The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-17
SCULPTOR WINS
 WAY TO FAME IN
 SPANISH HEARTS
Great Wealth Lavished On Former Poor Fisher
 mans Son

NEW YORK, Aug. 16.-From podf fisherman's son to millionaire and a famous artist to boot sounds like modern Arbian Nights tale, but an Arbian Nights tale with a foreign. flavor, since were the tale laid in America, in the true Henty or Algeri tradition, the poor lad must have risen from newsboy or bqotblack to Standard Oil magpate or President of the United States.
 But Che scene of Mariana Benlliure's success being laid in Spain, fisher boy to famous sculptor is entirely in keep ing with the spirit of a country where romance and art have always been of paramount importance.
 Mariana Benlliure is probably Spain's most popular sculptor, and to be popu- lar in this case is not to be damned artistically, as it so often Is with us. In Spain art is taken far more seri- ously than in the United States, its sculptors and painters are part of the nations pride, and the state sees to it that they are rewarded with medals and commissions in accordance with their importance artistically. Spain has great art tradition to up- hold--Y Yelasquez, Fl Greco and Goya are as highly considered and studied by the Spaniards as are sts famous statesmen and generals.s The Spanish as are Its famous statesmen and gem erals. The Spanish artist has always played a big, important role at court, been the friend of kings, as well as their portrayer, so Benlliure is follow ing directly in the line of Spanish tradition, with his position as arbiter of artistic matters at court and his many commissions to model the king, the queen and all the young princes and princesses.
 Also, when any very important monu- 'ment is to be erected Benlluire is the man selected.
 InvitatiOn Is Interesting
 To be invited to visit Benlliufe in his house and studio on the Calle Cas- tilliano is one of the most interesting events that Madrid affords and one not to be found in guide books or sculptors in plenty in America but I know of none whose success has brought such material returns as to afford a
 
 between Sixtieth and Seyentieth streets, for that is what the Calle CastillianO corresponds with. Here Benlliure has built his house, his studio, his work shop and his garden.
 Benlliure is one of the personalities of Madrid. The visitor to Spain can not consider his catalogue of distin- guished people complete unless he has met him.
 Benlliure is a man dose on to sixty. of powerful build with strong, blunt features and deep-set, kind eyes. One senses at once his peasant origin, not only in his physicians but in his simple, direct manner and in the emotional simplicity of his work. He is not a man concerned with refinements of style and snbtleties of expression; he gives us human aspects of life in direct human dramatic interpretations.
 He was much interested that an Amerian newspaper was going to write 6 story about him. His last American visitor was Douglas Fairbanks, who was brought to see him in line with the other celebrities-the Ambassador and the King. The first thing that he showed me was the Joselito Memorial, WH4Eu JAaS Just pceu COtuPleped ana IS standing in his studio, ready to be shipped to Seville, where Joselito, the idelized Cyoung Seyillian matador, is buried. Joselito was goredAto death four years ago in a gallant attempt to rescue his inexperienced brother-in- law who was playing a dangerous bull. Joselito was idolized with an aduIation only accorded by the Spaniards to a voTyu1. aYIdaciOua 0raepf,Y1 and hrnva bulIfighter. His death actually plunged the nation into mourning. This may seem incredible to those who consider a bullfight cruel, immoral perform ance and all bullfighters, thereof, cruel and iIpmoral persons. The Spaniard, needless to say, does not feel this way but Gdores the expert performers of their national sport to a degree that makes the homage we give our base ball, boxing and football heroes seem pale and anemic in comparison.