The New York herald., 1921-01-02
lal Youth of American Women Charms Helleu

girls who come to me to ask what they
may serve! BY the coiffeur, by the gar
ments they remind me Of Paris. But they
are little cold, these charming attendants.
They are not as you say responsive.
Sometimes, In my gayety I break little
joke. It is with a frigidity they encounter
that little joke. and cover myself with con-
fusion. Yes, to one who recalled to me my
own sixteen-year- spoke the word
sweetheart without reflection. She called
the 1oorwalier. but was innocent!"
Sargent is one Of the artists who over
came Helleu's disinclination to come again
to America, because tho etcher thought he
was forgotten. Sargent, too, is the artist
whom Helleu holds in great reverence as
much for his devoted friendship as for his
art The two men have been friends for
years. The American chose the French
man as his model for ESelcteI In his delinea-
ton Of the four greatest Hebrew prophets
for the Boston Public Library. and the
two artists are In constant correspondence
What he owes to the American portrait
painter the Frenchman relates with great
feeling. At time. he says. when his pros
poets were very black, Sergeut came as
sort of ministering friend.
There were times" said Helleu I'm
those black years when to find money to
pay my models meant that did not eat as
often as I was hungry.
"On one such day Sargent came to me
with letter. I was working with model
and at the moment thinking that I could
perhaps pay her but part Of her fee and
reserve the balance for a dinner. had not
dined the day before.
Found a Complete Dinner
Left In One Of the Cabinets
But when she came 70 60 could not, and
so parted with the entire fee. Then / tried
to make myself forget by busying with the
cleaning up. My English visitor had looked
at everything, emptying cabinets Of port
folios Of sketches. When 1 opened one to
put these back found that somehow. with
out perceiving It., Sargent had left there
bread, cold meats, cake--a complete dinner!
"A few days later came q letter from him.
who had returned to London. He advised
me Of small exhibition that ! should give
in that city, and enclosed draft to insure
my arriving there. ! went. All was pre-
pared. The great, kind heart had made
every necessary arrangement. The exhibit
ton was given-many pictures were sold,
many orders taken. 1t was the end OF my
hunger!
TT was on this visit that I irst met
Whistler Never shall I lose the sound of
that high voice as he went about apprais-
ing-liking this earring not SO much for
that but in the measure of his satisfaction
took an artists pleasure He was a good
friend from that day and became one OF
the greatest admirers of his renowned
talent To me Whistler was ever kind and
generous. / found a great interest in him
here but not so much true knowledge. Per-
haps certain traits in the great man have
been too much in the light for a true judg
ment.
Sargent, In my judgment, is the really
great modern American. How modest he
is, in his art as In his kindness, may never
be known unless his friends, among whom
I take Joy In numbering myself, repeat il
often and often.
viii Not Discuss city,s Art.
Pleading Lack of Time
For the art of New York, of which you
require my opinion, must decline at the
moment to speak. have had so little time.
What have seen reflects modernity. but l
do not know whether or not 1t is American
modernness. To be sure, must go about
more, to more of the galleries. to the studios
and 1t is also true that need to see more
life than I encounter at the Ritz on the
Fifth avenue, at the opera ! shall stay In
your city long enough this time to promise
myself the pleasure Of these excursions.
"It may be also that may visit other
cities. To Brooklyn ] have been already
to Boston and TO Washington, perhaps to
Chicago. hope to travel. But with view
to look at them merely. for shall close my
sketch book when thus en- Dopo0e"
Helleu Is preparing to exhibit privately
the portraits OF women he has made this
time As he drew examples of this work
into the light, he pointed again and finally
to the fact that youth. or at least youthful
freshness, appeared In each one.
You see" he exclaimed triumphantly.
"al the American women are forever