The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-05-29
FAREWELL BLUE BOY.

= FAREWELL BLUE BOY.
The following Farewell to Gains
borough's Blue Boy was published in
the May number of the American FEEDER
alton of Magazine of Arts They
said 1.-THE cutting came to US from a
friend, who had in turn. received it from
a friend. In which of the London papers
it appeared, we do not know, but we
feel very confident that many in our
country may care to know the spirit in
which this noble boy was speeded on
his way to his new home"
"A FAREWELL"
I'VE have been to say goodbye to a
boy who is leaving England, in a day or
two, forever. He received us dressed
in beautiful blue satin suit, of the blue
which makes you dream of many things,
of pale sapphires. of moonlit seas, and
queens, and waters, stilIed at even. He
stood watching US, who had come for
last interview with him; very calm and
debonair, a child. yet almost man. He
was not at all conscious Of his wonderful
clothes; they were only a part of him
self, as was also the hat, with sweep
ing plume, which he held so negligently.
His coat was trimmed here and there
with silver, and his shoes were made
perfect with blue and silver bows. They
would be spoiled if he ran through the
brake, or if the dew brushed them in
the lovely park which is his background;
yet we know that this boy. like every
other English boy, would pull off his
fine clothes and become one of the wild
things who run and hunt and shout for
Joy. He would smile at his own portrait,
even while he admired the skill with
which Mr.. Gainsborough has reproduced
his best court suit.
He is going to leave us. There were
crowds of others who came to say good
bye; we had to wait long time before
we could get near him. There must have
been many who had never seen him be-
fore. and had hurried to meet him for
the first and last time. Absurdly enough,
perhaps one or two of us had tears in
our eyes; we hardly knew why. Per
haps it was because some of the lovely
youth of our country seemed to be going
with him, some of the grace Of the old
time when men and women wore these
gorgeous clothes. and were untroubled by
the many ssIf-que stionings of our
something of the courtly
grace and serene carriage of a people
who knew themselves a great people, and
were not ashamed to own it. His face
is full of promise, a little shy, little
bold; he has courage and fire, and there
is a dream behind his eyes. AS we said
goodbye at lest, we told him that we
should never forget him. or forget to be
proud of his painter. We told him he
was going because we. have not enough
money to keep him, and that it is the
very soreness and exquisiteness OF his
beauty which has caused our loss; not
or lack of love. He said he
might have thought it was that, perhaps,
but as nearly 100 900 people had come to
bid him farewell, he knew better. We
asked, too, not to forget US, or cease to !
love us, but to love also the cousins over
seas to whom he is bound, to spek to !
them of our ommon heritage. and to tell
them that If he has to go we would rath- !
err it were to them than to an alien race. |
1--WE turned away, for people were still
round him, but he gave US one
Of his shy smiles, and we felt sure that |
he understood"