Cwith hel nouth) to a MT, Dukes of London. a miniature painter, praying him tc give her lessons Dukes was proba- bIy glad enough of the opportunity to have such a prodigy of persever- auce for a pupil, such & pathetic splendor of pure Grit For 16 years Sarah Blffen studied under MT. Dukes In 1912 she was carried around the country to exhibit her prowess anG talents, as well as her phenomena ingenuity. She was at SwaT' ha IT in the great race week, when tht place was packed with a noisy week end holiday crowd at the races. Bu Sarah Bifen drew a larger crowC than blooded horses or SWan'ham en tries A tent or booth was erected for her The handbilIs of that da! tell us the price for seats to see tn, marvellous girl: the pit seats were on, shilling; the gallery sKpence-
 Picture her in her high chair, tn poor little figure of the burning eyes not regarding the throng save witt happy interest Sarah Bifen ha s'ariyed,'' Watch her writing he autograph, with her mouth, for he
 
 scapes ,and painting miniatures 0, ivory The charge for these latte was three guineas- Over her shouI ders roared the voice of Mir. Dukes her triumphant teacher and conduc tor, '-I will give one thousand guinea if Miss Biffen does not produce a that has been hera1ded of her Bu she did1
 The Earl of Morton became inter ested in the gifted girl, and place her under the tutelage of MT. Crais an artist at that time very popu1a for his portraits and for his irustra lions for the Countess of Blessing tons fashionable book to which tn elite of England subscrfbed,-''Th Keepsake" At last Sarah BiTe patronized by the royal family, an was able to support herself by he art, that of miniature painting. Sh received a medal from the Society ( Artists in 1921
 Sarah Binen shouts forever to oJ drowsy blood, to our fearsome yer tures:-'~what Is Possible may done; what is Impossible MUST donet"
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